The Dallas Morning News reported that last Friday, Erykah Badu paid the $500 fine for stripping in public during the filming of her “Window Seat” video. So now that we’re over it, I’d like to finally talk about her new CD.
Badu hasn’t lost her affinity for pushing the limits of jazz, hip-hop and R&B
New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh is the middle release of Badu’s scheduled album trilogy. The grim Part One: 4th World War spun tales of political strife, crime and spiritual escapism; but it ended on a high note with the drippy slow funk of “Honey.” Since that song isn’t even listed as a track on the CD, it seemed like an afterthought to brighten the otherwise dark experience. I really did like Part One, but the mood was intentionally ominous.
So on Return of the Ankh, the minor key of the opening “20 Feet Tall” gives the impression that Badu wants to continue the downbeat theme. But by the funky and mellow “Window Seat,” she slinks back to how we best know her.
“Agitation” demonstrates that Badu hasn’t lost her affinity for pushing the limits of jazz, hip-hop and R&B, meshing an odd time signature, complementary vocal rhythms and head-nodding groove. On the three-part epic “Out My Mind, Just In Time,” Badu confesses, “I’m a recovering undercover over lover” over a melancholy chord progression.
Let’s hope Badu will be the first—with Maxwell the second—to break the cycle of the unfinished trilogy
Legendary hip-hop vocalist Rakim bragged about it on his 1987 track “My Melody,” so I’d love to hear him swing off the string of the harp on “Insense.” The sample of Biz Markie yelling “Fonkee!” from Big Daddy Kane’s “Just Rhyming with the Biz” on “Love” brings me back to the same era of hip-hop.
“Turn Me Away (Get MuNNy)” and “Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long” are my favorite tracks on Part Two. The former is a reinterpretation of “You Can’t Turn Me Away” by Sylvia Striplin combined with Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Get Money,” which samples Striplin’s original song. Badu’s version is awfully funky and respects its parents.
“Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long” is based on a great sample of one of my favorite songs from way back in the day—”Arrow Through Me” by Paul McCartney and the Wings —and includes lyrical and melodic dip back into her own “Other Side of the Game,” from her debut album Baduism.
Return of the Ankh makes me look forward to experiencing the end of the trilogy, but historically, the last chapter is rarely, if ever, seen. Remember De La Soul’s Art Official Intelligence? Let’s hope Badu will be the first—with Maxwell the second—to break the cycle of the unfinished trilogy.
Last Friday, The Dallas Morning News reported that Erykah Badu paid the $500 fine for stripping in public during her “Window Seat” video. So now that we’re over it, I’d like to finally talk about her new CD.
New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh is the middle release of Badu’s scheduled album trilogy. The grim Part One: 4th World War spun tales of political strife, crime and spiritual escapism; but it ended on a high note with the drippy slow funk of “Honey.” Since that song isn’t even listed as a track on the CD, it seemed like an afterthought to brighten the otherwise dark experience. I really did like Part One, but the mood was intentionally ominous.
So on Return of the Ankh, the minor key of the opening “20 Feet Tall” gives the impression that Badu wants to continue the downbeat theme. But by the funky and mellow “Window Seat” she slinks back to how we best know her.
“Agitation” demonstrates that Badu hasn’t lost her affinity for pushing the limits of jazz, meshing an odd time signature, complementary vocal rhythms and head-nodding groove. On the three-part epic “Out My Mind, Just In Time,” Badu confesses, “I’m a recovering undercover over lover” over a melancholy chord progression.
Legendary hip-hop vocalist Rakim bragged about it on his 1987 track “My Melody,” so I’d love to hear him swing off the string of the harp on “Insense.” The sample of Biz Markie yelling “Fonkee!” from Big Daddy Kane’s “Just Rhyming with the Biz” on “Love” bring me back to the same era of hip-hop.
“Turn Me Away (Get MuNNy)” and “Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long” are my favorite tracks on Part Two. The former is a reinterpretation of “You Can’t Turn Me Away” by Sylvia Striplin combined with Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Get Money,” which samples Striplin’s original song. Badu’s version is awfully funky and respects its parents.
“Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long” is based on a great sample of one of my favorite songs from way back in the day—”Arrow Through Me” by Paul McCartney and the Wings —and includes lyrical and melodic dip back into her own “Other Side of the Game.”
Return of the Ankh makes me look forward to experiencing the end of the trilogy, but historically, the last chapter is rarely, if ever, seen. Remember De La Soul’s Art Official Intelligence? Let’s hope Badu will be the first—with Maxwell the second—to break the cycle of the unfinished trilogy.
