Baduizm
Baduizm is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Erykah Badu. It was released on February 11, 1997, by Kedar Records and Universal Records.[4] After leaving university in order to concentrate on music full-time, Badu then began touring with her cousin, Robert "Free" Bradford, and recorded a 19-song demo, Country Cousins, which attracted the attention of Kedar Massenburg. He set Badu up to record a duet with D'Angelo, "Your Precious Love," and eventually signed her to a record deal with Universal. Recording sessions for the album took place from January to October 1996 in New York City, Philadelphia, and Dallas.[5]
Baduizm
February 11, 1997
January–October 1996
- Sigma Sound and Ivory (Philadelphia)
- Battery (New York City)
- Dallas Sound Lab (Dallas, Texas)
58:15
- Madukwu Chinwah
- Bob Power
- JaBorn Jamal
- Ike Lee III
- Erykah Badu
- the Roots
- Richard Nichols
- James Poyser
- Tone the Backbone
- Jaífar Barron
- Robert Bradford
Baduizm was met with positive reviews from music critics who praised the album's musical style and Badu's artistic vision; other critics noted similarities between Badu and Billie Holiday. Baduizm was a commercial success, debuting at number two on the US Billboard charts and number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album was certified three times platinum by Recording Industry Association of America,[6] Gold by British Phonographic Industry[7] and Gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association.[8]
Baduizm was promoted with the release of four singles: "On & On", "Next Lifetime", "Otherside of the Game", and "Appletree". The album received many accolades, including the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 40th Grammy Awards. Along with fellow contemporary albums such as D'Angelo's Brown Sugar (1995) and Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (1996), Baduizm's success helped establish Badu as one of the leading artists in the neo-soul genre and is one of the albums credited with contributing to the genre's commercial visibility at the time.
Release and sales[edit]
After Baduizm was released, it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[30][31] The album's success helped establish Badu as one of the leading artists in the flourishing neo-soul genre.[3] Baduizm was certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, Gold by the British Phonographic Industry and the Canadian Recording Industry Association.[6][7][8] As of February 2017 the album has sold 2.8 million copies in United States.[32]
The album produced four singles; the lead single "On & On" was released in December 1996,[33] and reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts and the UK Singles Charts, as well as making an appearance on the New Zealand charts.[34]
Sample credits
Musicians
Production