Erykah Badu- New Amerykah, Part One: 4th World War

It’s been five years since Erykah Badu has blessed us with an album. The 2003 release of Worldwide Underground showed us a new side of the “neo soul” Badu; experimenting with more electronic beats and embracing her inner B-Girl over hip-hop influenced tracks. Even back then, something sounded different in her voice, someone was trying to come out.

The Saviour’s Day release of New Amerykah introduces us to an Erykah who is definitely vibrating on a higher frequency. A long way from her turban rocking incense, burning days; Ms. Badu has evolved. The Erykah we met on 1997’s Baduizm was regal, reserved and mysterious and although all that is still part of who she is, ’08’s Erykah has come into her own. There’s just no time for reservations, Ms. Badu has a whole lot of goodness screaming to come out. New Amerykah is not just an album, it’s an event. With an innovative and impressive producing team in tow, Ms. Badu has put her foot in this one. It’s apparent that the creation of this album was a spiritual journey for Badu and listening to it was certainly one for me.

From the blaring horns on the Roy Ayers produced intro, “Amerykahn Promise”, you know you’re in for a treat. The funky beat, reminiscent of old school blaxploitation films, set the scene as Ms. Badu promises to give it to you, and that she does. You can almost imagine her rocking on a stage, platforms, bell-bottoms and afro swaying. Foxy Brown would definitely jam to this.

The first track, “The Healer” is an ode to hip-hop and one of two tributes to the late great J. Dilla (”Telephone” is the second). The journey begins here as Ms. Badu evokes the names of all Gods, all spirits, giving praise and proclaiming, “it’s bigger than religion/hip hop/ it’s bigger than the government.” The most autobiographical of all the songs on the album is “Me”, where Ms. Badu shares, with humor and humility about having two baby daddy’s, smoking trees and the new weight she’s been blessed with at the ripe age of 37. This track drips with maturity as Ms. Badu embraces herself in totality - the good and bad - challenging us all to do the same.

“Whats your favorite track on the album?” my boy ‘E’ wanted to know. I didn’t know, I couldn’t decide. After listening to it all weekend on repeat track five, “Soldier”, is my joint. A reflective track touching on our vulnerabilities while demanding that we continue to march on. Ms. Badu laments on everything from “her girls in therapy” and 9/11, while warning us “ya need to watch the dirty cops, they the ones you need to watch.” It’s clear here that there’s work done to be done in our communities and we’re the ones who have to do it. And just for some added motivation, Ms. Badu evokes Harriet Tubman’s journey through the Underground Railroad, “if you’re thinking ’bout turning back/I got the shotgun on your back.” Girlfriend is not playing.

Although “Soldier” is hands down my favorite, “That Hump” is speaking to me these days. You can really hear the emotion in her voice on this one, her voice trembles as she speaks on collective struggles, “I’m living check to check/ just trying to pay my rent/ and I can feel it/ coming down around me/Lord knows I’m trying.”

Throughout the album struggle and the current detriment of our folks are never far from ear. The mood is atmospheric and chanty, almost mourning. The comings and goings of the tracks and interludes may seem haphazard to some folks but I’m feeling how she switches up the melodies mid-song. Both brooding and reflective, New Amerykah may just be the calm before the storm as Ms. Badu is scheduled to release three more albums before years end: New Amerykah Pt. 2: Return of the Anhk, Lowdown Loretta Brown and Mama’s Deuce Deuce. The journey continues.

What’s your favorite track?