Mama's Gun

Great listen

Insanely good album that has so much soul

everything miss Badu creates is a masterpiece

Had to put off listening to this album for a week or so because of vacation and the post-vacation sickness. As to be expected with a Soulquarian-aligned album, you have some very strong production: J Dilla and Questlove are in on it! Erykah has a fairly unique voice: high-pitched with a hint of gravel to it. Probably not for everyone's taste, but she makes it work incredibly well. The album flows from song to song in an instant, no pauses or anything. Very fluid. Maybe because I'm listening to this on a rainy monday morning, but it hits quite hard. Not too much a fan of the love songs (In Love With You, Orange Moon is mostly okay) but overall a very solid album.

5 sterne

I really liked this one.

Cmon Mama’s Gun… Erykah Badu… enough said! I’ve heard the big records off this album but this is my first time sitting with the entire project and man it’s a beautiful piece of art. From the angelic harmonies to the tribal drums on Kiss Me On My Neck I was locked in! Beautiful voice, impeccable production, I just can’t say enough about how good this is. If you didn’t like it, idk what to tell you, fix ya damn ears!!

tons of fun

This album is quite amazing even without context, with some of J Dilla's first production on here, while simultaneously working with the roots and d'angelo in the same studio on their albums. All albums coming out of this era are amazing in their own right, but Mama's gun shines as a post-breakup album. Following the public breakup with Outkast's Andre 3000, she aims to show the world (and herself) that she's over him and living life to the fullest, while not compromising on her social and political commentary. This album blends the two sides together wonderfully, moving from political songs like the opener to love focused jams like 'didnt cha know' and slow ballads like orange moon and in love with you. The closer 'green eyes' really takes the cake for me personally, displaying her whole emotional journey surrounding her breakup, going from being 'fine' to jealousy, depression, pleading "just make love to me" into slowly accepting that the relationship is done. The emotion in her voice is incredibly, really taking you on a journey with the instrumental guiding you along beautifully. A must-listen to anyone into (neo)-soul

amazing voice and beautiful songs 🙂‍↕️ this album feels a little long to me but if every song is good then I don’t really mind I guess. This is like my favorite type of r&b and feels super classic while also aging well. Fav songs: …& on, orange moon

i love anything Erykah Badu does

This album blew my mind. It is incredible. Definitely gonna dig through her discography.

First Listen: Aug 19 2021 I LOVE YOU ERYKAHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH so fucking good omg. baduizm better tho

Good

Fire

Classic album .Top of the heap

She is an absolute genius

This is the two hundred sixteenth album I’m rating. I only know her because of André 3000. Adding to my Playlist - Penitentiary Philosophy, Didn't Cha Know, My Life, ... & On, Cleva, Hey Sugah (Interlude), Booty, Kiss Me On My Neck, A.D. 2000, Orange Moon, In Love With You, Time's a Wastin', and Green Eyes. Not Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. All in all I liked 14/14 songs. Even better than André 3000.

LOVE!!!!

One of my favorite albums of all time

Super

This is surprisiny amazing

musikalisch sehr vilsiitig, aber immer packend. au emotional cha si ganz underschidlichi stimmige überebringe. ganz toll!

Love this album. No notes

Loved this! The attitude, the smooth approach, the catchy hooks. She’s such a queen and keeps my attention the whole time.

Green eyes pushed this one to a 5 for me.

i thought baduizm was my favorite erykah badu album but maybe its this? mama's gun builds on the themes introduced in baduizm so expertly. i so appreciate the blending off different black instrumentation and musical traditions -- jazz, hip hop, african instruments, blues music. i love how playful the first half of the album is but the second half is DEEP, so much wisdom in the lyrics. And Green Eyes is just a masterpiece. Its one of my favorite Badu songs but its somehow even better in the context of the full album, like all these loved and lost or never loved at all situations are all leading up to the instance when Badu herself has been rejected, and the struggle to move on from that. Truly wonderful.

Не сказать что в этом альбоме есть какойто особый вокал эрики(он хдесь почти монотонный) но это просто классный альбом со своими хорошими моментами поэтому 4.5.

I mean I knew about this album but I never realized how good it was. Exceeded expectations

Just an album you can't help but vibe to. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

amazing album.

INSTANT favorite. Thoroughly impressed front to back. Unbelievably raw harmonies, buttery smooth production, diverse styles coalescing into a honest to god masterpiece. WOW I can’t get enough of this. I’m shocked at the mediocre rating this got. Did y’all listen to the same album as I just did?

Good stuff. Especially the second part. It's really, really great! Best one so far.

album increible, la continuidad de cada cancion y como se conecta con las otras. una artista que desconocia pero que pienso indagar muchisimo mas, porque todo el sonido me fascino. letras increibles. 10/10

If you thought Baduizm was smooth this project takes it to a whole new level that simply hasn’t been seen yet in her discography. Every second of this project is striking in every single way, by the end of Green Eyes my jaw was on the floor by just how beautiful this all was. There are so many highlights but honestly you should just listen to this album over and over again, each time will give such a treat of ear candy to your headphones and you. This album is a classic for a reason but god damn I didn’t expect it to be this mind blowing my first go around. I come back to this album and listen in full at least once a month for just about 2 years now. This album is damn near perfect with each relisten I am always picking apart a new track as a personal favorite. What originally started as Didn't Cha Know, then became Bag Lady, which became A.D. 2000, which is now In Love With You (Feat. Stephen Marley). The production here is so timeless and full of this undying youth that makes you wish to feel all of the emotions present here for years to come. It is an album no matter what stage of your life you are in it will always be relatable. Mama's Gun is nothing short of a masterpiece and a milestone in all of music. It is an essential that should be heard by all no matter what. All I have to say is thank you for Erykah Badu, she is such a gift to music as a whole.

Mother. Amo cómo se funden las canciones una con la otra. Siento que soy una planta creciendo y floreciendo. Such good vibes <3

Now we’re talking. These songs purr, crackle, groove. Each one is worth listening to in its own right. What a talent Badu is.

So good! Once through with distractions, the second time with AirPods. Definitely worth a close listen. Or two. Or ten.

5/10

The album was fantastic lyrics music singing all fantastic

Spectacularly smooth evocative and jazzy. An incredible evolution of mid century classic

Solid gold. Orange Moon is one of the beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.

fantastic instrumentals, incredible follow up to her debut

Solid voice, lyrics, and music.

love

Erykah Badu knows how to do Soul/R&B right... It's definitely headphones and relaxing music.

absolute perfection

Extremely strong – mellowly funky and vibesy, bittersweet and melancholic and so many interesting and well-constructed cuts ("&on" "Cleva"). "AD 2000" and “Orange Moon” are straight-up sweet and deeply soulful. The latter’s flutes are a lovely add, perfectly complemented with decisive-yet-soft-touch percussion and balanced, thoughtful piano and representative of the skilled/tasteful/subtle playing throughout the record Editors are right, “Green Eyes” is “sublime,” as is the album as a whole.

Masterpiece

I dug into her stuff about a year ago and had loved what I heard but havent listened to this album in full till now. She is incredibleeeee I love this album!

Segundo disco de la texana, continuación del soberbio Baduizm. Tampoco es que se prodigue mucho, dos discos más un directo cotando este álbum y luego otros tres en Motown, el primero otro éxito mayor aún que este Mama´s gun. No publica desde hace más de 15 años.. aunque sigue en el cine. Este es fabuloso también: neo soul, jazz y rap pero sobre todo elegancia. Es un disco para escuchar de noche. ¿Puede decirse que está al nivel de D'Angelo? No lo sé, tal vez no , ni a la de Maxwell o Frank Ocean. Pero es una de las grandes, eso sin duda. Al nivel de Common y otros. Desde luego sin ella (ni la imprescindible Lauryn Hill) no habría Macy Gray, Angie Stone, Musiq Soulchild ni India Arie. Tampoco Alicia Keys ni las británicas Joss Stone, Corinne Bailey Rae, Amy Winehouse, Estelle, Duffy o Adele. Por supuesto Solange y la verdadera Beyoncé tampoco. Con ella se dio el paso de W.Houston-M.Carey a otras cotas de soul. Para este sedoso disco contó con Questlove a las baquetas y el pianista James Poyser, que habína trabajado con D´Angelo. A un año de su maternidad y separación de Andre 3000 (que publicó el fundamental Skantonia con Outkast) ella se volcó en este Mama´s gun. El largo, en duración, tema inicial Penitentiary Philosophy da paso al sencillo Did´nt cha know, elegante como pocos y producido por el gran J Dilla en donde samplea magistralment «Dreamflower» de Tarika. Blue My life que suena a TLC actualizadas. A.D 2000, dedicada a Amadou Diallo, aquel inmigrante asesinado por error por la policia neoyorquina a finales de siglo. …& On remite a su éxito On & On, actualizándolo. Bag Lady otro de sus éxitos es gospel pero revestido de seda. Green Eyes es un jazz improvisado con la trompeta del difunto Roy Hargrove . No tuvo el éxtio de su debut, pero se ganó la eternidad.

How have I never listened to her before? This is so fantastic.

feels like one endlessly morphing and perfectly continuous god-tier drum groove until orange moon, at which point theres so much open space it almost freaks me out, but because it holds to this evolution (even as it gradually re-introduces the drums) it just makes the whole thing so melty and intoxicating by the end. just a great, great flex of production and performance, feels like the language of soul being pushed into something rly distinct and even years later still just clearly vibrantly creative. a rly good beneficiary of the bloated cd-era tracklist too...it rly just seems to grow in power the more time u inhabit it!

Such a nice discovery I’ll listen more of her for sure !

Damn

Increíble, RnB en estado puro, voz única.

Soft R&B. This album put me to sleep, but in a good way. It was a very chill vibe throughout that I really liked.

This one brings back memories. Can’t believe it’s 25 years old 😱😱! Erykah just puts you in a mood with her jazzy yet funky inflections. An album for the dance floor and at times bedroom.

just solid all around, love that distinct voice. i actually heard this album for the first time over two years ago, but in all that time since i didn't realize that track 8 ('kiss me on my neck') didn't download with the rest of the album, so that was a nice surprise. orange moon is an all-time r&b song!

Amazing. So good. An analog girl in a digital world.

Loved it. Really cool, chill vibes, a ton of instruments.

Gruv

A really excellent r&b album. I tend not to listen to these kind of records in full and usually on a playlist and I’ve heard random tracks throughout my life such as orange moon , booty, didn’t cha know and a.d. 2000. But the record as a whole is so complete. Easy on the ears for beautiful vibes but lots of variety of instrumentation and genres of jazz, soul, funk and some pop sensibility. Sensual, groovy/funky and just excellently written and performed. My life, green eyes, in love with you and times a’wasting are also all great

bare rate it

It took me way too long in life to realize how amazing Erykah Badu is.

Another reason why I'm doing this list. Absolutely loved this and had never heard it before

Not to put too much of an emphasis on comparing them, but after getting ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ a few days ago, I said that I thought it was great, but couldn’t entirely see why it was THAT good. This is very much not the case for ‘Mama’s Gun’, an album that seemingly has ‘SPECIAL’ radiating out of every moment of it. The first thing big strength of the record is the fact it contains one of the best album openers ever in the form of the imperious psychedelic funk assault that is ‘Penitentiary Philosophy’, a song of such humungous scale that it leaves Erykah Badu audibly and spiritually towering above us mere mortals by the end. The majority of the album is performed from a similar height, with one immaculately produced and perfectly controlled dose of sensual neo soul after another, never outstaying their welcome or being anything less than perfect. Badu performs these songs as if floating somewhere above the listeners head in a large translucent bubble, sounding both intimate and just out of reach. Admittedly, the quieter and more acoustic guitar led second half, in which Badu gradually descends back down to earth, probably does drag a bit. This section does still bring with it its own moments of astonishment, and what came before was so good that any moments of vague tedium hardly even matter. There’s just something really pure about this entire album; a perfectly realised outpouring of relentless creativity that seemingly flowed out of Badu on a barely conscious level. No skits either (take note Lauryn Hill, take note!)

I had never listened to this full album before, this was absolutely fantastic. I wasn't expecting the Betty Davis style Funk opener, "Penitentiary Philosophy" hit so hard! And then into the absolutely classic "Didn't Cha Know". And then it just stays perfect all the way through the epic closer, "Green Eyes". This was a great reminder that I need to listen to more Erykah Badu.

Soup for the soul

Wow, incredible music. Some of the best R&B I've heard with some outstanding backing music. I enjoyed TLC and Destiny's Child for what they are, but this was a whole new level. My favorites were A.D. 2000 and Green Eyes. These songs are oozing with style and tell great stories, so much more than typical love shlop that appears on similar tracks.

Mama’s Gun Incredible album. Favorite songs are Green Eyes, Didn’t cha know, and penitentiary philosophy. 5

Love this album, this has been one of my favs since high school. So original and so vibey. Love her voice and the writing and arrangements are so cool. Such a good listen all the way through

The flow here is absolutely incredible. I adore how well each song leads into the next and how groovy everything is. Vibes and vocals are immaculate. It's simplicity moves mountains. Favorites were Cleva and Green Eyes

This is the kind of album you wouldn’t mind getting stuck inside the CD player. The whole thing has a great flow to it, and the instrumentation is super crispy sounding. Especially those drums and the flute. Her voice is really good as well.

Definicija glatkog. Jedan od vrhunaca soulquariansa

Long life the Queen! This brilliant example of Neo soul has aged like fine wine. It is as solid now as it was groundbreaking back then. I'll keep exploring Badu's discography. Her legacy should not be understated. It seems that her legacy has been taken for granted. 9/10

It’s fucking Erykah Badu. Is there more to say? No. Just pure perfection 😩😩

This one is pushing a 5, but I don’t think it quite gets there yet. Album flew by; did not feel like over an hour. Production and vocals were beautiful. Didn’t pay much attention to what was being said, but honestly didn’t need to. I mainly just hear a song when it is played. It takes a lot for me to listen and digest every element, especially on the first listen. Ah fuck it this one will get a 5.

I love this album. Erykhas eccentricity really gets out in her lyrics and vocals mixed with the neo-soul sound of the 90ies. Simply gorgeous

shes a genius fr

Orange moon. Green eyes. caught my attention. Whole album is really good if i went back could prob find more songs to add. Some similarities between beats in sum songs other than that great album. 8/10

Incredible

Such a wonderful voice and a beautiful album.

Good way to get more of the Soulquarian/Jay Dilla vibe.

I just love neo soul. I’m biased, but happy to be. Erykah Badu is so sick.

Funky!

This just feels like a natural evolution of jazz. Incredible instrumentation. Her voice is perfect for this style and content. This is an album that just feels really comfortable to me, even though I've never listened to it before. And it really just makes me happy. Favorite Song(s): ...& On, Orange Moon, Time's A Wastin, Green Eyes

I first saw Erykah Badu in Blues brothers 2000 - a film whose soundtrack is way superior to its content. I then followed her up. She’s never done a dud album.

HER honey sweet voice - sexy funk warmed until its dripping

Mama’s Gun is Erykah’s second album I believe and my absolute favorite. I’m definitely a fan of Ms. Badu and listen to her music often. I’ve seen her in concert and heard these songs sang live many, many times. My favorite had to be ‘Didn’t Cha Know.’ The introduction is just so amazing. It’s pure nostalgia and bliss every time I listen to this album. I’ll forever be a fan.

Pretty sweet record.

my eyes are GREENNNN

I loved this. Great voice, funky songs, an enjoyable listen all around. I will keep this on the back burner for the future.

This may not be something I listen to every day. But I am sure as hell glad I listened to it today!

It took awhile for me to come around by I was sold by Booty. That track and Orange Moon were absolute standouts but I just vibes with this while project. Do yourself and favor and listen on something with proper bass to it. Phone speakers really don't do this justice. Get a dose of your favorite poison (weed, whiskey, whatever), find a cozy couch and a good set of speakers and just chill for 70 minutes.

Very good, very smooth.

What a bloody find! Incredible album! Proper journey! There I was thinking badu was like an 80s Beverly Knight! Revelation! 4.7

Fuck, this album is incredible!!!! ?uestlove is perfect on drums, love the snare sound. Badu has killer songs and a great voice. It's for albums like this that I love the generator, because I otherwise would have never heard this

A bona-fide classic

Bang bang. Fucking brilliant. Vaguely aware of her but glad I got thrown into this one today. Great stuff.

Dope Album

Amazing! I loved the sound and the vocals, and the lyrics were interesting.

To be confirmed when I can listen again

Erykah is always a vibe. she rarely if ever misses, this is a wonderful listen from start to finish, I know her style gets lost on some but its what keeps me coming back. Orange Moon is a fantastic wind down song.

My favorite Erykah Badu album. Just a vibe from top to bottom. ❤️❤️

Embarrassingly, this is my first time listening to an Erykah Badu album, though I've heard her on other artists' records. It won't be the last. Sweet, smooth, and soulful.

On & on, & on, & on, & on, & on, & on, & on, & on, & on, & on... Knew about this one before. Dont feel like ALL of the tracks hit right, but some really do. So imma be giving it the V, vhich also stands for very iconic. ...Or vacuum. Whichever floats your boat.

Didn’t know any of Badu’s music before listening to the album so was pleasantly surprised. Really cool soul album.

This is awesome.

I've never actually listened to Erykah Badu despite the immense praise. The first son on this album, "Penitentiary Philosophy", is an absolute banger. The soulfulness of her voice and the intensity of the accompanying music hits you right in the face. It has a lot of the musical vides of Stevie Wonder but with more attitude. Little decisions in presentation as she sings make her songs so good. I'm not sure if it's how the words are supposed to be pronounced, but at about 1:00 in track 4 ("...& On"), she sings "Zika deka del" and the way she does it adds a flourish that makes the song that much better.

Bag Lady

Okay, this was a great musical journey! Very, very impressed by this album. It might be a bit long, but it's so, so good! And what a great roster of musicians present on this album. All together it makes for an incredible timeless record, one I will definitely come back to! Standout tracks: Penitentiary Philosophy, Didn't Cha Know, Cleva, Booty, Kiss Me On My Neck, Bag Lady, In Love With You, Time's A Wastin, Green Eyes 9 out of 10

Toller R&B!

Love it! Love her!

I love Erykah

The era of the Soulquarians: A period of like-minded individuals (such as Questlove, D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, etc), each with their distinct talent across the music spectrum coming together to create some of the greatest Hip Hop, R&B, and Soul music ever made that continues to be impactful and timeless across the decades since its creation period. Context is important and its supremely important to know this period so one can appreciate the creation of Mama's Gun. It was constructed and executed at this moment in time and it continued on the ongoing momentum of what the Soulquarians were musically bringing to the table. This album is the definition of "old fashioned soul". As soon as it starts it sucks you in with its atmosphere, and at the very end of the journey you come out feeling lighter. Ms. Badu's puts all of her soul into this one and it becomes a kind of R&B therapy session required for the community. One of the greatest creations to come out of the early 21st century. One of the greatest R&B albums ever made. 5 OUT OF 5 FUCKING STARS.

A masterpiece of modern soul music. The instrumentals are gorgeous and funky, and her vocals evoke so much emotion..

Now this is the modern funk hip hop fusion I need. I LOVE how she sings, every song is full of personality. It sounds good today. So happy with it, the closest thing I’ve heard to this is the miseducation of Lauryn hill. I’m not sure which one I like more

Exceptional. Truly enjoyed the entire album.

Really like this! Great vibe, instrumentation (I’m a sucker for Rhodes), production. I like the lyrics and personal style to the singing. It’s so smooth. Orange Moon especially just sits so well in the atmosphere of the track. I could listen to it all day. So comforting. Basically everything A.D. 2000 and on is really good Neo-Soul. Lovin’ it. Above 4 but is it a 4.5? Tricky territory! It’s got a slight edge over Maxwell because it’s a tad more real. I feel like this is right there with Kiwanuka, though it’s more soulful and less psyche. It might even be better. Especially considering its age. I’m going 4.5.

Huhhuh on tää kova. Groovaa niin hemmetisti. En duunissa pääse ihan tarpeeksi chilliksi, mutta kotona toimi taas 5/5.

I actually first listened to this album for this quite a while ago and I liked it a lot but didn't feel like I had time to digest it/write a proper review. So now here I am months later to try to do that. Truly a beautiful album that has aged well 26 years later, which I find to not always be the case with this era of R&B. Penitentiary Philosophy is a banger to start of the album and originally I didn't like how the energy tapers off throughout the album. I listened to the album last evening and I found myself appreciating the way it flows. Orange Moon is a highlight on the back portion of the album. Song going on my "1001 Songs" Playlist: Penitentiary Philosophy Songs Going On My "1001 Albums Savelist" Playlist: Penitentiary Philosophy, Didn't Cha Know, My Life, ... & On, Orange Moon

"In Love With You" was a really amazing song. All of these were terrific. I loved her voice, style, and the bluesy/R&B/soul vibe to this entire album. This was a really wonderful surprise.

Um LUXO.

Love this freakin album. One of the all timers.

I don't know how to put into words how i feel about this album, other than.. I should listen to this album so much more than i do. I heard this album for the first time in late 2019 and i knew within 2 songs that it was fantastic. The vibe of the album is incredible, at times its groovy, at times its lo-fi. The production is insanely good. Lyrically the album is superb, the melodies are fantastic. Its bold and brash and just insanely good There are no lowlights, every tracks is good, the highlights could be any track on the album, but I'll shout out "...& On" and In Love With You I was between a 4 and a 5, but i think with some of the albums I've given a 4 to, this one deserves more. 5/5

I really liked it!

Brilliant. 6 stars.

кайф кайфец кайфарыч

Lovely stuff. Before listening I only really knew Erykah Badu from 'On & On' and that she was Andre 3000's ex and subject of Ms. Jackson. I wish I had been more aware because this album is fantastic, groovy neo-soul fused with hip-hop beats, all underneath Badu's mesmerising vocals. Boom!

This album is so freaking good. It's groovy, the songs transition into each other, and it just sounds awesome. Vocals, instrumentals, and songwriting are top notch. My first five star and well deserved. This is a song I'd buy on vinyl if I collected them

Nice find - adding to Favorites

An amazing soul album

Big DiFranco energy. Flawless, fresh, funky. Fantastic.

Fantastic album.

More groovy than her debut, more heartfelt, more adventurous.

Letras muy buenas, ritmos que juegan con la parodia/cliche/inmersión y las letras se le suman a eso a veces. Los géneros que se tocan son fieles a sus raíces en todos los aspectos. La voz es hermosa y sabe lo que hace en todo momento, tiene un delivery selecto pero acertado. 9/10

Mellow! Nice!

I listened to this twice, the first time just in the background and I didn't think much of it. I only knew "Didn't Cha Know" before and did like it, so felt like I was missing something. I gave it a second listen with my "good" headphones, and was completely blown away! The production is fantastic, great drum and bass sound, and her vocals are really unique and interesting. The panning on "AD 2000" is particularly beautiful, like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

Her best album

This is the ideal Sunday brunch soundtrack. Soul soothing.

Love the groove and low key sound of this album, I even still love it despite listening to it when I had a car accident.

I had only heard Baduizm before this and loved it, but this shit is on a different level. This is a perfect album to me.

A vibe

This is pretty funky. I love this one. I forgot how badass Erykah Badu was on this album or at this time. This is amazing. When I need to chill and just relax, I'll come back to this one. I'm glad this is in my algorithm now. 95/100 or 5 stars in the 1001 album ranking.

Cleva went right on my empowerment playlist. Perfect. And now I've learned that she crochets her own clothes. That's the fifth star for me.

GOAT

10/10 extraordinarily beautiful and consistently enjoyable

Wow. Stunning record.

Pretty good. I need to listen again but I was jamming on the first play through.

Always been a casual fan of Badu but this is the first time I've ever listened to one of her records front to back. And holy shit I'm so glad I did. Such a great one to put on when you're winding down.

Wow, j’ai beaucoup aimé cet album. C’est très varié, tout en étant très unifié et cohésif. Les grooves sont monstrueux. La voix est magnifique, avec juste ce qu’il faut de slang. Le propos est intelligent.

Erykah Badu is an artist that I have very little familiarity with but has been on my list of artists that I wanted to explore more. So happy that this project has pushed me in that direction!! Loved it!

Deliciously soulful. A great soundtrack for a chill Friday evening after a long, hard week.

godess. defined the 00s.

Over an hour of songs smooth as butter. Can't really say a bad thing about the album

I know Erykah Badu but I’ve never listed to this full album. I enjoyed it. Very funky and soulful. It’s clear how influential this was on later R&B and rap of the 2000s and even still today

A great album and one I’d say is one of a kind except I think it works well as the sister companion to D’angelo’s Voodoo. There are a diverse array of sounds on here but the project feels cohesive overall in the way it mixes jazz, soul, hip hop and rock. Really special.

Yes! Funky, smooth, unique voice. Musical poetry. Love this so hard!

Such a pleasant album to listen to.

CLASSIC

One of the best r&b albums ever, Ms Badu you've rocked my world

A marvelous sophomore release, on which Badu explores a wide swath of emotions and themes, from closing yourself off to outside ideas on "Penitentiary Philosophy", to self-acceptance in the face of the prevalence of superficiality in society on "Cleva", infidelity on "Booty", police violence and racial profiling on "A.D. 2000", the weight of emotional baggage on "Bag Lady", from pure unadulterated romance on "I'm in Love with You" to jealousy with a touch of self depreciating humor on "Green Eyes". An album that is consistent in it's musicality, well written and understated lyrics and excellent production. Speaking of production, it serves as a good introduction to the producer J Dilla, whose classic "Donuts" is (surprise, surprise!) missing from the list. This one may be a grower if neo-soul isn't your bag, but give it a few spins, it's one of those records that not only has a timeless quality, but also infinite replay-ability.

First time hearing it front to back, this was really good. It really should be listened to all in one sitting

Erykah Badu is good shit. This is good shit.

Amazing album; one of the greats.

Great stuff

Perfect

Beautiful from start to finish.

Quickly jumped to one of my favorite R&B albums of all time. Badu is a master of her craft. Perfect mix of jazz, soul, and blues to make something uniquely her's.

One part Choose Your Weapon, one part Awaken, My Love! (or Maggot Brain), one part straight soul music. R&B, soul, jazz, rap are the ingredients used in this creative experiment. It works well. The vocals always stand out in front of the instrumentation, but Erykah maintains the balance of complimenting rather than overpowering. Very cool record, I wasn't sold on it immediately but it managed to grip me after a few minutes of listening. I will definitely be listening to this one again. My actual rating is a 4.5/5, so I will round up on this one. Fave tracks: Penitentiary Philosophy, Orange Moon, Green Eyes

Cet album est un sacré pied de nez envers les amateurs de musique punk se remplissant les oreilles de merde au jour le jour.

Given its length, some of the good, but not great songs could have been left out. Nevertheless, the overall vibe of the album and the many great songs made me give it 5 stars.

Awesome! Pure cool choons, funky beats and neat riffs. Love it!

Very smooth, love erykah badu!

This one I came to through my wife's collection - saw her live at First Avenue Main room in the early 2000s and it was an incredible show. I think the is an actually important album, true 21st century innovation in funk.

Neo-soul classic

This album is amazing it's a great follow up to Baduizm I really enjoyed my listening experience

enjoyed this a lot!

Amazing album! I wonder if it would get five stars if I was deeper into the year.

Awesome, never really listened to her but k oe of her as Andre 3K's baby mama 😂 this is decent. Smooth, groove, soul. Definitely some outkast similarities, also clear inspiration for people like Hiatus Kayote and Childish Gambino. 4. Maybe a 5 actually, loved it

I'm not the biggest R&B guy, but this record is crazy groovy and the vocals are epic and interesting in each track. 5/5

Phenomenal.

семпл др дре вишенка

Nostalgiset fiilikset! Levyhyllyltä löytyy samainen levy CD:nä ja toimii edelleen ku junan vessa. Herättää aina muistoja. Todella kova.

this goddamn woman can do no wrong. also i owned this IRL and its good to listen to with the right company (y'know, to DO THE THING)

Lovely album.

Wow. So good.

Grooovy

Loved this!

timanttinen levy.

Execution, vision, and funk--what's not to love?

I can't believe I've never heard this album before! This is going in my regular rotation

Fantastic

Emotional

Really groovy, cool backing beats and vocals. Fave songs - Penitentiary Philosphy

Very good and worth another listen!

really good album. i dont know enough about soul to comment much on it but its very pretty and has a really good aesthetic. barely drags which is kinda impressive for 71 minutes. god why was every 90s/early 2000s album so long. like i know its because of cds or whatever but whyyyy. ah well it doesnt really matter in this case. first couple tracks are magical and it doesnt ever rly reach that height but it stays at a consistently 9/10 zone for most of the runtime. good stuff 9/10

A collection of lovely moments, stitched together with deep grooves.

Reminded me of my girlfriend again!

Album 235. Mama's Gun (https://open.spotify.com/album/4z7ma1ujO4FDL1l2YBGw7b?si=eBU9anf8QOiBdlFFr1CtOA) — Erykah Badu (2000) Great funky hip hop soul. It's chill, smooth and loong. I need to relisten to it later. 4/5 Liked: — Didn't Cha Know — In Love With You — Time's A Wastin

This felt like really quite par for the course backing and instrumentation, absolutely lifted by the attitude and quality of the vocals. She's not someone I knew about before listening to this, but I was surprised at the speed with which I was drawn into the lyrics and the songs more generally.

Never heard before. Liked it. Will listen again

I wouldn't have sought this out on my own, but it found me at the right time.

This album was definitely helped by my mood this morning. Feeling kinda sleepy with it raining outside made this exactly what I wanted to hear. I didn't even notice that it was 70 minutes long until near the very end, which normally would really bother me. A really pleasant listen Favorite Songs: ... & On, Orange Moon, Time's A Wastin

Smooth soul, really enjoyed the vibes.

Mama’s Gun is loaded. Not familiar with neosoul (and neither is spell check), but it’s got a good sound. Well thought out lyrics and instrumentation. In Love With You is the to track, but enjoy the whole listen. (3.7*s) I’m a gonna go back and check out her debut sometime.

I had low expectations, but this was surprisingly soulful and funky. I really enjoyed it from the get go. Hopefully there are more of her albums on this list or more like this and this isn't a one off good album from her.

Not AT ALL what I was expecting! Quite funky and fun!

A fascinating and soulful rendition of what it means to be heartbroken.

Big respect to the funk influences here.

own

Great album, I've been sleeping on Erykah to be honest, but was really impressed with this album and think Ill continue to explore her discography.

Soulful, funny and thoughtful. Great voice and cool music.

Hits hard, even for a first timer!

Apparently I love Erykah Badu

Really close to a 5, absolutely wonderful R&B album

4,4/5

Nice

it's smooth, long but not punishingly so, and beautifully performed. knows a thing or two about subtlety. this is a great entry point into neo-soul along with D'Angelo. deserves to be one of the 1001? yes and i think you could make a case for adding Baduizm too

Just a beautiful soul record front to back. Had never listened to this record before in its entirety, and I'm glad it showed up here. Erykah's voice is so distinct and captivating. The band backing her is so smooth and adds the perfect accompaniment to her vocals. Beautiful record.

The personnel list on Wikipedia is crazy.

Just an infectious voice. Kind of slow at bits but the way this album flows is so incredible

Very cool, enjoyed the sounds

Interesting album with a lot of different styles and ambiances. I'd globally enjoyed it. 3.5

Можливо не такий ідеальний як бадуізм (це суб'єктивно дуже), але все ще супер красивий соул альбом від легенди. Не знаю що сказати про Еріку Баду, чого ще не було сказано. На Mama's Gun навіть фіти для мене працюють непогано.

I liked this quite a bit more than I expected. I've heard of the artist before, and I was expecting something a little harder. This has some nice swing in places, and great instrumentation as well.

Erykah Badu is a staple of neo soul, and this album is a shining example of her experimental, introspective style. Sultry beats (courtesy of Questlove) and simple but exquisite harmonic layering like a live show (courtesy of The Soulquarians) give this album its radiance. Badu's voice floats gently like a plume of cigarette smoke above a crowd at a jazz club, pervading every corner of the room. I really enjoyed this album, finding it the perfect embodiment of neo soul: from its themes to its instrumentals to its vocals.

I love this album so much. I need to spend time digging into all the samples

This is a great record. Booty is an all time great song. It’s a little slow for me in places but that’s a me problem. 25 years old and still an amazing listen. 8.5/10

Never actually listened to an album by EB. I am highly susceptible to this kind of thing ... took in my share of acid jazz in the 90s, enjoyed my share of Soul II Soul, Michael Franti, US3, Thievery Corporation ... the danger with this style of music is that smotth groove can give way to languid, from which "cool but kind of dull" can be glimpsed out on the horizon. This album seems best suited to background listening. It's cool, but ... The high level musicianship is appreciated (eg, the flute on Kiss Me On My Neck). There is no single track to be excited about; I would trade this whole album in a heartbeat for Sister Carol's "Dread Natty Congo," released a few years before. That was not an especially good album, but that song is fabulous. Give me a standout track, Erykah!

Number: 123 Date: 04/06/2026 Artist: Erykah Badu Album: Mama's Gun Year: 2000 Genre: Neo Soul Familiarity: None (1) Rating: 4 Before: ======= Never heard of this artist or album. During: ======= Oh, this is pretty good. Not what I was expecting. I was thinking reggae based on the album cover. This is a nice surprise. 4 Penitentiary Philosophy 4 Didn't Cha Know 4 My Life 5 ... & On 4 Cleva 3 Hey Sugah 3 Booty 3 Kiss Me On My Neck (Hesi) 3 A.D. 2000 3 Orange Moon 3 In Love With You 4 Bag Lady 4 Time's A Wastin' 3 Green Eyes ----------------------------------------------------- 3.52 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= Very good album. It's not the type of music I normally listen to and will probably never listen to this whole album again but did add a couple songs to my faves of 2000 playlist. Not sure they will stay there the next time I evaluate it. 4 my personal rating 4 suitability for this list 3 impact ----------------------------------------------- 3.7 composite rating

Enjoyed more than I expected since it's out of my wheelhouse, very funky

YOOOO the legend didnt cha knoww??????? myyyy eyeees are greeeen cuz i eat a lot of vegetables....

i'm conflicted and a bit sad that i am... i really like this but also it falls just short for me :( i love the instrumentals but the toplines leave something to be desired. the melodies just aren't compelling to me BUTTTTT the backing tracks are so good that i'm compelled to keep giving it chances until it fully clicks. so in a way this is a provisional 4 i do think it's just a touch too long though fave track: bag lady

nice voice and junky/jazz groove which i APPROVE! Cool new artist i just discovered

Holy shit are the tracks the same (in the best way possible). 4/5

EB has great talent & a great range. This has a nice mix of up-tempo and slow-jam R&B. But it’s too long, and doesn’t maintain its edge throughout. The Spotify version seems like it’s the Japanese release —with its 2 versions of “Bag Lady,” it exemplifies the need for editing (the 2nd version is better). It’s still a 4 though.

Lowkey honeyed.

4!!!

She cool

Enjoyed that a lot more than I expected…. Great album. 4

++: Penitentiary Philosophy, ...& On, Cleva, Booty, A.D. 2000, Orange Moon, Bag Lady, Time's a Wastin, Green Eyes +: Didn't Cha Know, Hey Sugah, Kiss Me on My Neck (Hesi), In Love with You +-: My Life 8,5/10

it took me several tries to get through the whole thing because I kept getting interrupted so that definitely impacted the flow of it, but it is good if long. i like how cohesive it all is and how it flows into each other, and her personality shines through so much on these songs. she is kinda one of the best of all time probably and this work does epitomize how unique and singular she is as an artist especially in her delivery. not everyone can write a song about a bag lady and have it sound cool and not stupid. *Fav tracks: Penitentiary Philosophy; Didn’t Cha Know; Bag Lady*

This album surprised me. Great voice, interesting tone. Somewhere between jazz & hip hop with a hint of trip hop & traditional jazz. Has been added to my personal play list!!

Chilliä soul-mussiikkia. Tarvii ehkä ajatuksen kanssa kuunnella vielä, mutta toimi oikein mukavasti

Badu.......smooth as silk. Texas, baby!!!!

Just on the 1st listen this morning to work and I am already thinking this might be the best modern R&B album I have heard on this list, she is sick, and I am too, but not in a good way. P.S. I knew coming into this, that it will at least be 3 stars, but really I think I will be giving this album a 4 stars, it's really that good. I will be REVISITING her in the future for sure.

Infectious funky soul. This was a great listen and I can hear the influence here on people like Thunder Cat and Childish Gambino's "Awaken, My Love!".

Got hooked on the first song off the record, then it started feeling monotone until the second half of the album which i really liked, maybe cause the songs started feeling more structured? Overall i think it was really soulful and nice to listen to..as background music ( besides some of the songs on bottom half )

so real

Loved this

Smoove

Had a hard time deciding between 3 and 4. It’s quality, but it didn’t catch me. 7/10

I dig it

Another album I absolutely loved! I've seen it for years at work (Sunrise Records) and had it on my list to listen to at some point. So happy I waited until now, as it's a mix of R&B and Funk, which are two genres I've only recently properly gotten into. This is instantly a favourite that i can see myself putting a lot. Now I'll have to go pick up the record from work!

Really enjoyed this. Funky and soul-filled folk-esque tunes. Relaxing

This was great. A strong sonic identity, strong lyrics and strong vibes. I enjoyed this a lot, even though it's outside my normal wheelhouse. To the person who complained in their review that her eyes are brown on the cover: She means green eyes as in "the green-eyed monster", "green with envy" etc. It's about jealousy, not literal green eyes.

Nice

love it!

I listened to this one before but it never hit like this. Amazing stuff, so many jams, great samples, and yeah it's long but if you cut these things down you'd just lose these groove sections.

Overall good listen. Enjoyable but wasn’t my favorite (I love RandB if you couldn’t tell by my name). It ain’t no Groove Theory. Feels like low production. Grainy. Static. I love this but make it 2025

It was very listenable but every song sounded the same

Some good funky soul, made my horrible commute to work much nicer

Can’t believe I’ve never heard of her before this!

8/10

Erykah Badu has got a beautiful soulful voice that feels very much like Billie Holiday with a mixture of Missy Elliot for some 90s flavour. There was only one big hit that I recognised on this album On & on. But it was massive at the time and I feel like I Erykah should have had more successful songs than just this one. I love the way that the tracks run into each other leading to an overall smooth and funky feel to the whole album. This is an absolute gem and I will be come back in future. (3.750)

Listened to it earlier on and wasn’t really feeling it. Put it on at home and by god the extra bass listening to this through speakers at home makes such a difference compared to the car. The low end is so good for the entirety of the album, interplay between the bass and drums in particular. Badu’s vocal delivery and lyrics are ok but nothing to shout about, but on a second listen really enjoyed the jazz and older R&B influences of the music sitting behind her a lot.

Muy bueno

fun groovy music

A sample “oh fuck yes” spoken when this popped up says it all. Fave tracks: Bag Lady, Didn’t Cha Know

Beautiful. 4/5

Las primeras canciones me encantaron, lo demás demasiado tranquilo

Хороший альбом, но я больше по Бадуизму

What a beautiful album!

> The Beatles Just great vibes.

groovy soulful amazing

Liked the second half of the album much more. Love her voice, the vibrophone, and the overall vibe. Wish I wasn't tired listening though, had me snoozin fr 😁

4.5 egentligen

I'm feeling a strong 4.

Coldplay left me well, cold

A very pleasant surprise

I was surprised to get this one. I've heard of Erykah, but never listened to her music. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The production on it was great in my opinion. 2/6/26

cooler R&B mit viel bass.

Had to listen to this one twice and the second time through it really stuck. Such nice funky grooves with a live band on the album. Never really listened to her work before and it's pretty great!

This was a very pleasant discovery for me, as I hadn't heard of Erykah Bad before. It's lovely to hear her modern soul, from the singing to the production. Favorite tracks probably are In Love With You and Didn't Cha Know.

Lækker neo-soul med elementer af funk og rock strøjet ud hist og her.

Perfect voice!

A bit of an understated album. Not really suitable for listening to on a dark winter morning driving to Doncaster.

Smooth, chill, nice to listen to. Lovely!

A landmark neo-soul album. Mama’s Gun refines the warmth of Baduizm while deepening the politics, intimacy, and musicianship.

Fantastic production. Great rhythms and vocals. Good find. Favorite track: Green eyes other picks: bag lady, didn’t cha know.

Cool and funky, laid back vibes too

This album is like being a university student and going to a cafe away from campus to just sit for a moment and enjoy a coffee. You sit on a couch upholstered in Corinthian leather, still rich with that unmistakeable aroma. Behind you is a bookshelf with all sorts of intellectual titles, and there is a record player capping off the calming ambience with some smooth music. While you sip your einspänner and watch the world go by, a woman takes a seat at a nearby table. She has a laptop and a couple of books under her arm - Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and The Art of War by Sun Tzu. This woman intrigues you. You make eye contact and smile politely, cautious to just charge over and interrupt her morning. She smiles back and says hello. Terrified of overstepping, you start a conversation. While she is friendly, she gives answers that confirm to you that she doesn't really want to get to know you. You finish the last mouthful of your einspänner and tell her to have a nice day, before getting up and leaving.

Erykah doing “Songs in the Key of Life” style Stevie. Obviously pretty good. Long, but most of the tracks work. I dug it.

Patiko, gera pradžia. Pabaiga gal mažiau patiko. Overall 7,5/10

- oli hyvä levy rentsi tunnelma voisin kuunnella toistekin

An album I owned because a music subscription club had selected for me. Nothing I heard before then and not in my normal type, but it's a solid album. I love the dynamic range and the live musicianship with the jazz/funk edge. Great listening and I hope others get introduced to her from this 1001 list as I do think this is something everyone should hear at least once before they die.

This was cracking. An incredible rhythm section weaving behind Erykah Badu’s beautifully sung lyrics. Superb RnB and neo-soul record.

Smooth but cutting. This was an interesting record. Much of the singing was unconventional but fit well with the slow grooves of the songs. I'll have to listen to it again sometime, but on first listen I liked it.