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New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War | 
| Artist: Erykah Badu
Label: Motown
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $5.66
You Save: $8.32 (60%)
New (61) Used (18) from $5.66
Rating:  150 reviews
Sales Rank: 881
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 001080002
UPC: 602517621879
EAN: 0602517621879
ASIN: B0012K1ILW
Release Date: February 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Still factory-sealed, case has lots of cracks/damage; CD guaranteed
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| Tracks:
| • | AMERYKAHN PROMISE | | • | THE HEALER / HIP HOP | | • | ME | | • | MY PEOPLE | | • | SOLDIER | | • | THE CELL | | • | TWINKLE | | • | MASTER TEACHER | | • | THAT HUMP | | • | TELEPHONE | | • | (Bonus) HONEY |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk
Subtitled 4th World War (when was the third, eh?), New Amerykah Part One is the first release in five years from the woman born Erica Wright. The wait was worthwhile though, as this smart, eclectic set, her fourth, adds to the grand tradition of socially conscious soul music. Literally so in the case of opener "Amerykahn Promise", spun by Badu straight over an obscure seventies funk track by Roy Ayers's proteges Ramp. "The Healer" is effectively a tribute to the power of hip hop to ground otherwise lost lives, while the deeply felt "Telephone" commemorates her friend, the late producer J Dilla (and was in fact written the day after his funeral). "The Healer" and "That Hump" deal with the damage caused by drug dependency and "Soldier" is a hard-hitting analysis of the state of Black America. None of which would count for much if the music didn't connect. Though Badu's quirks remain intact--the vocal/saxophone duet at the conclusion of the otherwise ice-cool "Me" (what else) is easily resisted--a terrific team of collaborators including idiosyncratic producers Madlib, 9th Wonder and the three man unit Sa-Ra keep New Amerykah Part One endlessly imaginative, tough, twisted beats sitting alongside softer jazz-funk grooves. The US public certainly assented, sending New Amerykah towards the top of the album charts. Only the eighties-style slow jam "Honey", charming in itself, seems at odds with the serious mood and is thus tagged on the end. The now eagerly anticipated Part Two is due later this year. --Steve Jelbert
Album Description
Universal Motown's multi-platinum-selling, Grammy awardwinning singer/songwriter/actress Erykah Badu returns to the music scene with her new album "New Amerykah" featuring the debut single "Honey". Laced with Erykah's bluesy grit and MC style vocals, the song is bolstered by producer's 9th Wonder's razor sharp hip hop beats. Badu describes the song as "an old school track with some funk on it." The release of "Honey" on November 20th also marks Badu's 10th year in the music industry. To celebrate, the gifted trendsetter prepares the release of her much anticipated new album on her birthday, February 26th. Badu has enlisted some of the most talented, groundbreaking underground producers and engineers in the hip-hop game to support her breakthrough return, including Grammy Award winning producer 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Nas, Mary J. Blige), Madlib, Mike "Chav" Chavarria and R&B singer Bilal. A special, 12-inch pink wax edition will be available only to DJ's next month and will feature underground tracks, "The Healer" and "Real Thang." "The music is the star," says Erykah, "I just laid down my vocals and let the music breathe while the melodies tell the stories." This album is part one of the series New Amerykah Part 1&2.
Album Description
UK pressing of the 2008 album from Motown's multi-platinum-selling, Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter/actress featuring one bonus track: 'Real Thang'. Badu has enlisted some of the most talented, groundbreaking underground producers and engineers in the Hip Hop game to support her breakthrough return, including Grammy Award winning producer 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Nas, Mary J. Blige), Madlib, Mike Chav Chavarria and R&B singer Bilal. The music is the star, says Erykah, 'I just laid down my vocals and let the music breathe while the melodies tell the stories.' This album is part one of the series New Amerykah Part One and Two. Motown. 2008.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 145 more reviews...
 Jazz/Funk beamed from Mars... February 26, 2008
Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria)
64 out of 69 found this review helpful
Erykah Badu's new single "Honey" is a catchy upbeat retro funk ditty which still manages to sound contemporary. It's so joyful, no wonder it was picked as the lead-off single for her third studio album proper (though I felt her brilliant "Worldwide underground" was more than just an EP). However, those looking for more of the same on "New Amerykah part 1: World war 4" (the first of a planned trilogy) will be sorely disappointed as nothing else on the CD sounds like it. Maybe that is why "Honey" gets tucked as a hidden track at the end of the CD.
Erykah is like the Radiohead of Soul music. After her introduction to the world on the multi platinum, multi Grammy winning "Baduizm", she went off on a different tangent, largely eschewing regular song structure for loose but intricately structured musical movements, and cerebral, often indiscernible lyrics.
Her new 11 track CD is even more off kilter and uncommercial. It can best be described as a futuristic fusion of funk and jazz beamed from Mars, and I'm sure her record label Motown must have done the same head scratching it did ages ago when Marvin Gaye presented his magnum opus "What's going on" for release. To fully appreciate it, one has to put aside expectations of regular song structure and just go with the flow.
Opening cut "Amerykhan promise" sounds like the soundtrack to some seventies blaxploitation movie with alternating male narration and female harmonies set to a funky bassline and interspersed with horns. One can almost see the women with their huge afros and platforms going "I promise, I promise". "The healer/hip hop" has a haunting feel with chiming triangles, an echoing choir, and lyrics proclaiming hip hop to be "bigger than religion or the government".
The autobiographical "Me" is one of the more straightforward sounding songs (sprawling and lacking a formal chorus, as does almost every other song); muted sax gently floating against a breezy seventies Marvin Gaye sound, and deeply personal lyrics like "Had two babies, different dudes/ and thought for both my love was true ... hey, that's me.", ending in a vocals/sax duet.
"My people" is a hypnotic sounding song with a skeletal groove, gentle percussion, tribal sounding chants and sparse singing extorting black people to "keep on moving on", with a brief Martin Luther King excerpt ending it. Another more easily accessible song is "Soldier" with rumbling hip hop beats, ghostly harmonising and lyrics touching on black on black violence, Katrina and other issues, while some male vocal exclaims "Uh" and "Hah" intermittently. "The cell" is jazz fusion with semi spoken lyrics touching on a "mama hopped up on cocaine" and ending acappella.
"Twinkle" rumbles along gently with skittery beats and a constant twinkling sound, electronic effects and disembodied harmonies, the final two or so minutes of the almost seven minutes is spent with some male voice telling us of the dire state of the times (after some strange voice speaking in what sounds somewhat like South African click, or is it a transmission from Mars??) against an eerie string backdrop. Talk about off kilter!
"Master teacher" is a woozy, psychedelic sounding groove which shifts tempo midway into a lilting piano sprinkled jazz piece with subtle electronic flourishes. "That hump" is a shimmery sounding midtempo song with a creeping bassline, a chorus of sorts, and a very nice horn sprinkled Motown-like bridge. The meandering eight minute long "Telephone" is a tribute to the late producer J Dilla. "Just fly away to heaven brother, make a place for me" she sings against a gently floating jazzy backdrop (dreamy harmonies, gentle hand percussion, and fleeting horns with muted hand claps coming in towards the final two minutes).
This CD might be bewildering at first, there is simply nothing else out there that sounds like it, but it is one that with time some will go, "Oh, now I get it!" while others never will. I see this making many end of year best album lists (it's on mine already), as well as Ms Badu making some more room in her Grammy cabinet.
 Mixed feelings..... February 26, 2008
SteppingRZA (USA)
46 out of 80 found this review helpful
Erykah Badu's new CD reminds me of D'Angelo's "Voodoo" in that it exists as sonic meditation. D'Angelo's debut also had a hypnotic vibe to it, but it balanced the commercial with his vision. Then, on "Voodoo," he joined with Questlove, whose drumming skills pretty much drove the album's sound. It was an artistic statement for sure, but one has to be in a specific mood and mindset to appreciate. I'm all for artists following their vision, making an album and not trying to appease the mainstream, but an album still has to be enjoyable. The downside to artists these days is that it seems being an artist entails making low-key, rhythm-driven music that's ultra mellow and exhibits a stream-of-consciousness vibe.
That can be appreciated in doses, but, that somewhat strays from what makes music powerful. Such music, even when done well, can come off as ultra self-conscious. R.E.M. has been making such music for years, and while solid, it just feels cold.
Erykah Badu makes warm music, but this new CD seems like it will sit right next to D'Angelo's "Voodoo" as an album one can respect, but doesn't listen to that much.
I'm not saying go out and buy the latest Britney Spears slice of shallow pop, but Badu's album seems to demand too many factors to be in place to enjoy it. Even the "geniuses" in music's past offered enough balance of artistic vision and enjoyability.
Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" is held up as pure artistic vision, but it also balances his vision with a melodic sound that incorporates commercial elements.
Both Badu and D'Angelo need to clear out some of the smoky haze from their albums and offer a little something more for their fans. Sure, I understand artists do things out of their own desire and whims, and that's fine, but if you're going to put out an album, I don't think there's anything wrong in the potential audience wanting something that they can enjoy on a more topical level.
In other words, sometimes I want some "fun" with the artistry, "finger snapping" with the socially conscious message, and something more than cerebral musings over mellow, smoky vibes.
The most remembered songs and albums achieve such a balance.
And I believe Erykah Badu can achieve it again, without making "Baduizm Part Two."
 Erykah At War With Herself? March 10, 2008
K. J. Bryant
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
Let me start off by saying I am a HUGE Erykah's fan. In a world of blandness and crappy songs, Erykah is one of those artists that will use music to challenge you. She is inspiring, different, creative, daring, unpredictable and a saver of soul music. On this record, I don't know what Erykah is trying to do. I usually love kilter and uncommercial music by Erykah...but I am really at lost with this project.
The album starts off with "Amerykhan promise". Despite its weirdness, this is one of the few tracks I dig. The song sounds like it came from a soundtrack to a 70s blaxploitation movie. Erykah is trading lines with a male narrator and the bassline and horns are blaring. This song will surely cause some religion folks to sit up because Erykah is basically saying hip hop is "bigger than religion or the government".
The song "Me" is autobiographical and deeply personal. Erykah gives us a look into her world as she confronts some of the decisions she has made in her life. This song basically tells us to accept her for who she is and nothing else because she is comfortable in her skin. The music can be described as a smooth jazz set to 70s soul.
Erykah's "Honey" is retro-contemporary funk song that sounds out of place on this strange project. It's probably the only song that is radio-friendly, which explains why it is a hidden track and is the first single.
"The cell" (jazz), "Master teacher" (psychedelic) "That hump" (crazy bassline), and "Soldier" (great message) deserves special recognition from me. However, it took MULTIPLE listenings for me to understand these songs.
As for "My people" and the other songs, I probably will never like (and trust me, I have tried). However, I don't consider this cd a lost cause. Erykah plays by her own rules and this is why I respect her so much. So I will say this to Ms. Badu, even though I am struggling with this project please keep challenging and provoking us with your music.
 Very Disappointed February 28, 2008
barbadosdiva
13 out of 22 found this review helpful
I was expecting a little more from Ms. Badu on this album- I was so excited that I pre-ordered it. I can appreciate the actual music, but I was looking for a little more from the lyrical side from her (well, she does actually speak, but barely sings). The whole album sounds like splices of interludes streamed together. I am going to have to screen her next album before I purchase it, to make sure there is something there worth buying.
 the scales tip strongly in Erykah's favor March 4, 2008
Pharoah S. Wail (Inner Space)
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
New Amerykah - 4th World War is the album that will assuage your fears that the lighter, fluffier Worldwide Underground was to be her new direction. This album proves Worldwide was just a ho-hum side trip with a couple tunes that worked really well in concert. And yes, real horns are back! None of the fake, sterile, synth-brass of Worldwide.
This is an album Marvin Gaye would be proud of, and I'd not say that about most hip-hop of the past 5 years... the worst years so far. It doesn't sound like any Marvin but it has that level of heart, yearning, hope and fine crafting of songs. You can dream and even have hope with these lyrics and melodies, rather than just bob your drunken head in the club. This album is like a bag of creeper. Amerykahn Promise and the cryptic, beautiful metaphor of The Healer sucked me right in but the rest took a bit of time. I know the deal, though. Great music isn't a trip to McDonald's for a Happy Meal. Great music isn't guzzling a pint of whiskey in 30 minutes for the quick buzz.
4th World War is like Mama's Gun and Vespertine in that those first couple tuesday 2/26/08 listens didn't have me thinking it was at the level of previous works, yet I kept wanting to hear it again. 4 days and 10 listens later I was thinking this is a great album. Now I know it's a great album. This is an ocean or river when too many hip-hop "artists" and fans are scared to leave the kiddie pool.
Twinkle, Soldier, That Hump and Telephone are going to melt hearts in concert. Amerikahn Promise can be a power-funk bookend, slinking in and out of Parliament, NWA, Marley or whatever else she and the band feel on that night. Honey can go either way, from major dance tune to slowed down, southern drawl soul.
Still... Erykah needs at least one album where she is surrounded by totally organic masters of high improvisation rather than continuing to record with people who are going to sit at a computer for a while, only to call her after they "have a beat". With William Parker & Hamid Drake (Corn Meal Dance, Raining on the Moon, New World Pygmies, Vol. 2), on bass, traps, hand drums, ngoni, etc... and with a great kora player and sympathetic pianist, and maybe Nels Cline (Interstellar Space Revisited (The Music of John Coltrane), Destroy All Nels Cline, The Inkling) and Evan Parker (Time Lapse) when she wants things to go way out into space, she could make a really primordial, beautiful, natural sounding album of deeply inner-space music. Think Erykah and acquaintances creating their own sonic world as did Carla Bozulich on Evangelista and Hello, Voyager.
Don't bother with all the reviews written after 1 listen. Some were obviously written DURING their 1 and only listen. This is a heck of a collection of new songs. Badu is Back!
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