New AmErykah Part One (4th World War)
Erykah Badu
Released February 26, 2008 Motown/Universal
Funky. Sexy. Spiritual. What word best describes New AmErykah? Maybe enlightened as ever, Erykah Badu dropped her 5th album since 2003’s Worldwide Underground. New AmErykah has eleven tracks but Badu manages to make it seem like twice that, due to the content. The very first song, “Amerykahn Promise”, sets the tone for the entire album. It subtly reaches for non-materialism while abruptly expressing how crude achieving The Dream can be. In songs that follow, Badu makes no apologies for speaking her mind or for being herself. Best attributable: many of the tracks have the hardest beats with the most thought-provoking lyrics. They diverge from the popular bass beat with shallow lyrics to her usual deep lyrics over a somber eight. The album’s producers, like Madlib and Shafiq Husayn, do justice to Badu’s soul hip-hop genre with songs like “The Healer” and “That Hump”. Adding to the album’s character, some tracks have 70s and 80s inspired instrumentals like “Master Teacher “ (written in part by Curtis Mayfield) as well as the “;heart;” Bonus Tracks. Socially, historically, and politically steeped, this album smoothly jars listeners awake if they are asleep. Part Two of New AmErykah promises to be just as eye-opening and randomly enjoyable as Erykah Badu.
Go to www.erykahbadu.com to listen to the album.
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