Today in Hip-Hop: Erykah Badu Drops ‘Baduizm’

On this day, Feb. 11th, in hip-hop history...

1997: On Feb. 11th, 1997, neo-soul and R&B star Eyrkah Badu dropped her debut album, Baduizm.

Born Erica Abi Wright, the Dallas, TX bred singer attended the Booker T. Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Grambling State University, but dropped out to concentrate on music full time. After a duet with fellow R&B titan D'Angelo caught the ear of executives at Universal Records, Badu signed a record deal in 1996 and dropped Baduizm to critical and commercial success in 1997.

Badu's ability to blend the genres of funk, jazz, hip-hop and soul were first exhibited on this album and her style took music by storm. Baduizm debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The 14-track LP was spearheaded by the singles "On & On," "Next Lifetime," "Otherside of the Game" and "Apple Tree." "On & On" would go on to win a Grammy for Best Female R&B Performance while the album as a whole won the 1998 Grammy for Best R&B Album.

Badu has proven her staying power as an artist over the years by releasing five more smash albums from 2000 to 2010 and working with everyone from Jill Scott and Common to OutKast and the Wu-Tang Clan. She recently made a comeback dropping her 2015 mixtape You Cain't Use My Phone.