There really is no introduction for this innovative artist. Hailing from Dallas Texas, Erykah Badu (born Erica Abi Wright) has not only cemented her unique style being named the Queen of Neo Soul which was a new genre in the 90’s, but has proven to be a versatile artist, setting the record for not being politically correct. Here are a few more reasons why Miss Badu is a trail blazer in pop culture.
1. Baduizm
Every time I listen to this record, it never sounds dated. Having been released 21 years ago on February 11th, Badu’s debut record explores topics dealing with love, heartbreak, some humour, rape and self worth. It’s everything that expresses who the singer is, a little kooky, an intellectual, creative to the max and brutally honest with herself. Probably one of the reasons as to why Baduizm is so progressive is due to the fact this was one of the first records that introduced the Neo Soul genre along with some Jazz and R&B elements. Erykah Badu has released a string of amazing albums including Mama’s Gun, but Baduizm is a standout, the base is heavy and there’s something avant-garde about this record. I can see why so many critics compare Badu to Billie Holiday.
2. Bag Lady
I love both versions of this song, whether it being the album version or the radio remix, the meaning behind the lyrics always hits home for me. The meaning is towards women who have been in as I say shitty relationships and still hold that baggage. Bag lady is about letting go of the baggage, also the power one holds over them.
3. Soldier
I have no words for this song. Just listen.
4. Her Style
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Her head-wraps is the staple style that everyone new Miss Badu would adorn, but over the years her style has definitely evolved. There are only words to describe this singer’s style: afro-centric, quirky, versatile, artistic and fluctuating.
5. Her Songwriting
This goes hand in hand with when I was talking about Bag Lady. Almost all of her songs bring poetic justice, but there’s also clever connotations:
“See I pick my friends like I pick my fruit,”- Apple Tree
“Well I know I’m a lot of woman, but not enough to divide the pie,”- Next Lifetime
“Most intellects do not believe in god but they fear us just the same,”- On & On
” My love will make you wonder (yeah), and lightning and thunder (yeah), I get it from my mama (yeah),” -I Want You
“Summer came around and the flowers bloomed. He became the sun. I became the moon. Precious gifts we both received. Or could this be make believe,”- Other Side of the Game
The list goes on, plus I think you get the point.
6. The Showmanship
I have yet to see this woman live, but until then I’ll keep watching her mind-blowing performances on YouTube like this one below. Trust me if you love live music, you will love every 44 minutes of the video below!
It has been exactly one year since the legendary musician Prince has passed away. Like many other talented singers within his era, Prince created a legacy all in his own right. I have love for groundbreaking singers like Michael Jackson, and respect for icon Madonna, but Prince created a new and distinctive sound in the 80’s that is duplicated today by many popular artists in the 21st century. Here is my list of songs that were inspired by Prince. I did not feel like they needed to be in order from worst to best because each song is brilliant in a Prince-inspired way!
Promise- Ciara
By far one of Ciara’s best songs. Miss CiCi sounded like the female version of Prince. From the falsetto singing, hypnotic beat, and synthesizer singing in the background, the song still sounds amazing today, not feeling dated.
Adorn- Miguel
Miguel is basically the modern day Prince, so a song like this is right up his ally. From beginning to end, Adorn keeps up with appearances… including how bizarre the video is as well. Of course the vocals are on point.
Kiss It Better- Rihanna
Been waitin’ on that sunshine boy I think it need that back!
Rihanna’s vocals on this song gives me life. There is strength, clarity, soul and passion burning out of Riri’s voice. The lyrics is straight to the point with no strings attached. The electric guitar and simple beat in the background all scream a classic Prince song making it a priceless moment for Bad Gal RiRi.
Rock The Boat- Aaliyah
Aaliyah was of course inspired by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, but from the lyrics, and innovative beats, the song sounds like something Prince would written and recorded sometime back. Either way (and unfortunately) this is one of the late singer’s signature songs.
Q.U.E.E.N. -Janelle Monae
This song is a little bit more political, adding the feminist tones to it. All the more reasons why the late legendary singer has inspired Janelle Monae. I just feel like adding Erykah Badu’s name to the list since she is feature on the song just because she is cool. He was also featured on her last album, Electric Lady. It may appear on this list…
Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart- Alicia Keys
I read once that when writing and producing the song, Prince was the inspiration for Alicia Keys. Clearly! This was her moment to impress, and I think she succeeded in that.
Climax- Usher
Many compare the song to something that The Weeknd would sing which is well deserved on his behalf, but first and foremost I feel like if Prince was time travelling to the 21st century… this song would have belonged to him. This is one of Usher’s most underrated songs, but clearly hard to sing, creating the “climax.” Pun intended.
Dance For You- Beyonce
Another underrated song that also needs to be on this list. From the horns, to the electric guitar, to Beyonce’s eclectic vocals, she shows the world why she is Queen Bey.
Until The End Of Time- Justin Timberlake ft. Beyonce
If they ever released a video for this… I will keep you all thinking the what ifs. However, every time this song is played it becomes more of a classic. Beyonce does make the song much more interesting for some reason. Listen to it without her and you will see the difference.
Umbrella- Rihanna
You probably did not think twice before hearing this song. I see some inspiration here and Umbrella somehow compliments another song…Purple Rain. I’ll leave it there.
Cranes In The Sky- Solange
Solange is not only weird like Prince, but what they have in come (or a few things) is the soulfulness that they bring to each song. In the 90’s you saw the departure of what Prince usually sang that geared towards a new genre called Neo Soul.
Motivation- Kelly Rowland
Ms. Kelly had her moment to shine here and she did not fail to. The back drop of the beat sounds classic. Her performance at the BET Awards in 2011 was by far the best that year. Rowland was just killing it!
Really Love- D’ Angelo and The Vanguard
This live performance from D’Angelo and The Vanguard gets me speechless. He sounds just like the recorded version. When Prince passed away, I remember him paying tribute to the late singer. The passion and the falsetto voice reminds me a lot of Prince.
Untitled (How Does it Feel)- D’Angelo
I am keeping things PG-13 because you have to be a certain age to watch the actual music video, so there will be no complications in watching the video, but here is the album version of the classic. I do feel like the video overshadows the actual song. When actually listening to the song, the versatile vocals, crazy riffs and rafts from the electric guitar, and tone of the song breathes Prince’s name all over it. D’Angelo is one of my favourite male artists but Prince helped to inspired this sound.
Rocket- Beyonce
I not only see a Prince comparison, but of course D’Angelo’s Untitled song as well. Funny enough you don’t have to log in to view this. The modern day Prince, also known as Miguel co-wrote the song. Need I say more?
One In a Million- Aaliyah
It’s a classic falsetto slow jam, all the more to be inspired the legendary singer himself.
Do What You Want- Lady Gaga Ft. R.Kelly
This song is as Pop/R&B as Lady GaGa will ever get. The duo with R.Kelly may sound odd but they do create the musical magic needed. I needed to post a live performance to showcase the humour and talent shown from both of the genius artists.
Future Sex/Love Sound- Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake may sound more like Michael Jackson than any other artist, accept for The Weeknd. With that being said, not in this song. The production and vocals are leaning more towards Prince’s voice.
High For This – The Weeknd
Speaking of the singer; it is known that Scarborough native The Weeknd is a fan of Prince. So when you here the similarities… you will understand why I chose this song.
Two Weeks- FKA Twigs
Visually, the video reminds me of Aaliyah from Queen of The Damned, by sound there is a mix of Bjork and Prince along with comparing the lyrics. The singer needs to be showcased for her versatile talents. What better way to compare her to the late singer.
Pony- Ginuwine
The video is so bizarre which is one reason why it needs to be on this list. Timbaland’s production seems to have some inspiration by another creative genius but I won’t say who. Lastly, of course the movie Magic Mike brought more hype to the song, retaining the classic 90’s jam back into the limelight.
Redbone- Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino surprised me here. I knew he could sing and had some range, but not in a D’Angelo/Prince- falsetto range. This is a sound that’s inspired by the 70’s funk sound in which the earlier sound of Prince was formed. The song is always on repeat…
Give Em What They Love- Janelle Monae Ft. Prince
This had to be the last song on the list… it features the late singer. What I love the most, aside from Prince singing and playing his electric guitar, was the fact that Janelle Monae kept up with his energy. If you have not heard this song before and you are a fan of the singer, I advise you to replay it. It is by far one of my favourite collaborations in music. I can just imagine what Janelle must be thinking when she recorded the song with the legend and of course after when he passed away.
So many musicians try to be as weird as possible to the point where it looks unreal. There are only few that are weird to the point of being disturbing and some that are just amazing for being who they are… straight up weird. Tahliah Barnett who stage name is FKA Twigs has a uniqueness that some just cannot obtain. The singer-songwriter and dancer evokes a different sort of artistic expression that stands out in the music industry in this century. Here are seven reasons to get on FKA Twigs’ level of coolness.
Her style
There is an ethereal quality to Twigs’ style combined with an edgy twist to it. From the aztec prints to funky designs with makeup, and I can’t forget her iconic septum piercing, this unpredictable singer can get away with any style.
Her Music
When I first heard Twigs’ first album LP1, I was surprised of how much I loved the album. The production is not cohesive at all, it’s all over the place and very convoluted… which is one of the reason why this critically acclaimed work is an album to remember. Twigs wrote every one of her songs on the album and all of the producers (who happens to be very popular like Paul Epworth who produced Adele’s blockbuster album 21) but created a sound all on her own terms. My favourite tracks on the LP are Two Weeks, Pendulum, Video Girl and Lights On. If you are someone who loves Electronic music with an R&B splash (or loves The Weeknd) then take a listen to her music.
Her Dance Moves
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She is the queen of voguing which is a dance move that was created in the early 90’s. Twigs was originally a dancer before making on her own as a singer. Being a dancer explains the reason as to why she is called FKA Twigs… her joints would crack. According to an interview, FKA does not mean anything.
Her Hair
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When I see Twigs’ hair, I see innovation along with a nostalgic reference, hence the Rick James hairstyle with beads and the braids. Talk about black girl magic!
Her Lyrics
Every lyric on each song has a dark undertone to it, but it’s relatable due to the vulnerability behind them.
The Videos
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Twigs tries to created images that will either comfort you or disturb you. There is no in between… either you like her or you don’t. Take it or leave it.
The Weirdness
You may not understand the message behind the singer’s images on an album cover or music videos, but watch it a few times and the message will scream loud and clear. There’s a truthful story that resonates with today’s society. Some of her topics that she displays are issues dealing with depression, anxiety, sexism, love and feminism.
I will also state that this 28 year old singer has been through a lot when coming to racist comments on her instagram account due to her dating Twilight’s Robert Patterson. She defended herself with the level of grace and passion showing you that it is important to stick up for yourself even as a celebrity.
In the music world there are heavy weights that rule the industry and Rihanna is one of them. After 14 number-one songs to sold out concerts, and multi platinum albums, this Barbadian songstress/fashionista who is also known as Bad Gal RiRi has made a name for herself rightfully so. Here’s evidence that proves the case.
Her Music
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From her colourful music videos to relatable songs and even more elaborate performances, Rihanna has influenced many with her music.I will repeat what I said in the beginning of this post… the girl has 14 number one songs. That’s an impressive feature for an artist in general. Miss Fenty is currently in third place behind the legendary singer Mariah Carey and the influential rock band The Beatles. The 28 year old has surpassed icons like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Madonna and Stevie Wonder… that’s not too shabby at all.
She’s Caribbean
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There is no denying that Fenty is proud of her Barbadian roots. You see this example through her music videos along with her instagram posts; most importantly RiRi has maintained her Bajan (short form) accent and still hangs out with the same friends before she became famous. There is much respect for this example.
Her Style
Need I say more? She’s a chameleon in all honesty.
Drake
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Unfortunately it has been rumoured that the pair has now split up but it was great while is lasted… for two weeks or so. Imagine how many more hits they could have ( or still can) make?
The Changing Hairstyles
When it comes to the hair, there’s no one who can rock a changing hairstyle like the bad gal’ herself. Riri changes her hair like she changes her outfits. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
Having No Care What People Think
I have posted the most recent hair change from Miss Fenty because it’s one of the most political hair changes for the the singer. In the U.S. there have been debates on whether or not dreadlocks are professional and should be banned. Many people are not in favour of the hairstyle. The way the media has either portrayed examples are not always in a positive light. This is an example of RiRi not caring what others think. It may or may not be something that she though would have such a debate but this is why Rihanna is so iconic. Plus the style makes her look so much younger adding the Caribbean vibe to it. Rihanna cannot go wrong.
Hammer Style Girl 