Africa? Where's that?

Erykah Badu associates freely

by Gerard Dee

By infusing jazz sensibilities into hip hop grooves, Erykah Badu has put a refreshing sound on the urban landscape. Her raspy, understated vocal delivery spins sophisticated musical tales throughout her debut album Baduizm, while her style, a combination of Motherland chic and Southern simplicity, distinguishes her from the B-girl pack. The Mirror caught up with Badu on the eve of her first Montreal show.

Mirror: Hi, Erykah, you sound like you're in the middle of something quite hectic.

Erykah Badu: Yeah, but it's fun.

M: You still enjoy the whole process?

EB: You just have to remember the purpose and be patient.

M: Whenever I've seen you perform, you create this aura on stage...

EB: What I'm tryin' to do is effortless, be me. It doesn't take any planning. Whatever I feel, that's what I do. And I really think that's what the fans appreciate.

M: You seem to have a very specific vision for your career in this industry...

EB: Well, it's effortless being me, but I guess the job is to convince a multimillion dollar label that being you will sell you. The record labels are in business to make money. So I have to know how to market myself in order to let the record company achieve their goals and not compromise myself at the same time.

M: Is that a difficult line for you to walk?

EB: No.

M: Okay, um, would you mind doing a little word association thing?

EB: Uh, sure. But if it gets too silly, I'll just say "uh-uh."

M: Okay, first word is Dallas.

EB: Home.

M: Wu-Tang Clan.

EB: My niggas.

M: Mary J. Blige.

EB: Fly.

M: Africa.

EB: That's not the original name.

M: I'm sorry?

EB: The first thing that popped into my mind was that's not the original name. The word Africa comes from a European explorer named Africanus who, like Christopher Columbus, came into somebody's backyard and said he discovered it. But Africa is the root of life.

M: Tea.

EB: That's my throat.

M: Atlantic Starr.

EB: Nostalgia.

M: The Black Panthers.

EB: Peace after revolution.

M: Eric Bené.

EB: Smooth.

M: Hip hop.

EB: Something you live, not something you do.

M: Baduizm.

EB: An album designed to get you high.

Erykah Badu hits Dôme Thursday, June 5 at 8pm. Tickets are $24.50 + tax. Info: 790-1245