Solange Pays Tribute to Erykah Badu: 'She Is A Beautiful Reminder That You Cannot Put Us In The Box'

Solange Knowles has never been shy about her admiration for Erykah Badu.

The “Cranes in the Sky” songstress made that even clearer Thursday night when she gave a touching tribute to Badu at ESSENCE ‘s 8th annual Black Women in Music event in Los Angeles.

“She is mother, she is sister, she is friend, she is auntie, she is chief, she is warrior of many tribes,” Solange said while introducing Badu. “She is a beautiful reminder that you cannot put us in a box.”

It’s been 20 years since the world was first blessed with Badu’s seminal debut album, Baduizm, a Grammy Award winning accomplishment that many Solange acknowledged was a gamechanger.  

“She is empress of the mystic women, ruler of the freaks, our green-eyed desert-stomping goddess, and she has been that for 20 years as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the genre defying and defining Baduizm” she said.

Citing Badu as a mentor, Solange also talked about a 3am phone call they shared following the release of Solange’s critically-acclaimed album A Seat At The Table. Overwhelmed by the pressures and expectations following the release, Solange said she turned to Badu for advice as a “woman who’s written the songs we all have confessed and saluted ourselves in.” 

Janelle Monae, Lalah Hathaway, Faith Evans, Chloe x Halle and Estelle were among the many that were in attendance to celebrate this Queen.