Analysis Of Erykah Badu's Song Booty

Erykah Badu talks about what another woman has versus what she has and how her man still wants Erykah, in her song “Booty.” In the first verse she says, “your booty might be bigger, but I still can pull your nigga.” This brings up a good point, often in hip hop and the culture surrounding it, a girl with a big booty is more desireable. Slim figured, Erykah Badu is contradicting that by saying she can still get the other girl’s man. This song is interesting because throughout the versus Erykah is basically ridiculing the other woman and showing while she is better, showcasing the expected competition between women for a man’s attention. Than in the refrain Erykah is explaining why she does not want a man that is already involved with someone, it is likely that he would do it to her to, she is also warning the other woman and urging her

to let him go because he is not good enough for her. Instead of being competitive and judgemental, she encourages women to stick together and watch out for each other. The point of what Erykah sings about herself could go a few ways, either she is putting herself down in a sense, because she is basically saying that the other woman has a bigger butt, is smarter, harder working, and more caring but the man still likes Erykah better. On the other hand she could be expressing confidence in herself and how just being herself can attract the attention of another woman’s man.
This song also shows that although women have different qualities, they are still desirable. For example, in the first verse Erykah sings this: “you know the whole encyclopedia, but your nigga thinks I’m deeper.” Some guys may think that an incredibly smart girl is the way to go but others may think that someone deeper, more in tune with herself and her thoughts of the world around her is the better option.
“Booty” also raises some thought about the use of language to describes people. Erykah only refers to the man as “nigga,” which could mean nothing, but could also be seen as a derogatory and mean description of the man. Men in this song are portrayed as unfaithful, untrustworthy because of what they do to women. Even though by the description of the other woman it seems clear that she is pretty good catch, the man is still out trying to get other women. Some parts of the song also show men as shallow, saying that what they look for in a woman is often someone with a big booty that can dance, cook and satisfy him.
This song also shows a defiance of male female roles, as discussed above.

The lines: “you got a nine-to-five and a six-to-ten, but your nigga told me not to work again,” exemplifies that. The woman has to work several shifts to support herself and possibly her man, but the man tells Erykah that she does not need to work, meaning he will take care of her. This could be taken as a sign of respect for Erykah, saying that she means enough to him not to have to work. So, the man can be caring and have good qualities but by looking at the bigger picture, and seeing what he is doing to the woman he is supposedly with, it is clear that he is not doing the right thing. If he likes Erykah and what she has going for her better than his woman, he should do right by the woman he is with and brake it off before going after someone else. Eykah mentions not wanting the man because he has not made any arrangements with his woman, like agreeing to see other women, or breaking up. In general, it seems like Erykah believes a man should respect his woman, and women should also respect each other rather than being jealous and judgemental of each

other.