Conch Records
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part 2: Return Of The Ankh (Universal/Motown)
Grammy Award-winning, genre-defining singer Erykah Badu brought a baby daughter into the world February 1, via a midwife-attended home birth in Brooklyn. Badu and boyfriend Jay Electronica took turnstweeting every detail as the birth unfolded. Badu seemingly postponed the release because of the pregnancy and her leading role alongside Mos Def in the indie film, Bobby Zero. Needless to say, Badu's a busy, busy lady.
Naturally, the nu-soul singer is tight-lipped about her self-produced sequel to her socially conscious gold album, New Amerykah Part One (4th World War). What we can deduce is that the "ankh" subtitle delves more into the spiritual themes of Part One. The Egyptian hieroglyphic means "eternal life" after all. Where the 4th World War comes across as a nod towards the war you have with yourself (some have postulated the African-American's Civil Rights movement), Badu says Return of the Ankh deals with a "spiritual and emotional" battle. The sixth album's USB stick packaging includes extras ranging from footage of concerts, to commentary on the recording process and “me in the bathtub with Flavor Flav.â€
With a new songwriting approach and a fresh outlook on the world, Badu's newest is sure to be another dazzling touchstone in her already impressive discography.
Tracklisting with Soundclips: 1 20 Feet Tall [produced by Erykah Badu and 9th Wonder] 2 Window Seat [produced by Erykah Badu and James Poyser, featuring ?uestlove] 3 Agitation [produced by Erykah Badu and Shafiq Husayn of SA-RA Creative Partners] 4 Get Money [produced by Erykah Badu] 5 Don't Be Long [produced by Erykah Badu and Taarak] 6 Love [produced by Erykah Badu and J Dilla] 7 Umm Hmm [produced by Erykah Badu and Madlib] 8 Fall in Love [produced by Erykah Badu and Karriem Riggins] 9 Incense (Instrumental) [produced by Erykah Badu and Madlib] 10 Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 1) (Undercover Over-Lover) [produced by Erykah Badu] 11 Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 2) [produced by Erykah Badu and Georgia Anne Muldrow]
Upcoming: Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part 2: Return Of The Ankh (Universal)
UPDATE: CD available here, LP due Mid April, for pre-orders contact us at info@conch.co.nz
For more info check here
Erykah Badu will release her sixth studio album, ''New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh,'' on Feb. 23, 2010 on Universal Motown. The 38-year-old Dallas, Texas, born singer says the set is called ''Part II'' because unlike 2008's more conscious-driven ''New Amerykah Part I: 4th World War,'' she is ''more free and full of life'' this time around. ''I called it 'Part II: The Return of the Ankh' because this album is the sister of the left side of my brain -- it is the right side,'' Badu explained during a listening session this week at New York City's Chung King Studios. '''Part I was the left side of my thoughts -- it was more socially political and my thought process was more analytical. This time there wasn't anything to be concerned with -- the album is more emotional and flowy and talks about feelings. It reminds of the days of 'Baduizm' -- this is just about beats and rhymes in a cipher.'' Tracks like ''Window Seat,'' featuring The Roots' ?uestlove on the drums and James Poyser on piano, finds Badu requesting ''a window seat...I don't want nobody next to me,'' over drums and clasps. Meanwhile, she questions ''What did I do to make you fall so far from me?'' atop keyboard riffs on the 9th Wonder-produced ''20 Feet Tall.'' On the banjo-laden ''Don't Be Long,'' Badu pleads her lover to return soon although she understands ''you gotta get your hustle on.'' She taps into her inner B-girl and pays homage to the Notorious B.I.G. on tracks like ''Get Money,'' which features elements of the Junior M.A.F.I.A. feat. Notorious B.I.G. track of the same title, and ''Incense,'' on which she harmonizes the Biggie lyrics, ''there's gonna be a lot of slow singing and flower bringing if my burglar alarm starts ringing,'' over a beat reminiscent of Alicia Keys' ''Unbreakable.'' Some of the other stand-out tracks include ''Fall In Love'' which finds her candidly warning potential lovers, ''You're loving me and I'm driving your Benz / you're loving me and I'm fucking your friends,'' the harp-heavy '' Out of My Mind Just in Time (Part I) (Undercover Over-Lover),'' on which she pleads, ''I hate for you, when I hate you too, if you want me to,'' and '' Out of My Mind Just In Time (Part 2),'' on which she confesses, ''I am a recovering undercover over-lover / recovering from a love I can't get over / and now my lover thinks he wants another,'' over piano strokes. ''Jump In The Air'' was slated to appear on the album, but parts of it leaked on the internet earlier this week, and as a result Badu is unsure if she will include it on the set. ''If anything leaks, I won't put out this album,'' she said about potential future leaks. ''I worked too hard for that to happen. Let a bitch make some money some kind of way.'' The track is said to feature nine MCs including Lil Wayne and her son Seven's father, rapper Andre 3000. In the past six years, Badu, who has been working on this album since the release of ''Worldwide Underground'' in 2003, has recorded over 50 songs for ''Part II.'' She hopes to release an already-completed album titled ''Low Down'' shortly after this release. Tracklisting details: Track Listing for New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh: 1. 20 Feet Tall Produced by Erykah Badu and 9th Wonder 2. Window Seat Produced by Erykah Badu and James Poyser. Featuring Ahmir "?uestove" Thompson (drums), Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner (bass), James Poyser (keys), Kirsten Agnesta (harp) 3. Agitation Produced by Erykah Badu and Shafiq Husayn of SA-RA Creative Partners 4. Get Money Produced by Erykah Badu and Karieem Riggins (drums), Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner (bass), James Poyser (keys), Tommy Trajlio (guitar), Mike "Chav" Chavarria (mooger fooger). Contains an interpolation of "Can't Turn Me Away," by Sylvia Strippling 5. Don't Be Long Produced by Erykah Badu and Taarak 6. Love Produced by Erykah Badu and J Dilla 7. Umm Hmm Produced by Erykah Badu and Madlib 8. Fall in Love Produced by Erykah Badu and Karieem Riggins. Contains a sample of "Intimate Friends" by Eddie Kendricks 9. Incense (Instrumental) Produced by Erykah Badu and Madlib featuring Kirsten Agnesta (harp) 10. Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 1) (Undercover Over-Lover) Produced by Erykah Badu featuring James Poyser (keys) 11. Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 2) Produced by Erykah Badu and Georgia Ann Muldrow * Bonus Web-Only Track: Jump In The Air, featuring Lil Wayne and Bilal Produced by Erykah Badu, RC Williams and Jahborn. Contains an interpolation of "Hydraulic Pump" by Parliament Funkadelic
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