Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip-hop, Badu gained prominence in the late 1990s with her debut studio album "Baduizm" (1997), which positioned her as a leading figure in the neo soul movement and earned her the nickname "Queen of Neo Soul" from music critics. Her career began after opening for "D'Angelo" in 1994, which led to her signing with Kedar Entertainment. "Baduizm" produced four singles—"On & On", "Appletree", "Next Lifetime", and "Otherside of the Game"—and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).