Motherhood plays a central role in Erykah Badu’s life. Along with raising her three children—son Seven, 27, and daughters Puma, 20, and Mars, 16—the singer-songwriter is a practicing doula, even assisting famous friends like Teyana Taylor with the birth of her second child. Badu also chose home births for her own children and famously live-tweeted the arrival of her youngest. Throughout the years, Badu has been transparent about her hands-on approach to parenting, including her active role in her children’s education. Though each child has a different father, she shared with The New Yorker in 2016 that she doesn’t consider herself a “single mom,” instead describing her family as a close-knit community.
Seven Sirius Benjamin was born on November 18, 1997, in Dallas, Texas. His father is hip-hop legend André Benjamin, better known as André 3000. Like his iconic parents, Seven has a natural musical talent, and he’s been making music with both of them since he was a kid. Seven and I practice our electric guitars together. He plays upright bass in his school orchestra. He took piano lessons for four years, and he has a beautiful voice. He probably shares the same eclectic tastes as his dad. I’d say his father is all in his DNA,” Badu told PEOPLE in 2008.
Puma Sabti Curry was born on July 5, 2004, in Dallas, Texas. Her father is rapper Tracy Lynn Curry, known professionally as The D.O.C After Puma’s birth, Badu’s representative clarified that her daughter’s name had no connection to the popular athletic brand. “Erykah is more down to earth than that. It’s more likely the name has deeper meaning, something natural,” her publicist told PEOPLE. Puma is following in the musical footsteps of her parents. She was spotted serenading her mother for Badu’s 47th birthday with a cover of Rihanna’s “Stay,” which the proud mom later shared on Instagram.
Mars Merkaba was born on February 1, 2009, in Dallas, Texas. Her father is rapper and producer Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah, better known as Jay Electronica. Badu made headlines by live-tweeting Mars’ birth, sharing with PEOPLE in 2009: “Questlove of The Roots said, ‘I bet you won’t Twitter while you’re in labor.’ I said, ‘I bet I will.’ So I did.” After Mars was born, the singer tweeted, “Her eyes are looking right into mine. She struggles to focus. I wonder where she just came from. I mean… her spirit.”