Erykah Badu Discusses Her New Mixtape, Relationship with Drake, and Twitter Jokes

While eating a bag of chips, Ms. Badu talked about her new music, her friendship with Drake, her hilarious Twitter and hosting the Soul Train Music Award.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Despite being shrouded in mystery, Erykah Badu is more popular than ever due to a blend of her clever social media presence, her storied musical career, and her budding relationships and support of some of today's most dynamic contemporary artists. 

Each of those factors were on full display when Ms. Badu stopped by COMPLEX to discuss her latest mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone. Erykah tells us that the tape slated to drop on Nov. 27 is an 11-track project that features production from Zach Witness. Witness is the producer who crafted both Erykah's "HOTLINE BLING BUT U CAINT USE MY PHONE MIX​" and her most recent song, "Phone Down." She elaborates on what she calls her "new frequency" and the direction she wants to take her music going forward, calling this mixtape her "side bitch."

She's also hosting this year's Soul Train Music Award, and Erykah's not shy to take the stage as the master of ceremony. In fact, she co-hosted the awards show back in 1998 alongside Patti LaBelle and Heavy D. Since then she's gone on to tackle several other types of performances, so this should be a walk in the park for the veteran R&B artist. We also asked her about Drake's line off "Days in the East" where he mentions hanging out with her and having tea, which if we're being honest, sounds tight as fuck. 

And of course, we had to address that Twitter moment when she threatened to snatch a woman's boyfriend. If anyone can do it, Ms. Badu can.

Check out the full interview above and make sure to check back this Friday for the release of But You Caint Use My Phone. And tune into the Soul Train Awards airing on Centric and BET, this Sunday, November 29 at 8pm ET.​

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