The “kah” in her stage name refers to an ancient Egyptian term for one’s soul or “inner self,” while “ba-du” is her favorite jazz-scat sound. Her stage name has ancient (and musical) originsĪ Dallas native, Erykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright on February 26, 1971.

So, in honor of her gloriously sunlit March Vogue cover, we’re breaking down five things you might not know about the soul icon. And yet, all the while, Badu has maintained an air of almost magical mystery about her a not-quite-of-this-world-ness, despite being born and bred in Texas. The intervening years have seen her win four Grammy Awards, release four more studio albums, become a doula, give an incredible Tiny Desk Concert, and-most recently-emerge as something of a fashion plate, striding the cobblestone runway at Vogue World: New York and ascending the Met Gala red carpet in Thom Browne and Marni.

Ever since the release of her chart-topping, critically beloved debut record, Baduizm, in 1997, Erykah Badu has been a force to reckon with.

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