No. 6 Erykah Badu
One of the first artists to put “neo-soul” on the map in the late 1990s, Mz. Badu was also one of the first to refuse to be limited by that genre tag or its aesthetics. Her musical influence can be seen in the work of Janelle Monae, India.Arie and countless others. One of the most creative and challenging artists of her generation, she brought Native Tongues-esque bohemianism and musical eclecticism to contemporary R&B.
