Erykah Badu

Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), better known by her stage name Erykah Badu (pronounced /ˈɛrɨkə bɑːˈduː/), is an American recording artist, record producer and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical stylings and sense of fashion. She is known as the "First Lady of Neo-Soul" or the "Queen of Neo-Soul". Being a black Muslim woman, Badu is able to make a name for herself in the world of hip hop and soul music. She exemplifies her beliefs and cultural views through her music and sends out messages to her listeners, which are influenced by her experience of being a modern-day black Muslim woman.

Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for wearing very large and colorful headwraps. For her musical sensibilities, she has often been compared to jazz great Billie Holiday. She was a core member of the Soulquarians, and is also an actress having appeared in a number of films playing a range of supporting roles in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules, House of D, and the documentary Before the Music Dies. - Wikipedia