Possibly her most ambitious and eclectic work to date, “New Amerykah Part One” (4th World War) is the 4th album from Erykah Badu. The album materialized from a large collection of beats sent to her from various producers over the years. Erykah then began creating rough drafts using only ‘Garageband’ and a computer mic. New Amerykah contains many observational lyrics of society and religion, mixed with a fair amount of confessions, over Middle Eastern, funk, neo-soul, and hip hop flavoured musical backdrops.

After the funky “Amerykhan Promise” intro, we get right into things with the Madlib produced track “The Healer”. Here, Erykah conveys the message that hip hop, or music in general, transcends things like government and religion because it has the power to unify us no matter what our beliefs or backgrounds are. “Me” is a beautiful and personal track where Badu details her growth as a woman over a lovely laid back beat. “Master Teacher” utilizes a Curtis Mayfield sample on it’s first half before transforming into a neo-soul groove that’s very reminiscent of the sound found on her debut. Other standouts include: ‘Soldier’, “Twinkle” and the catchy bonus track/single: “Honey”.

Being that this is Badu’s first album since the passing of J Dilla, there are a few nods to him scattered throughout. The aforementioned “The Healer” directly name-checks him and “My People” is a re-make of the Eddie Kendricks track that also serves as the basis of J Dilla’s “People” from the album “Donuts”. Last but definitely not least, “Telephone” is a 7 minute tribute centered around a dream that Dilla told his mother about shortly before dying. This track was supposedly recorded the day after he passed, making it all the more heartbreaking.

Sometimes dark (the recreation of the “I’m mad as hell” rant from the film “Network”) and at other times optimistic (“Me”), “New Amerykah” is always powerful. Listening from beginning to end is a spiritual journey to say the least. Make sure to pick this up and be on the lookout for Pt. 2 which is due out soon.

by Kyle