New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War | Erykah Badu | Weird at First, but Erykah is weird

New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War | Erykah Badu | "I stay woke"

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New Amerykah, Pt. ...

	New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War Erykah Badu Motown, 2008 average customer review:based on 151 reviews view larger image
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Universal Motown's multi-platinum-selling, Grammy awardwinning singer/songwriter/actress Erykah Badu returns to the music scene with her new album "New Amerykah" featuring the debut single "Honey". Laced with Erykah's bluesy grit and MC style vocals, the song is bolstered by producer's 9th Wonder's razor sharp hip hop beats. Badu describes the song as "an old school track with some funk on it." The release of "Honey" on November 20th also marks Badu's 10th year in the music industry. To celebrate, the gifted trendsetter prepares the release of her much anticipated new album on her birthday, February 26th. Badu has enlisted some of the most talented, groundbreaking underground producers and engineers in the hip-hop game to support her breakthrough return, including Grammy Award winning producer 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Nas, Mary J. Blige), Madlib, Mike "Chav" Chavarria and R&B singer Bilal. A special, 12-inch pink wax edition will be available only to DJ's next month and will feature underground tracks, "The Healer" and "Real Thang." "The music is the star," says Erykah, "I just laid down my vocals and let the music breathe while the melodies tell the stories." This album is part one of the series New Amerykah Part 1&2.

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Weird at First, but Erykah is weird

Erykah Badu's 4th album New Amerykah is one of those headscratching releases. When I first heard the lead single Honey (great song by the way), I thought Erykah Badu was returning to her roots of what she was doing on Baduizm but updated for the 08. You can't imagine how excited I was for this release. But Erykah Badu, as always, had a different plan in motion. Rather than giving the fans what they thought they wanted, she gives us what we knew we wanted all along. And it's hot..it may take some time to fully appreciate this album but it's worth it to be submerged in the funk. This album is almost like a heavyweight getting knocked out. I thought I knew what was coming but instead of that right cross I get hit with a left hook...right in the chin. And after waking from the knockout I was like "what just happened?". But after reviewing the tape I could see that she set it up quite nicely and I was forewarned in previous rounds but it took me hitting the canvas to understand exactly what happened and what was happening before. Now my eyes are wide open and I can see. She was never going for the right at all she was always going for the left! What was I thinking? Some may not understand the album just as this review but hey one day it'll aall make sense.

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"I stay woke"

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War (Universal Motown, 2008)

Erykah Badu helped kicked off the neo-soul movement over ten years ago with the classic album, Baduizm, and the career-defining Live album. Then she dropped the even-better (but weirder) Mama's Gun. Her so-called EP, Worldwide Underground, fell to mixed reviews but this album, New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War, finds her back on her "A" game for the most part. However, this album may alienate some of her fans and even her Motown record label.

The album kicks off with a remake of RAMP's "American Promise" called "Amerykahn Promise" (of course). What follows after that are various songs. Songs, not hits. This means that, as with Worldwide Underground, you have to be a little patient while listening to these and not expect any "Tyrone" or "Love of My Life". She has something to say with these abstract productions and it'll take a few listens to understand.

Things get easier though towards the end of the album. "The Hump" rides along a heavy bassline while Erykah talks about the pain of getting off the dope. "Telephone" is a touching tribute to frequent collaborator J. Dilla who passed away two years ago. And of course, "Honey" is thrown at the end of the album as it's the only "single" on here. But the best song is one that Erykah didn't write: "Master Teacher", by artist Georgia Anne Muldrew, has both ladies singing over a cool Curtis Mayfield sample.

Let's hope her label gives Erykah more promotion. She may never give us another "On and On" but Erykah will always give her the music that she wants to make and will hope that you will come along for the ride. And for those who said that she has turned weird, she's ALWAYS been a little strange. This album is exceptional but when Pt. 2 comes out (supposedly this summer), don't be surprised if it's released on Shanachie or KOCH. -EJR

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