"The kind of music or the kind of arrangements that I do, the kind of musicians I choose, is just what I like to hear"
About this Quote
The intent is deceptively modest. She’s not announcing genius; she’s insisting on agency. “Arrangements” and “the musicians I choose” signals that the statement isn’t just about vibes or lyrics. It’s about authorship at the level of infrastructure: who gets in the room, what textures are allowed, how groove and space are negotiated. In R&B and neo-soul especially, where authenticity is both a currency and a trap, Badu frames authenticity as a practical method rather than a marketing claim. I pick players I love. I build the music I want to replay.
The subtext is a soft rebuke to commodified “relatability.” By centering her own listening pleasure, she’s modeling a kind of creative self-trust that fans often read as integrity. It also explains why her work can feel timeless: it’s not tailored to a moment’s demands, but to an internal standard that outlasts them.
Quote Details
| Topic | Music |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Badu, Erykah. (2026, January 17). The kind of music or the kind of arrangements that I do, the kind of musicians I choose, is just what I like to hear. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-kind-of-music-or-the-kind-of-arrangements-50269/
Chicago Style
Badu, Erykah. "The kind of music or the kind of arrangements that I do, the kind of musicians I choose, is just what I like to hear." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-kind-of-music-or-the-kind-of-arrangements-50269/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"The kind of music or the kind of arrangements that I do, the kind of musicians I choose, is just what I like to hear." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-kind-of-music-or-the-kind-of-arrangements-50269/. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
