Last month Erykah Badu participated in GQ’s Survivor series of interviews. In a feature by Sean Fennessey, Erykah spoke candidly her inspirations, her style, Flying Lotus and neo-soul. The following is an excerpt from that experience. interview by SEAN FENNESSEY images by MARK SELIGER In the mid-’90s, a record executive named Kedar Massenburg coined the term “neo-soul” to describe a new breed of R&B artists—particularly D’Angelo, Maxwell, Lauryn Hill, and a certain head-wrapped chanteuse from Dallas—who defined the incense-fogged utopianism of the period....

Rambunctious and lively, earthSista AlleyCat is not just the life of the party, she is the passion. Giving, loving and a truly good spirit, the soldier poet’s zest for life is infectious. Thoughtful and unpretentious, the earthSista is an ocean of urban grace. Creative and open, AlleyCat shares her joys and pains through verses that leave you moved and inspired. Her spirit has taken her all over the world and her heart always brings her home. And she brings that wealth of experience and wisdom in the works she shares. earthSista. earthMother. Queen. AlleyCat is truly the woman you step UP...

GreenRose is a Lady…21st Century-style. Vivacious and funny, she carries herself proudly without taking herself too seriously. She is focused and real in what she seeks and expects out of life. And she LIVES LIFE! She not the type to waste time on regrets and drama. GreenRose values the lessons of relationships and spares nothing in her reverence for God. A day with her is a day spent appreciating the miracles of moments. In the midst of a hot afternoon she and her best friend, FlowerChild created a second Nature Stroll image set together. Prior to the shoot she answered a few questions. ...

Sassy, moody, talkative. She is that sista that makes the scene and leaves an impression. MoreEssence will get in you face and engage you. Upbeat and full of  ‘tude, she is that earthMother who watches out for her own. MoreEssence makes her own way and commands proper respect. This earthMother is a loving soul who has had her share of difficulty and pain; difficulties that leave those little nicks and cuts on your spirit. But when you see her, you see a woman enjoying life, exploring self and building a bright future for herself and her loved ones. She is a lioness with vision. And she’s that...

The RenegadeBarbie doesn’t just march to the beat of her own drum, she BUILT the damn drum! She continues to build it. She defines the rules that will be the guiding posts for her own visions. Fiercely charismatic and creatively passionate, RenegadeBarbie is expressive and uninhibited. Her style is provocative, raw and full of swagger. Because her unique “in your face” style and her figurative adornments of tattoos and piercings RenegadeBarbie is coveted by SuicideGirls and Blacquewidowdolls as well. Yet as radical as she appears, she is still a loving mother, an adoring lover,...

Kirei Na means beautiful in Japanese. And like the EarthSista that bears the name, the word is poignant and graceful. And you would think she is quiet but she is not. Kirei Na is quite open once she lets you in and very warm. She is, also, a woman who (almost inadvertently) owns a room when she walks in. She is tiny but statuesque. Almost regal in her stance you’d never assume she was shy; reserved, maybe. Kirei Na exhibits a humble grace and a down home spirit. And she seems to be as comfortable in a country setting as she would be in an urban landscape. Kirei Na embraces family and God as her...

Beauty heard about the Garden, purely by chance. She was interested immediately. A very real and down to earth sista, Beauty simply lives life to the fullest as she searches for her place in. She is a woman always on the move as she explores various venues for her own creativity, while providing support for the creative endeavors of those closest to her. Beauty loves being in front of the camera and she eagerly seeks the opportunity to create provocative and striking images as you can tell from he recent captures in the sun. As soon as can fit it into her busy schedule, Beauty will create a new...

Hershey is an EarthSista on the move. Young, vibrant, and natural, this beautiful flower is a med student with a serious passion for dance and theater. Her affinity for perfomance grew out of her love for fashion and glamour. Today, she still dreams of owning a her own fashion boutique as well as a performance studio. This woman is doing everything she can to have it all. It is no doubt that with her ambition and energy, Hershey will be successful in whatever she decides to do. Although she is quite busy, Hershey loves her family and makes time whenever she can. Hershey also wants you all to know...