erykah badu

When I was younger, I didn’t think Erykah Badu could sing. Dead-ass, I thought she was tone deaf. Then I realized her off-key trademark style just follows in the footsteps of fellow trail-blazers Billie Holiday (who is always behind the beat) and Nina Simone (who’s non-traditional phrasing is often without a melody at all). On her newest album, New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh, Badu continues to seduce with her warm, atonal vocals and hilariously honest subject matter on tracks like “Undercover Over-Lover”, but departs from the precisely digital and political theme of New Amerykah Part I: 4th World War. While it’s a sequel that feels mature and relevant - “Window Seat” shows a newfound serenity - it is at once a throwback to the beloved early albums Baduizm and Mama’s Gun. Part II is like a beat-driven, vibe-heavy mixtape with would-be tributes to Biggie (”Get Money”) and satires of gold-digging chickenheads. Although the album doesn’t officially drop until the end of February, the leak track “Jump In The Air” - which spotlights vocals by Badu, Bilal and Li’l Wayne and features ten different emcees on as many versions - will be released every few weeks in an underground campaign. Check out the full track listing below and stay tuned for more album updates . . .

Erykah Badu: New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh tracklist:

20 Feet Tall
Window Seat
Agitation
Get Money
Don’t Be Long
Love
Umm Hmm
Fall in Love
Incense
Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 1) (Undercover Over-Lover)
Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 2)

Leak Track: Jump In The Air

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