Erykah Badu: Queen of Neo-Soul Talks Fashion, HBCU Experience, Social Media and More

07.10.23
Erykah Badu: Queen of Neo-Soul Talks Fashion, HBCU Experience, Social Media and More (Omar Vega via Getty Images)

Los AngelesGrammy award winning artist, song-writer, actress and producer Erykah Badu is on her “Unfollow Me” tour which will conclude in early September in her hometown of Dallas. After her recent Los Angeles concert, she invited fans to a room under the Crypto arena for an intimate Q&A.

Badu explained that her team would be recording which would eventually be put in a documentary that she’s been working on for many years. 

She is known for her eye-catching fashions from her stuffed animal boots to her tall hats. “Things that feel good on me that I like is my style. So I don't know what inspires it,” she said when asked what inspired her style. 

The neo-soul songstress spoke a little about her HBCU experience. She attended Grambling State University in Louisiana and was a theater major with a minor in physics. 

“That contributed to my confidence ‘cause I knew that I could learn and I knew I could be disciplined,” she said. “I had instructors and teachers who believed in me that were very hard on me all the time. So that really contributed to my confidence. Because I know how to go out in the world and govern myself,” she said.  

Badu was not shy about sharing the meaning of her tour name, cancel culture and how addicting phones can be. 

“I really want people to unfollow and I'm lost too. I want you to find your own way.” she said, and expressed how the first thing you do in the morning sets out the rest of your day, so to be intentional. “I notice the first thing that you do in the morning that gets you dopamine will be the thing that your body craves all day long,” she said after explaining why she no longer sleeps with her phone. 

Ariyana Griffin is a graduate student at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a California native and graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Follow her on Twitter: @Ariyanaaganee and Instagram: @ari.yana.g.

Edited by Nykeya Woods

Support the Next Generation of Content Creators
Invest in the diverse voices that will shape and lead the future of journalism and art.
donate now
Support the Next Generation of Content Creators
Invest in the diverse voices that will shape and lead the future of journalism and art.
donate now