Baduizm

Erykah Badu | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 11, 1997)
• Original Release Date: February 11, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B000005AYM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,568 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #4 in Music > R&B > Neo-Soul
  • #19 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental Rap
  • #63 in Music > Blues > Contemporary Blues

Editorial Reviews

BADU ERIKAH BADUIZM

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent debut for Erykah and her sound, January 6, 2000

By 

MilesAndTrane (Chicago, Il USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baduizm (Audio CD)

With all the naked sounding R&B, elevator jazz and overproduced soul music out there, this album is a left-field surprise. "Baduizm" has a clear-headed grip on R&B, jazz, funk and soul all at once. Only D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" album can contest with this one for best debut of the 90's. The album has a very slow, mellow vibe to it, with occasional punches of energy, like on the funky "Appletree." This is the type of music where you could relax with your lover, do the dishes, or cook dinner. It works on many levels. Erykah's lyrics have a very positive, earthy, rastafarian vibe to them and she tries not to be too preachy; although you can always smell the incense when she sings. This album actually sounds like something that might have emerged from the ecclectic, early 1990's; when rap, R&B, and soul artists weren't all trying to sound like each other.

Some people say Lauryn Hill is everything that Erykah Badu wanted to be. This doesn't sound anything like Lauryn Hill and it shouldn't. Erykah carved out a nice sound for herself on this album that should guarantee her longevity in music as long as she expands on it. A great, jazzy "chillin' out" album.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Original. Marvelous. Distinguished., September 22, 2002

By 

The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baduizm (Audio CD)

Erykah Badu's debut album is loaded with old school jazz and modern r&b that's as tighly woven as her famous mile-high headdress. "Badizum" is a classy, towering release; for me, it conjures up images of a Saturday evening at your local jazz club or a cool, sun-drenched Sunday morning. It gives off a calming, peaceful vibe, and it's a near-masterpiece that can't be likened to anything else. Badu's voice, often compared to the grittiness of Billie Holliday, is elegantly restrained; yet, it is its modesty that makes it all the more powerful. There's the jazzed-up swing of the hit "On and On," the soulful swagger of "Four Leaf Clover," and the bangin' "Rimshot." Badu's voice is effortlessly smooth as she croons her way through these slightly hip-hop-flavored slices of r&b. I was first introduced to the music of Badu at a beach party a few years back. The single was "On and On," whose hook made me take a mental note to run and grab her disc. I'm glad I did. And so will you.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Personal Favorite Album, February 24, 2002

By 

Anthony Humphrey (Manhattan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baduizm (Audio CD)

Erykah Badu is a very gifted & talented singer, songwriter and actress. Her soothing blends of old-school jazz & soul influences create an amazing backdrop of seductive beats, and a distinctive vocal style. With a musical approach that contains highly mature lyrics, Badu scats her way through an album of masterpieces.

From the opening "Rimshot Intro" all the way to the closing "Rimshot Outro", Badu offers us an in depth look into her wonderful life filled with poetic visions and respected insights. "On & On" is a treasure, as is the hip-hop influenced "Apple Tree". "Otherside of the Game" is silky smooth and my personal favorite track "Next Lifetime" is a tale of reincarnated love.

Though some found "Afro" humarious, it carried a very distinct message, that Badu plays nobodys fool. Other sure fire favorites include "Certainly", "Four Leaf Clover", "Drama" and "Sometimes".

The lyrical content varies from track to track, and its nice to hear Badu's unique style of blended music put together onto one terrific album. She is definetly gifted and I hope that all her releases leave me as happy as this one in the future.