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Erykah Badu - "New Amerykah"
WOW! I don't even know where to begin.
The Dean's List has been patiently awaiting the return of Ms. Badu. I'm a major fan and have been since her debut album "Baduizm".
Once I picked up the CD, I couldn't wait to get home. I tore open the plastic covering and put it in the CD player in the car. My excitement turned to disappointment very quickly.
Ms. Badu seems like she has really lost her mind. Always on the cutting edge, this project should have wound up on the cutting floor. It kind of reminds me of when Prince was going through his "Slave" phase with Warner Bros. He produced several albums under contractual obligation. Most of the music didn't live up to his expected standards and we didn't understand what the hell he was talking about in the lyrics.
In a recent interview, when asked what took her so long to release her new project, she said that she didn't believe in "deadlines". She only believes in "lifelines". Well - sounds to me like she needs to get a life or some new material. This CD is awful!!!
"Amerykah Promise" - Sounds like a cross between Parliament and Gil Scott Heron. I'm still not clear who she is making her promise to.
"The Healer" - This is another one of the songs that you can't quite figure out. One might believe that "The Healer" is an ode to God, but her addition of sex, hip-hop and "ma nigga" left me a little confused.
"Me" - Complete with a shout out to her two babies daddies, it's a nice groove and the words led me to believe that this was a song about self-esteem. But the last line in the song made me wonder if she should be added to the FBI Most Wanted List, "Before I end this crazy dream/before I take one for the team/yo ass, the match, the gasoline"? What the hell does that mean?
"Telephone" - Ol' Dirty Bastard is speaking to her from the grave and giving her directions on how to come home. It also says that it won't be long.
"Honey" - The bonus cut and first single on the CD is probably the only song that reminds you that you are really listening to Ms. Badu.
And then there is the artwork on the CD. It is so scary that it makes me want to lock my doors. The next time I see Ms. Badu performing, I'll make sure not to look her directly in the eyes!
Sounds to me that Ms. Badu needs to stop smoking the trees (as she confesses in "Me") and anything else she has been smoking.
On a scale of 1-5, the Dean's List rates "Ameryah's Promise" a 1.
You can write the Dean's List with thoughts, comments or ideas at: thedeanslist1@gmail.com.
