Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDFed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p.23. Erykah Badu's song "Master Teacher" popularized the expression stay woke in the meaning of to continue to be "self-aware, questioning the dominant paradigm and striving for something better." [159] Hunter: As we developed the script, we built it into the story to create a purpose and a mythology to the headwrap. It was brilliant. Poyser: We’re messing around, and she starts soloing over the 12-bar blues — she calls them 12 ba-blues, as a joke. I think I was playing chords underneath with two hands, like “Heart and Soul” style. Then she grabbed the mic, started singing and that was it. Really, we were just playing around. She might have been talking about Questlove — she definitely wasn’t talking about me. [ Laughs.] Babyface, Erykah Badu and Boyz II Men Among Winners at American Music Awards. Johnson Publishing Company. February 16, 1998 . Retrieved April 15, 2009. {{ cite book}}: |work= ignored ( help)

Power: Before Erykah came along, no one really had the vision, or possibly the courage, to do something in that fashion. When you have a piece of art with great bones, you can just keep taking things away and it only gets better. New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)", Badu's fifth studio album, was released March 30, 2010, on Universal Motown in the United States. [73] It was released in Japan on April 14, 2010. [74] Upon release the album was met with general acclaim from critics. [75] The album debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 110,000 copies in its first week. [76] It also entered at number two on Billboard 's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [61] In the United Kingdom, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) debuted at number 56 on the UK Albums Chart and at number nine on the R&B Albums Chart. [77] [78] In Canada, the album debuted at number 36 on the Top 100 and at number five on the R&B Top 50 chart. [79] [80] New Amerykah Part Two achieved moderate chart success in international markets, peaking within the top 50 in several countries, including Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark. [77]a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 15, 2013 . Retrieved April 23, 2010. {{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title ( link) To focus on music full time Badu dropped out from Grambling State University. Badu then began working and touring with her cousin, Robert "Free" Bradford, during this period she recorded a 19-song demo, Country Cousins, which attracted the attention of Kedar Massenburg. Massenburg set a recording session up with D'Angelo to record, " Your Precious Love," and eventually signed her to a record deal with Universal Records. [9]

Poyser: There were quite a few jam sessions. I remember D’Angelo being there in the studio, too, and one day it was like the two of them on the mic, I think the Jazzy[ fatnastees]s were around… D was playing [piano], I was playing and Ahmir was playing. We just sang covers and created things for a good five, six hours. That was sort of the vibe.Badu doesn’t claim to be the queen of neo-soul, as it has been projected onto her since its inception. While she hasn’t necessarily been on board with being responsible for heading the curve, that doesn’t negate why Baduizm is the best neo-soul album of all time. Badu: I try to write every day. If I come across a new instrumental, new music or hear something and get inspired. Recently, I’ve just been remaking a lot of songs that have come out and putting them out just for shits and giggles. Even if I can’t think of anything or write anything, I’ll redo something or put my own spin on something. It keeps me inspired to make music. And when I can’t think of anything, I don’t stress it. That’s when I’m just living and collecting things to write about. Kennedy, Mark (January 25, 2018). "Erykah Badu claims supportive Hitler stance 'misconstrued' ". Miami Herald. New York City. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018 . Retrieved January 25, 2018. Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)". lescharts.com. Hung Medien . Retrieved December 25, 2011. Special Announcement – Janelle Monáe Latest News". Jmonae.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013 . Retrieved April 23, 2013.