New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War | Erykah Badu

New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War | Erykah Badu | Keep growing!

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New Amerykah, Pt. ...

	New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War Erykah Badu Motown, 2008 average customer review:based on 155 reviews view larger image
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Artistic YES!

For those who have written that they didnt understand Erykah on this album, need to really sit and rethink thier position. This album is a classic, just like the others she has put out. She is the true epitome of an artist. What first got you onto listening to Erykah Badu? More than likely it was because she brought a breath of fresh air, and creativity to a music industry that had lost its way.

So when Baduizm first dropped, you heard the songs on there and said, "Wow, this is different, and I like this" So what is the problem now?

"Me" This song is deep. Remember Erykah Badu has now been aquainted with the teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad as taught by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. So this song reflects alot of that. The fact she said that she was born on Saviours Day (which is a convention of the Nation of Islam celebrating the birth of Master Fard Muhammad), then she even calls out to our leader, teacher and Guide by name, Min. Louis Farrakhan. It dont get no better than that

"Soldier" This song is raising Black conscience again. Revolution, she says "baptized when the levy broke" then she again makes reference to the "Bow ties and the Final Calls, and if you thinking bout turnin back, I got the shotgun on your back" Like Harriet Tubman who would make the slaves go on to freedom.

"Master Teacher" Nation time to the fullest. What if there were no niggas only Master Teachers? DEEP. The Master Teacher came in July 1930 and taught one who was among us face to face for 3 years. This is what we all strive to become, teachers, part of the 5%.

Hump this is a song to all those who are dealing with substance abuse. She wrote it from thier perspective. Then what was so clean about it is that she broke it down with a Switch interpolation right in the middle

Telephone was a RIP track, remembering some of those who passed away, and HONEY is the cut, self explanatory. If you dont like this album, then you not a real fan

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Keep growing!

I like this album. Most of the songs were good, not mind blowers like some that she has had in the past. I really like 4 songs on the album, the rest are just ok. My favorite Badu album is Mama's Gun.

I think that Erykah took her leanings to be more experimental and merged them with what her traditional (Baduizm) fans would like to hear. But I say she should follow her inclinations and see where they lead. I did not like every song on the album, but I don't have that expectation. If artist don't change and test the market then they will never grow. Instead of people complaining that her album is not the "same Erykah"... they will compain that it's the "same old Erykah". Artist have to complete a project and then they have to sing the same songs at hundreds of events during a year and sometimes for years if the song becomes a hit. So just like everyone else has asperations to grow, improve, and incorporate change into their jobs... I would say that it is reasonable for artists to feel the same way.

Therefore, I would recommend the album, but only to those that listen to something other than the same old stuff you hear on the radio - traditional R&B and traditional "Neo-Soul". Neo-Soul was new over 10 years ago. She was one of the pioneers then, I think she will continue to be a leader in bringing us new music, if we let her.

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(Hip-hop) love of Erykah's life

In 200? Erykah surprised/shocked a few people with the release of `Love Of My Life' a duet with Common dedicated to hip-hop (she even raps on the video). This was a little bit unusual for the lady who had built a reputation as the neo-soul queen. Truthfully that track should not have been so surprising as the 1st single to her previous album sampled none other than Dr Dre (Xplosive from 2001). It was therefore not such a huge shock when I learned that the 1st single to her new album was produced by 9th Wonder (great video). What did shock me however was how far she takes the hip-hop influence in her album.

Most soul singers would have gone with Will.I.Am, Wyclef Jean, Kanye West or even The Neptunes (see Estelle) to create a radio ready but hip-hop sound. Ms Badu goes underground (in an attempt to channel the late great J Dilla) choosing Madlib (MF Doom), 9th Wonder (Little Brother) and chief contributors Sa-Ra Creative Partners.

The result is a disjointed effort which at first listen sounds like a mixtape styled blending of rhymes over beats. The production tends to be the dominant presence in this album when it was her voice (and skilled penmanship) that fuelled her past albums. Erykah herself also strays from her mainstay of melodies that accentuate her voice and opts for chants that are delivered in a rap like fashion, `The Cell'. As if taking a queue from collaborator Georgia Ann Muldrow she even distorts/contorts her voice to create an instrument sounds on `The Cell', `Twinkle' and `Master Teacher'.

Only in the final quarter of the album does Erykah return to the style that she is best known for. `That Hump' and `Telephone' leave you wishing that the album could continue for another 30 minutes.

After several listens however you as you begin to grasp the politically charged lyrics and you grow accustomed to the musical stylings of Sa-Ra the album starts to grow on you. And while it is far from my favourite Erykah CD it does have a place in my collection; next to J Dilla's "Donuts", filed under the section WAY AHEAD OF ITS TIME

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True Erykah

You definitely have to be a true Badu fan to get with this one. Not as good as her live album, but it eventually grows on you.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, page 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

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