On February 26th, 2008 (Saviour's Day and also her birthday) Erykah Badu, one of the pioneers of Neo Soul, released her most political CD to date. If the title of CD, New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War, doesn't let consumers what they can expect to hear once they play it, the picture on the album's cover definitely should. The cover of the album features Badu extending her fists and sporting an oversized Afro made of America's most troubling societal ills from fast food to guns to liquor and drugs. In addition to her personal relationships, Badu sings about a range of political issues from the Hurricane Katrina victims to the current war.

Personally, Badu is known for eccentricity, both in her music and style of dress. She's even established a reputation for influencing the styles of people with whom she's had personal/intimate relationships. She has a son with André Lauren "André 3000" Benjamin, who is a member of the rap duo Outkast. Some believe Badu is responsible for influencing Andre Benjamin's eccentric new style and even his latest music.

Known as one of the pioneers of Neo Soul, a genre led by artists such as D'Angelo, Maxwell, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, India Irie, and others, Badu has recently strayed away from this genre of music to a genre that she refers to as "phunkadelic". Today, Badu's music is influenced by 70's soul music, hip hop, rap, and current politics.

If you would like to review Badu's CD, please share your thoughts about it.

Erykah Badu's Myspace Page

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rowe,

I keep meaning to post on this thread. I have several favorites - including some favorite lines (e.g. "they take what they're given ... even when it feels odd") ... but I don't currently have the CD.

I lost my first copy. I bought a second copy. Then I loaned that to a friend.

I bought this CD last week and have listened to some of it...I do like it and LOVE the fact that they give you an insert to be able to download ringtones for your cell!!!

hehehe...gotta have tunes on my phone...

"WIAW!"

quote:

Originally posted by HonestBrother:
I keep meaning to post on this thread. I have several favorites - including some favorite lines (e.g. "they take what they're given ... even when it feels odd") ... but I don't currently have the CD.

I lost my first copy. I bought a second copy. Then I loaned that to a friend.

I'm convinced Erykah Badu has her own language. After buying one of her CDs, you'll need a Badu interpreter to understand the metaphors and analogies that are so prevalent in her music. I love the complexity of her music, but I sometimes struggle with trying to understand what she's really conveying to listeners. For example, in the song "The Cell", one of my personal favorites, a lot of metaphors are used. I think I have a basic understanding of what she's saying. In the song, she is describing the low state of some of our people, particularly those in innercities and might be the victims of drug addiction (momma hopped up on cocaine), prostitution, poor eating habits (cough syrup in Coke cans), overconsumption (20-inch-rims and no land), and other products of poverty and poverty-thinking, but if someone has a different interpretation, I'd be interested in reading and discussing it.

Posted below are the lyrics to the song

"The Cell" by Erykah Badu

Girl came through, the light skin honey with the cinnamon smell,
Girl was so enticing, baby, make a n**** choose hell
Momma hopped up on cocaine
Daddy on space ships with no brain
Sister gone numb the pain the same
Why same DNA cell
She was turned out on shiny new things (diamond gold chains diamond gold rings)
Center-fold spread, she trying to do things
See she be on that cough syrup in coke cans
20-inch-rim-man with no land, her p****gone numb the pain the same
Why same DNA strand
We're not well
We're not well
We can't tell...
Brenda done died with no name
Nickel bag coke to the brain
Will they ever find the vaccine?
S***ty-damn-damn-baby-bang
Rich man got the double barrell,
Po' man got his back to the door
Code white stands for trouble
Shots from the po-po

quote:

Originally posted by ShayaButHer:
I bought this CD last week and have listened to some of it...I do like it and LOVE the fact that they give you an insert to be able to download ringtones for your cell!!!

hehehe...gotta have tunes on my phone...

"WIAW!"

Yeah, I notice that since cell phones have become a popular medium of communication and ring tones have become popular, a lot of record companies are making sure to provide consumers with ring tone options.