Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh has just been released. Less politically-minded than Part 1: 4th World War, it is more focused on matters of the heart. Overall, It is also more deeply rooted in the R&B that Badu is known for rather than that album’s finger-clacking hip-hop crossover with more live instrumentation and raw emotion throughout.
Producers this time around alongside Badu are Karriem Riggins, 9th Wonder, Madlib, J Dilla, Georgia Anne Muldrow and James Poyser. You may have heard or seen the brilliant jam ‘Jump Up In The Air and Stay There’ which features Lil Wayne. That tune is a red herring as oddly, it only appears as an iTunes bonus track . I guess the straight-up Outkast hip-hop style doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the album.
‘Window Seat’, which debuted in provocative video form last week showing Badu disrobing in the street (see below), is more indicative of the album’s style. Mix that candlelit-studio vibe in with funky piano riffs, a smidgen of Badu’s ambient approach to the R&B genre and a general laidback feel and you’ve got a very different Amerykah altogether. That’s a good thing – this is the ying to the yang of Part One – a breath of fresh air that blows at it’s own pace.
MP3: Erykah Badu – ‘Jump Up In The Air and Stay There’ feat. Lil Wayne
MP3: Erykah Badu – ‘Window Seat’
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
This is an excellent R&B music news story as I love Erykah Badu and the whole Neo-Soul movement. Her delicious R&B songs and R&B music videos are definitely what make her stand out from the crowd. She sings from the soul and her R&B music videos are always visually interesting and always express the beauty of the song. This album sounds excellent and particularly the contribution from Lil Wayne. What a cool collaboration eh. Lil Wayne who comes from a rap music background and whos hot Lil Wayne music videos are some of the hottest rap & hip hop music videos around and the mellow Neo-Soul vibe of Erykah Badu. Definitely a hot collaboration.