Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu is one of those rare newcomers who established her own identifiable stamp immediately: both musically and sartorially. With soulful, jazz-inflected hip-hop and the aged warmth of her Billie Holiday-tinged voice, Badu brings a knowing woman's perspective to the budding new soul movement spearheaded by male stars such as Maxwell, D'Angelo and Tony Rich. With her afro-centric tunics and signature head-wrap, she's also become an exotic magazine-cover favorite.

Both denote a simple, important fact: Badu, like all meaningful artists, is cutting her own swatch from the fabric of American music. "I believe each woman should have her own personal wrap, her own personal style," Badu has said of her symbolic attire, with implications to both music and society.

Baduizm, her multi-platinum debut album, was perhaps the surprise of the year. Coming on the heels of the pre-released hit single "On & On," the record debuted at number one on Billboard's R&B album chart, number two on it's pop album chart and has gone on to achieve platinum status.

Badu claims her musical education began at a very tender age. "From the womb, I heard soul music," she told People. "My mother listened to Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, James Brown."

Born Erica Wright - a name she changed in college - Badu, now 26, grew up in Dallas. She attended Grambling as a theater major before dropping out to chase her musical dreams. She performed briefly with her cousin, Robert "Free" Bradford, under the names Dread N Irie and The Bomb Factory. Eventually, she was signed to a solo deal and made the now noteworthy Baduizm.

That album, and the follow-up Live - a rewarding testament to her ability to bare witness on stage as well as in the studio - have both evoked the praise of critics who recognize Badu's talent as a reflection of a self-assured woman of the '90s. Nowhere is that more boldly illustrated than the back cover art of the Live album, on which Badu is pictured with head wrapped but pregnant belly proudly exposed.

In addition to Best New Artist, Badu has been nominated for Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance GRAMMYs, rounding out an eventful first year for this captivating new lady of song.

--David Konjoyan