ERYKAH BADU Vinyl Records and CDs

At a time when popular hip-hop is obsessed with all things gold and diamond-studded, and R&B myopically focuses on any and everything carnal, Erykah Badu has emerged as the earthy counterpoint to the trends of the day. Badu's Contemporary R&B echoes with strains of lush 1970s Soul, cucumber-cool jazz and modern day hip-hop -- a blend that makes her music a noteworthy standout in a sea of Xeroxed sound-alikes. The music, however, only serves as a backdrop for Badu's unflappable, purring vocals, which have garnered much deserved comparisons to the legendary Billie Holiday. While Badu remains most revered for the musical impression she leaves on listeners, equally important to her success are her forthright take on feminism and her firm belief in cultivating inner spirituality.