You remember “Tyrone”, don’t you? It was a slow-grinding eviction notice from a frustrated girlfriend. Badu’s mesmerizing lyricism and creative videos, along with her delicately evocative voice that still seems rightfully descended from Billie Holiday.Īnother portion of the fan base might argue that New Amerykah lacks the flowing and free-spirited vibe of Live (1997), a suite of performances revisiting selections from the debut, and giving us the humorous but keepin’-it-very-real “Tyrone”. Baduizm yielded the hit “On & On”, the song that introduced us to Ms. Nevertheless, fans who love her debut, Baduizm (1997), might argue that New Amerykah doesn’t have the distinctive (yet difficult to define) “neo-soul” flavor that made Baduizm a watershed moment in “modern” R&B (that is, “post- Thriller” and “after-Marvin”). Presumably, we’ll have a better understanding of the overall objective when Part Two arrives. While the LP is smart and funky as hell, it distinguishes itself because it’s part of a series. Badu’s discography as we might have expected.

But New Amerykah won’t fit as comfortably in Ms. With the Februrelease of New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War), she’s out to prove it.Īnd prove it she does.

If Erykah Badu isn’t the baddest mamma jamma since Pam Grier played Blaxploitation divas “Foxy Brown” and “Coffy”, she’s the closest.

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