Today, the queen of Neo-soul music Erykah Badu celebrates her 50th trip around the sun. Known for her eccentric essence and soothing voice, Badu has released five solo albums and a number of notable collaborations with The Roots, Common, Teyana Taylor, Janelle Monáe, Outkast and more since the late nineties. 

In honor of her 50th birthday, here are Erykah Badu’s highest-charting releases on the all-genre Billboard 200 Albums chart. 

Her 1997 debut, Baduizm, peaked at #2 on the chart, and brought hypnotic singles, such as “On & On,” “Next Lifetime,” and “Appletree.” The 20-track effort won Erykah a Grammy for Best R&B album and led to a Live concert album, which peaked at #4 on the chart in 1997 as well. Baduizm and Live both topped Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop albums chart in 1997. 

Badu’s sophomore album, Mama’s Gun, peaked at #11 in 2000, spawning Grammy-nominated hits like “Bag Lady” and “Didn’t Cha Know?” 

2003’s Worldwide Underground EP, which peaked at #3 on the chart, was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Badu reminisced over her third album in a lengthy Instagram post last September for its 17th anniversary.

“Cheers to you, WWUG,” she wrote in the caption. “You are a sacred chapter in the scripture of EB.”

Badu’s 2008 album, New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War), peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, and featured production from Grammy-nominated rapper 9th Wonder.

2010’s New Amerykah: Part Two: Return of the Ankh, respectively peaked at #4, followed by 2015’s But You Caint Use My Phone at #14 and on the Top R&B albums chart at #2.

Cheers to the R&B queen, ERYKAH BADU!

By Rachel George
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