The music industry is full of talented artists, but few can match the timeless appeal and fashion-defying style of Erykah Badu. VOGUE chose the ethereal queen to cover the March 2023 issue, and she included her daughter, Puma, in the cover spread. She also invited fans into her recording studio, which she refers to as her “Badudio.” Get it all inside…
Erykah Badu, the queen of neo-soul, graces the cover of VOGUE magazine’s March 2023 issue in a stunning tribute to the singer’s timeless artistry and style. Badu, known for her unique blend of soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop, has been a trailblazer in the music industry for over two decades. With her innovative sound, captivating live performances, and bold fashion choices, Badu has earned her place as one of the most influential musicians of her generation. It’s about time she receive her flowers.
In recent years, Badu has become a sought-after style icon, inspiring fashion lovers and designers around the world. Her influence on fashion can be seen in the popularity of headwraps, oversized clothing, and bold prints, and her style continues to inspire new generations of fashion lovers.
While she has been a fashion icon for many over the years, mainstream fashion is just now catching up. Badu first appeared on the global Fashion Week circuit in September of last year.
She made her runway debut at Vogue World in New York in a plaid ERL suit layered over a Bode tunic, her neck dripping in her own eclectic jewelry. She accessorized a pair of his glitzy rhinestone Aladdin pants with a faux-fur headdress at the Tom Ford show a few nights later.
After stops in London for Burberry and Milan for Bottega Veneta, she returned to Paris with a dazzling array of looks for Thom Browne, Rick Owens, and Off-White. She finished her tour at Valentino, where she reinvented the Italian label’s popular Barbie pink, deftly pulling a hoodie up from beneath her marabou-feathered coat and piling on a massive hat.
According to Badu, she only began to understand the world of fashion late in her career.
“I didn’t know all the houses and names of designers until I was in my 30s or 40s,” she said. “What I had was a good understanding of look and shape, the way I did with paper dolls when I was a child.”
She rarely works with a stylist, does her own hair and makeup on the road, and still enjoys the thrill of the hunt when rummaging through local vintage stores.
“For me, it’s about seeing things coming together, like making a cake from beginning to end,” she said.
When the pandemic halted her touring, the pivot was swift and effective, which spawned the launch of Badubotron, a streaming platform that hosted concerts from Badu’s home for a nominal fee of $1. These drew over a hundred thousand fans who were enthralled by Badu’s elaborate costumes, wild performances, and otherworldly DIY sets. Badu and her band appeared to perform inside massive inflatable bubbles during one of her shows.
The singer’s popular online merchandise store, Badu World Market, was also launched. Everyone in the family came together to make it work, including her 18-year-old daughter, Puma, whom she shares with rapper the D.O.C.
It appears Puma will most likely to carry on the Badu mantle. Listening to her cover her mother’s songs on TikTok with your eyes closed, it’s nearly impossible to tell their voices apart.
Puma, who is featured in the cover spread with her mother, and her boyfriend Sean have been serving as Badu’s personal assistants for a little over a year, which includes ensuring Badu has the 15 to 20 trunks of clothing and accessories she requires on tour.
“I don’t know how other family workplace dynamics go,” Puma shared, “but it’s like a real job, and I have to buckle down and do what I need to do or else word is going to get to the CEO and I’m not going to get paid. You know what I mean?”
Badu is the mother of three children, Seven, 25, her son with OutKast member André 3000; Puma, 18, her daughter with rapper The D.O.C.; and Mars, 14, her daughter with hip-hop artist-producer Jay Electronica.
It’s been over 20 years since the singer, who is also a Reiki master, was inspired to become a doula after assisting a close friend’s labor. She said has lost count on how many babies she helped bring into the world. She now makes time each year for at least one or two expectant mothers, some of whom are friends and others whom she meets in passing.
“It’s a passion thing for her, she’s really invested,” explained Teyana Taylor, who asked Badu to be her doula after the two collaborated on music in 2020.
Not too long ago, R&B singer Summer Walker was expecting twins and Badu served as her doula.
“I’m kind of antsy, pacing between the sink and the stove, making sure I have everything,” she said, pacing between the sink and the stove.
It was her first multiple birth, and the first time Puma assisted.
“Puma is a very giving person,” she paused to collect her thoughts. “I like the lady she’s turning into.”
Love their mother-daughter relationship.
Check out more pictorials from her VOGUE spread below:
For legendary artist, music is medicine, so she has created a special place where she can create freely. Watch Vogue’s March cover star open up her home and reveal some of her most treasured objects of affection in her spiritual “badudio” (studio) below:
Erykah Badu’s fashion sense is a true reflection of her individuality and creativity. Her bold, eclectic, and authentic style has earned her a place in the fashion world and continues to inspire fashion lovers around the world. Whether she’s on stage or on the streets, Badu’s fashion sense is always a statement of self-expression and a true celebration of her unique and timeless style.
While she’s loved by many, some have not forgot how she championed for embattled R&B singer R. Kelly:
For the “when did that happen” people: https://t.co/dw9QOg5Y3N
— Clarkisha Kent (@IWriteAllDay_) February 8, 2023
Photo: Erykah’s IG
