Introduction to 3 Kids
The talented singer-songwriter is a mom of three kids: Seven Sirius Benjamin (25), Puma (19), and Mars (15). In addition to her family life, she is a doula who assisted in delivering her celebrity friends’ bundles of joy – like Teyana Taylor. Erykah even had home births for her own children, and she live-tweeted the birth of her youngest.
The singer has always been transparent about the one-of-a-kind way she raises her kids – by being one of those hands-on super-invested-in-her-children’s-education kind of parents. She told me in 2016, ”I don’t feel like a single mom, even though each of my kids has a different father.” Instead, she believes her family to be a village.
Erykah is quick to chat about her kid’s individual personalities. Mars, her youngest, is 7 and Sillery says she is “a gymnast in the making” and also loves sports. Her middle child, Puma, is almost a split image of the embattled singer, both physically and chemically. Seven Sirius Benjamin, her oldest, is a dead ringer for dad, too.
She is very supportive of them and their futures. She also does not push her kids to step into her musical shoes. “Not even small versions of me,” she adds. They can pick and choose whatever way they want to go. And the singer – whose hits include “On & On,” “Bag Lady,” and “Love of My Life” – is “very appreciative” that her children have been so embracing of her career, she says, as they are well aware that she is a musician. She insists that, if they want to go into entertainment, then you better believe that she will be there to wipe their backsides the way they did to her.
Erykah Badu and her journey as a mother and artist fills us with so much hope and admiration for the way she made her home a place of love and mutual understanding. She appreciates that they are not like her; she accepts who they are and props them up and encourages them to follow their own paths while being a nontoxic, loving presence in their lives.
Erykah Badu’s 3 Kids
1. Seven Sirius Benjamin
Seven Sirius Benjamin was born Nov 18, 1997 in Dallas, Texas. Son of hip-hop legend, Andre Benjamin better known as Andre 3000 and songstress, Erykah Badu. Seven is also naturally talented in music, following on the footsteps of his two famous parents. So, with either of his parents he’s been doing music since he was a child. In 2008, Erykah Badu told PEOPLE magazine that she and Seven “play electric guitars together a lot.” He also plays the upright bass in his school orchestra, studied piano for four years, and has a stunning singing voice. Seven has inherited his dad’s eclectic tunes and topped musical tastes, per Badu.
Badu felt a strong need to homeschool Seven when he was young, believing it would give him an academic edge. She wanted to make sure he got special attention and learned discipline and good study habits. This dedication paid off because Seven became one of the top students in his school and in all of Dallas. In 2016, Badu proudly announced on Twitter that Seven had been accepted into four different colleges. She shared a throwback photo of him as a baby and expressed her joy, saying it felt good for parents to see their dreams for their children come true.
Although Seven keeps a low profile and doesn’t use social media, he sometimes appears on his parents’ accounts. His life, filled with music and academic achievements, reflects the love and care his parents have invested in him. Seven Sirius Benjamin’s story is a beautiful testament to the power of dedicated parenting and the lasting influence of a musical legacy.
2. Puma
Puma Sabti Curry was born on July 5, 2004, in Dallas, Texas. Her dad is the famous rapper Tracy Lynn Curry, also known as The D.O.C.
After Puma was born, Erykah Badu’s publicist made it clear that Puma’s name wasn’t inspired by the sports brand. “Erykah is more grounded than that. It’s more likely the name has a natural or meaningful origin,” her publicist told PEOPLE.
Puma is following in her parents’ musical footsteps. For Erykah Badu’s 47th birthday, Puma sang a beautiful cover of Rihanna’s “Stay” to celebrate. Erykah proudly shared this heartfelt moment on Instagram.
Besides her musical talent, Puma has also stepped into the modeling world. She posed with her mom in a stunning Vogue Mexico editorial spread. Erykah, who was the artistic director for the 2017 shoot, shared many behind-the-scenes photos, including a charming selfie of them in colorful pink and orange wigs. “Me and Puma … and we ARE smilin,” Erykah captioned the post.
Puma also has a vibrant social media presence, where she showcases her personality and many talents. She’s carving out her own path in the spotlight, just like her famous parents.
3. Mars
Mars Merkaba, born on February 1, 2009, in Dallas, Texas, has quite the musical legacy. Her dad is the talented rapper and producer Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah, who you might know as Jay Electronica. Mars’ entrance into the world was quite the event, live-tweeted by her mom, the iconic singer Erykah Badu. She shared her labor journey on Twitter after a playful challenge from Questlove of The Roots, who said, “I bet you won’t Twitter while you’re in labor.” Erykah took that bet and kept her followers updated throughout the experience.
Once Mars arrived, Erykah tweeted about the profound moment when their eyes met for the first time, reflecting on the wonder of her daughter’s new spirit. Though Mars isn’t active on social media, glimpses of her pop up on her parents’ accounts. In February 2022, Erykah posted a heartfelt birthday tribute to her youngest child on Instagram. She praised Mars for being an amazing visual artist, actor, bass player, comedian, dancer, student, and a wonderfully patient daughter. Erykah expressed immense pride in Mars’ creative spirit and personality.
Mars has been surrounded by music since he was a young child. Erykah also posted an emotional video of her and the queen singing in a car with the caption, “THAT day, THAT moment, THAT GODDESS.” In spite of whether vulnerable Mars will continue with her parent’s lead in the entertainment business, one thing is clear: Mars is already a star in the making.
