VIDEO: ERYKAH BADU REFLECTS ON ‘BADUIZM’ ALBUM

Back in 1997, Erykah Badu‘s debut studio album, Baduizm rose to the #1 seat on Billboard’s Top Hip-Hop Albums list, won two Grammy awards and introduced the world to the new hip and smooth sounds of a new genre: neo-soul.

In a recent interview with Reebok Classics, the 40 year-old singer reminisced on the creation of her first album, explained where she was spiritually & creatively at that time in her life and how her most memorable song, “Other Side of the Game” came about in collaboration with ?uestlove & The Roots:

On where she at that point in her life:
“I was embracing very much my culture. My African heritage, which is one part of me. And I’ve always been in African dance – Africa has always been a staple in my household and in my life. The drums mean an awful lot to me – it’s just where I was at the time and I wanted to be completely who I was when I did what I did.”

On her most memorable song:
“When I turned in that demo, “Other Side of The Game” was not there. The song “Sometimes” was not there. Those songs were done as a collaboration with The Roots. I met The Roots after I got the record deal. The album was ready to go, but I persuaded the label to let me just go to Philly right quick and I just gotta pick up a couple things that’ll round this thing off. And I met Amir (Questlove). We went to lunch. I went to Philly ended up living in the house with him and Jazzy Fat Nasties for about three weeks. And D’Angelo came down there and we came up with a lot of songs, but those were the ones, “Other Side of The Game” and “Sometimes” were the one.”