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 - "I stay woke"Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War (Universal Motown, 2008) Erykah Badu helped kicked off the neo-soul movement over ten years ago with the classic album, Baduizm, and the career-defining Live album. Then she dropped the even-better (but weirder) Mama's Gun. Her so-called EP, Worldwide Underground, fell to mixed reviews but this album, New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War, finds her back on her "A" game for the most part. However, this album may alienate some of her fans and even her Motown record label. The album kicks off with a remake of RAMP's "American Promise" called "Amerykahn Promise" (of course). What follows after that are various songs. Songs, not hits. This means that, as with Worldwide Underground, you have to be a little patient while listening to these and not expect any "Tyrone" or "Love of My Life". She has something to say with these abstract productions and it'll take a few listens to understand. Things get easier though towards the end of the album. "The Hump" rides along a heavy bassline while Erykah talks about the pain of getting off the dope. "Telephone" is a touching tribute to frequent collaborator J. Dilla who passed away two years ago. And of course, "Honey" is thrown at the end of the album as it's the only "single" on here. But the best song is one that Erykah didn't write: "Master Teacher", by artist Georgia Anne Muldrew, has both ladies singing over a cool Curtis Mayfield sample. Let's hope her label gives Erykah more promotion. She may never give us another "On and On" but Erykah will always give her the music that she wants to make and will hope that you will come along for the ride. And for those who said that she has turned weird, she's ALWAYS been a little strange. This album is exceptional but when Pt. 2 comes out (supposedly this summer), don't be surprised if it's released on Shanachie or KOCH. -EJR Rating:  - what the f*** ! this is crapDid this girl go through one of those things like Prince were she had to put out a CD to fulfill a contract? This CD is down right awful. I put this thing in my player and I had to force myself to listen to it. I didn't make it. Rating: - Disappointed FanI have to say that I have ALWAYS anticipated the release of Erykah's albums. I respect her as an artist and her music has always taken me to a place where I can soul search. New Amerykah was a big disappointment. I respect that she has her own direction, but I was expecting to fall in love with her new album just as I have with the past albums. Her music used to make me feel good...this new album makes me feel uneasy and uncomfortable. I don't know where she was coming from when making this album, but I am truly disappointed. It's not the Erykah I was waiting for... Rating:  - Weird at First, but Erykah is weirdErykah Badu's 4th album New Amerykah is one of those headscratching releases. When I first heard the lead single Honey (great song by the way), I thought Erykah Badu was returning to her roots of what she was doing on Baduizm but updated for the 08. You can't imagine how excited I was for this release. But Erykah Badu, as always, had a different plan in motion. Rather than giving the fans what they thought they wanted, she gives us what we knew we wanted all along. And it's hot..it may take some time to fully appreciate this album but it's worth it to be submerged in the funk. This album is almost like a heavyweight getting knocked out. I thought I knew what was coming but instead of that right cross I get hit with a left hook...right in the chin. And after waking from the knockout I was like "what just happened?". But after reviewing the tape I could see that she set it up quite nicely and I was forewarned in previous rounds but it took me hitting the canvas to understand exactly what happened and what was happening before. Now my eyes are wide open and I can see. She was never going for the right at all she was always going for the left! What was I thinking? Some may not understand the album just as this review but hey one day it'll aall make sense. Rating: - I stay woke...give it a few more spins (and read up as well) At the time that New Amerykah Pt. 1 came out, a lot of my friends were telling me how weak the album was and how weak I was for liking it...but I have to say, this is one of the best and most NECESSARY albums that have come out in these mid to late 2000's. The current mainstream music was startin' to discourage me for a minute, but Erykah's album came right on time. From a musicianship standpoint, this album is nearly ingenious, with the sick basslines of "The Cell", "Twinkle", and "My People" (its minimalist approach is so effective) to the overall realness (for lack of a better word) of "That Hump". However, it seems to me that the message has missed a lot of people (hence some of the low ratings). As evidenced by the review title, my favorite track is "Master Teacher" ('cause the song, to those who understand its meaning/question, is powerful, and 'cause Georgia Anne Muldrow and Bilal bless the track nicely). Many of these 2-and 1-star reviewers have begun to accept what's been comin' out in the mainstream as the norm to the point where creativity is being more frowned upon than ever. I love the direction that Erykah's going in. But with this coming from a die-hard Georgia Anne Muldrow fan, ya'll should see why I'm feeling the "Jam Session w/ a Purpose" vibe that Erykah's comin' with. To some of those who don't like the album ('cause ya'll don't understand the messages-I understand that some people just don't like the album with all things being considered), look around you, read up, re-condition, and then try to "stay woke." If what ya'll were looking for on this album was a "Bag Lady", "Tyrone", or "Next Lifetime", etc. kinda' vibe, then why ya'll lookin'?! You already have that in your record collections ;-)
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