Skip to content
  • Essence GU
  • Beautycon
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Afropunk
  • Essence Studios
  • Soko Mrkt
  • Ese Funds
  • Refinery29
  • WeLoveUs.shop
  • 2026 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Entrepreneurship
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
  • Subscribe
Home • Celebrity

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life

It's Erykah Badu's birthday! The queen is 45 and still a fountain of carefree wonder. Whether she's singing dope lyrics, dropping gems on social media or sharing her wisdom in an interview, Ms. Badu always embodies the glory of #BlackGirlMagic.
By Lauren Porter · Updated October 27, 2020
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
01
On Beauty

“Beauty looks like encouragement, patience, acceptance, forgiveness, carefulness and compassion.” ESSENCE May 2014

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
C Flanigan/WireImage
02
On Self-Awareness

“It’s time for me to make some steps easy to blame somebody else but not this time.” Out of My Mind, Just in Time

 

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
03
On Style

“I view my hair and clothes as functional art. I’m my own stylist and I love it, but I am not trying to make a statement.” ESSENCE May 2014

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
Tim Mosenfelder/Contributor
04
On Knowledge

“Peace and blessings manifest with every lesson learn, if your knowledge were your wealth then it would be well earned.” On & On

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
Paras Griffin/BET/Getty Images for BET
05
On Freedom

“My soul flies free like a willow tree.” Apple Tree

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
06
On Mistakes

“Guess I was born to make mistakes but I ain’t scared to take the weight so when I stumble off the path I know my heart will guide me back.” Didn’t Cha Know

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
Larry Marano/Getty Images for Jazz in the Gardens
07
On Being Used

“And if you don’t want to be down with me you don’t want to pick from my apple tree.” Apple Tree

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
Erika Goldring/Getty Images
08
On Letting Go

“Bag lady, you gon’ hurt your back Dragging all them bags like that.” Bag Lady

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
John Parra/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter
09
On Seduction

“I can make you put your phone down, you ain’t gonna text no one when you wit me, I can make you put your phone down, so you can show me attention” Phone Down

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
David A. Beloff/Getty Images
10
On Getting Over an Ex

“Never knew what a friendship was, never knew how to really love, you can’t be what I need you to, and I don’t know why I [mess] with you.” Green Eyes

10 Erykah Badu-izms to Get You Through Life
TOPICS:  Erykah Badu