CASE STUDY
For my case study I will be researching about the Neo-soul genre , including the artist who are within the genre . The artist I have chosen are Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.
ABOUT NEO-SOUl
Neo-soul is a genre that was first introduced in the late 1980s early 1990s by kedar Massenburg,who wanted to create a new genre that combined both contemporary R&B and soul together. This genre also include other elements from different genres such as ; African music, funk, jazz, and Hip hop. Neo soul artist are also well known for their spiritual concious lyrics and large female appearances. The genre began gaining a large amount of popularity in the early 90s with new upcoming artist such as Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, D'angelo, And Maxwell etc. Since Neo soul mainstream popularity its diversity has rapidly increased over the years both in America and internationally. But since the Early 2000s its popularity has declined.
By wikipedia (3/5/17) available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_soul (accessed 28/5/17)
By wikipedia (3/5/17) available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_soul (accessed 28/5/17)
ARTISTS
Erykah Badu: Erykah Badu is a African American singer songwriter, record producer, activist and actress. Erykah became popular after she opened a show for D'angelo in 1994. Kedar Massenburg an American record producer witnessed her appearance at the show and was impressed by her performance, so he instantly signed her to his record company called Kedar entertainment. Badu first album was released on 11th February in 1997 and it was called Baduizm.
Baduizm
Erykah debut album Baduizm gained a large amount of popularity with big hits such as On&On, Apple tree and Next lifetime.The same year Badu won 2 Grammy awards for best R&B album and best female R&B vocal performance. the recording of this album began in september to October of 1996. Erykah Badu did the Leading, and backing vocals of most of her songs as wells playing the keyboard, drum machine and other music programming. Ike lee, The Roots, Bob Power, Madukwu Chinwah, Tone the backbone, and JaBorn Jamal etc, are some producers and instrumentalists who helped with the creation of Baduizm
What song influence you with your own music?
The songs that have influenced me from the Baduizm album is On &On and Apple tree. The reason why these 2 songs have influenced me is because they sound diverse because Badu has included certain elements from different genres such as funk, hip hop and soul. Lyrically her music is interesting because she includes a certain amount of knowledge within her music, so you can both learn and enjoy at the same time. her songwriting techniques are also really unique because she design them in a way as if she is telling you a bedtime story or a poem. Badu lyrics are also repetitive and catchy, I believe she does this to allow the listeners understand the message she is trying to give out. I have tried to include these factors within my music for example, in my original African Queen
I have continuously repeated phrases such as "Your the African Queen In your heart, Your the African in your soul" and "Your body is a temple of knowledge", to make the audience understand the message I'm giving out. The instruments i have used are mainly acoustic, but I have used a drum machine to make it sound more modern. Within My music I have also tried to include knowledgable quotes for example (African queen) "Your body is a temple of knowledge" is an ancient Egyptian proverb. I included this quote to allow the audience to understand that your body is more powerful than what you believe. I had also included words such as "dipped in chocolate" and "bronzed by the sun".
What makes Badu special to you?
I see Erykah as an Afrocentric, unique charcter. She is very knowledable about who she is and her history. I love the her songwriting techniques , and the way she intertwines knowledge within her music,so audience is able to learn and enjoy the music at the same time.
Baduizm
Erykah debut album Baduizm gained a large amount of popularity with big hits such as On&On, Apple tree and Next lifetime.The same year Badu won 2 Grammy awards for best R&B album and best female R&B vocal performance. the recording of this album began in september to October of 1996. Erykah Badu did the Leading, and backing vocals of most of her songs as wells playing the keyboard, drum machine and other music programming. Ike lee, The Roots, Bob Power, Madukwu Chinwah, Tone the backbone, and JaBorn Jamal etc, are some producers and instrumentalists who helped with the creation of Baduizm
What song influence you with your own music?
The songs that have influenced me from the Baduizm album is On &On and Apple tree. The reason why these 2 songs have influenced me is because they sound diverse because Badu has included certain elements from different genres such as funk, hip hop and soul. Lyrically her music is interesting because she includes a certain amount of knowledge within her music, so you can both learn and enjoy at the same time. her songwriting techniques are also really unique because she design them in a way as if she is telling you a bedtime story or a poem. Badu lyrics are also repetitive and catchy, I believe she does this to allow the listeners understand the message she is trying to give out. I have tried to include these factors within my music for example, in my original African Queen
I have continuously repeated phrases such as "Your the African Queen In your heart, Your the African in your soul" and "Your body is a temple of knowledge", to make the audience understand the message I'm giving out. The instruments i have used are mainly acoustic, but I have used a drum machine to make it sound more modern. Within My music I have also tried to include knowledgable quotes for example (African queen) "Your body is a temple of knowledge" is an ancient Egyptian proverb. I included this quote to allow the audience to understand that your body is more powerful than what you believe. I had also included words such as "dipped in chocolate" and "bronzed by the sun".
What makes Badu special to you?
I see Erykah as an Afrocentric, unique charcter. She is very knowledable about who she is and her history. I love the her songwriting techniques , and the way she intertwines knowledge within her music,so audience is able to learn and enjoy the music at the same time.
The Editors of encyclopaedia Britnncia (10-19-2014) ERYKAH BADU AMERICAN SINGER SONGWRITER (online)
available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Erykah-Badu (accessed 28/5/17)
By Wikipedia (28/5/17) Baduizm (Online) Available at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baduizm (Accessed 1/6/17)
Lauyn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill is an African American singer songwriter, record producer and actress. When Lauryn was in middle school she sang the Star-Spangled Banner In a basketball game, it caught a lot of attention and was used as a video in many other games afterwards. 1988 She had also entered into an ameture night contestant at apollo singing Smokey Robinson who's lovin you. It didn't so great for Lauryn as she ended getting booed off stage.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hills debut Album was Released in August 25th 1998, it earned 10 nomination and won 5 awards it also sold over 8 million copies in America and 19 million would wide. The reason why i am inspired by this album is because of the Hill was able to include her opinions and knowledge about the world. In an interview years later Lauryn had said."When some women are pregnant, their hair and their nails grow, but for me it was my mind and ability to create. I had the desire to write in a capacity that I hadn't done in a while. I don't know if it's a hormonal or emotional thing ... I was very in touch with my feelings at the time." By wikipedia (Background) The miseducation of Lauryn Hill (3 May 2017, at 19:36.) available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miseducation_of_Lauryn_Hill (2/5/17). The songs that i am influenced by from this album are Doo Wop ( That Thing), and Nothing even matters (D'angelo). Lyrically these songs are very powerful , especially "doo wop as she talks how women should respect themselves much more than they do. For my songs I wanted to create songs about love and embracing who you are, these two songs where some of the songs I listened too to create my originals.
By Carvell Wallace Contributor (July 10 2016 )Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (online) available at: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22035-the-miseducation-of-lauryn-hill/
by wikipedia (1/6/17) (online)available at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauryn_Hill (accessed 1st june 2017)
By wikipedia (28/6/17) available at :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miseducation_of_Lauryn_Hill
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