Baduizm (CD - 1997)

Personnel: Erykah Badu (vocals, keyboards, programming); Madukwu, N'Dambi (vocals); Bob Power, Tone The Backbone (various instruments, programming); Ike Lee III (keyboards, programming); Ron Carter (bass); John Meredith (drum programming).

Producers include: Madukwu Chinwah, Bob Power, JaBorn Jamal, Ike Lee III, Erykah Badu.

Engineers include: Michael Gilbert, Chris Trevit, Bob Powers.

Recorded at Battery Studios, New York, New York; Dallas Sound Lab, Dallas, Texas; Sigma Sounds and Ivory Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Erykah Badu was nominated for the 1998 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. BADUIZM won the 1988 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. "On & On" won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song.

Personnel: Erykah Badu (vocals, keyboards, programming, drum programming, background vocals); Bob Power (guitar, keyboards, programming); Ike Lee III (keyboards, programming); Tone Da Backbone (programming); John Meredith (drum programming).

Audio Mixers: Ken Ifill; Tim Latham; Bob Power.

Recording information: Battery Studios, New York, NY; Dallas Sound Lab, Dallas, TX; Ivory Studios, Philadelphia, PA; Sigma Sounds, Philadelphia, PA.

Photographer: Marc Baptiste.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Susan Bibeau; Bob Power.

Two years after D'Angelo brought the organic sound and emotional passion of R&B to the hip-hop world with 1995's Brown Sugar, Erykah Badu's debut performed a similar feat. While D'Angelo looked back to the peak of smooth '70s soul, though, Badu sang with a grit and bluesiness reminiscent of her heroes, Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. "On & On" and "Appletree," the first two songs on Baduizm, illustrated her talent at singing soul with the qualities of jazz. With a nimble, melodic voice owing little to R&B from the past 30 years, she phrased at odds with the beat and often took chances with her notes. Like many in the contemporary rap world, though, she also had considerable talents at taking on different personas; "Otherside of the Game" is a poetic lament from a soon-to-be single mother who just can't forget the father of her child. Erykah Badu's revolution in sound -- heavier hip-hop beats over organic, conscientious soul music -- was responsible for her breakout, but many of the songs on Baduizm don't hold up to increased examination. For every intriguing track like "Next Lifetime," there's at least one rote R&B jam like "4 Leaf Clover." Jazz fans certainly weren't confusing her with Cassandra Wilson -- Badu had a bewitching voice, and she treasured her notes like the best jazz vocalists, but she often made the same choices, the hallmark of a singer rooted in soul, not jazz. Though many fans would dislike (and probably misinterpret) the comparison, she's closer to Diana Ross playing Billie Holiday -- as she did in the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues -- than Holiday herself. ~ John Bush

BADUIZM marks the debut of a true songstress, with a voice like Billie Holiday's and a style that crosses many boundaries. Erykah Badu has exceptional rhythm, character and vibe, and a songwriting style that should restore some life to modern R&B. From her groundbreaking single "On & On" to freestyle skits like "Afro", Badu separates herself from other '90 vocalists with a style that is as broad as it is original. It's also real: On "Next Lifetime" and "Certainly," Badu demonstrates a remarkable ability to turn life's experiences into beautiful songs. minimize