Mama's Gun

Not bad at all. Not great either.

Maybe its a Summer record? Just not feeling it on a cold winters day. Very pedestrian and limp with all the songs merging together into one laid back slop. I thought Erykah was funkier than this?

Mama’s Gun I was surprised by how catchy and melodic this was. I do have a general liking of Neo-Soul, but too often for me it relies on more horizontal melodic and harmonic structures, and despite the quality of musicianship and singing on a lot of albums, musically it can feel like it’s very professionally delivered but relatively uninspiring drums and bass and little variation in melodic style. The fact that ?uestlove drums on the majority of it and has a hand in the production, as well as the rest of the Soulquarians immediately elevates it, and it definitely has more kick and life to it, evident in the first two tracks: Penitentiary Philosophy has a great funk-rock groove and slight Hendix feel, with a catchy melody and her superb vocals and Didn’t Cha Know at a slower tempo has a great bass hook and weeping guitar sound, with another catchy chorus melody and more sweet and supple vocals. There’s a nicely balanced amount of jazz and soul-jazz throughout, with Roy Ayers adding vocals and J-Dilla assisting the production of the excellent Cleva, and the jazzy flutes on Hey Sugah are very nice. & On is also a nice part 2 to the excellent On & On from her first album. It is a bit long at 70-odd minutes though and it does have a few spots where it dips and flirts with the less interesting, more aimless side of Neo-Soul; AD 2000, Orange Moon and In Love With You all feel a step or two below the rest. Bag Lady & Green Eyes are the strongest part of the 2nd half, although there is a little fatigue at this point from the overall length. Still, this is an excellent neo-soul album, surely up there as one of the best of the genre, with some great songs, great vocals and excellent, confessional lyrics. Think that all collides and makes it a 4. 🔫🔫🔫🔫 Playlist submission: Didn’t Cha Know

This was rather disappointing. Of course the album was preceded by 'On & On' which seems to have been reprised here, but reprised to match this album's aesthetic - dull (vs the original sultry groove). It seems like a cheap way to anchor the listener to familiarity - imagine if Oasis had reprised DLBIA on Be Here Now, or The Beatles had gone again with the Abbey Road medley. It's not on (and on). The rest of the album is revealed as little more than bland nu-soul, and was most disheartening. There's a couple of good moments. The brass driven, stop/start groove of 'Booty' is a highlight. 'In Love With You' was fine, on account of Stephen Marley introducing some gravelly variability into proceedings ('In Love With You'). But it's generally a vapid experience; and at over an hour and ten minutes long it becomes a challenging dirge. The album cover also reminds me of the scene in Airplane II where William Shatner is behind the screen door. But my goodness her lips are something else, and that's coming from someone with lips of the fuller persuasion. Could suck a golf ball through a hosepipe (her not me, although I confess I only tried once, and not with gusto).

So good. Like Ms. Lauryn Hill and Corrine Bailey Rae

Very good, feels nice for a warm summer day to just put on while making some food in the sun or something.

Album 959 of 1089 Erykah Badu - Mama's Gun (2000) Rating : 3.5 / 5 I really enjoyed this one. It’s not my usual go-to genre, but it didn’t take long for me to appreciate just how smooth and soulful this record is. I went in expecting more of a straight hip-hop sound, but it quickly opened up into something richer - soul, jazz, R&B, and funk all weaving together into an easy, natural groove. The musicianship is first-rate, the arrangements are warm and layered, and Badu’s vocals are just stunning - confident yet relaxed, intimate without trying too hard. There’s a real sense of mood here, the kind that draws you in rather than demands attention. It’s the kind of album that you can sit back with and let it unfold on its own time. I wouldn’t have guessed this would hit the spot for me, but it really did. A fine, well-crafted record that proves good music crosses genres.

Riktigt härligt, chill utan att vara tråkigt!

Allmänt härligt sound, inget som direkt sticker ut men good vibes all around o vill gärna lyssna mer!

Åååh, påminder mig om mina favorit låtar på modern tid jag lyssnar på

Halvtrist.

Na ja. Ich fand es schon sehr lang und eher langweilig.

This album is an entire vibe. I very much enjoyed it.

The Good: Mom will be able to hold off the bad people… The Bad: Mom doesn’t know what is good, or what is bad… The Ugly: Seeing mom in front of a judge, getting sentenced for having shot Erykah… Just as a quick question; if Erykah is phonetic, then is Badu racist as Asian people are being made fun of? Neo Soul… Neo anything tends to be shit, not much different here. Yes, sure, the beat is fine, while the groove is great… but the damn singing, and attitude, is just enough to make me not want to listen to this again. My biggest gripe, at the end of the day, is the runtime of this album… they should have made 40-minutes an industry standard when it comes to max album lenghts… CDs just ruined music I guess. So, should it come as a surprise that I will be dishing out 2* for this album? Mrs, or Ms, or whatever Badu should not be on this list… IMHO

A few of these songs I quite liked, they were lovely to have on in the background. But overall I didn’t feel like the album had enough that distinguished it from others to really grab me.

I didn't love her voice which I found quite nasally. None of the songs really caught my attention. Basically I didn't really like it, although I thought some of the backing music was quite cool.

This has been on my radar for quite a while but it’s honestly left me quite underwhelmed. It’s not bad by any means but a generational album, I wouldn’t say so

Enjoyable instrumentals with funky production

She’s bringing a lot of influences into this neo soul classic and has some heavy-hitting musicians backing her. This is a perfect Sunday morning coming down kind of album.

This one caught me by surprise. Badu's incredible voice paired with actual live musicians (unusual for her contemporaries) makes for an attention-grabbing album. The genres represented here are varied enough to keep every track fresh, while staying consistent enough to make the whole thing groove.

Surprised by this :)

This album really surprised me. Very smooth, catchy, and soulful. And it’s got Questlove on a few tracks which is really cool.

Great soulful music

Blues, jazz, musica chill. Ni tan mal.

First song was really funky and I thought this might be a very good album, but sort of drifted into an R&B album that wasn't my thing, far too long as well

Very funky, but a lot didn't really stick for me past Penitentiary Philosophy. It was a great start that the rest of the album didn't really live up to for me.

Great neo-soul/funk record. Instrumentation is tight and Badu’s songwriting and vocal performance is top tier. Almost a little too laid back and understated in places if kind of drags a little in the middle but the strong start/ finish on the album kept me interested and engaged. 7/10 Favorite tracks- “Didn't Cha Know” “Bag Lady” “Time’s a Wastin”

deep, organic funk and jazz-soul grooves. The songs tackle themes of personal insecurity, heartbreak (following her separation from André 3000), and pointed social issues (like police brutality), solidifying her place as a powerful voice and an innovative artist.

Monotonous

A nice vibe but nothing that stands out that much. The voice is at times annoying and nasally.

Really chill album; nice grooves and unlike some others I enjoy her vocals. Does suffer from a lack of variety though - too many tracks of the same tempo and vibe.

Super chill vibes

A couple of the songs aren’t bad. But this is really lacking in memorability to me. And it goes on and on and on and on.

According to Wikipedia, Erykah Badu's “Mama's Gun” is an important representative of neo soul. I wasn't familiar with this term, but it apparently describes a reinterpretation of the soul genre under the influence of contemporary R&B. That may be true, because just as contemporary R&B isn't really R&B, the music on this album is, in my opinion, not soul, but rather simple pop with distant inspirations from soul and hip hop. The record isn't bad, but to me it's rather on the unremarkable side. Probably good easy listening background music.

The voice... that Erykah voice. Unbelievable.

Smooth and groovy Sunday morning vibes going on with this album.

Enjoyed the vibe on this album much more than I was expecting.

Liked this one. Seems like there’s lots of depth to the lyrics and the beat just flows. Hard to tell the difference between songs for me though.

Boring. Some decent music but the songs go on too long and don’t really go anywhere. Also some of the vocals are really nasally and grating. The entire album is too long as well. Her bored look on the cover reflects how I felt halfway through this listen.

This is a good, mellow R&B album. Nothing terribly exciting, but good. Pitchfork: 9.4 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #158 (2023) Best Songs Didn't Cha Know Orange Moon Bag Lady

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.

Pretty good.

LOVE!!!!

Gear: 64 Audio Duo Artwork: 😐🧶🆒 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🛋️😌👏 Ratinng: 🔫🔫🔫(🔫)/5

Not for me. Positives: I did enjoy the first song "Penitentiary Philosophy" and the first 2 minutes of "Green Eyes". Negatives: The remaining 67 minutes of the album.

Erykah Badu is someone whom I just started listening to last year. Like with D'Angelo, she is often considered an instrumental figure in the neo-soul movement. In fact, the two of them collaborated in the short-lived Soulquarians collective. Alongside that, Erykah had a son with her then-partner, André 3000, before the two of them split. All these elements together form the background to her second studio record, Mama's Gun, as Erykah embraced a more sonically eclectic sound while addressing her complications with fame, her new motherhood, and her separation from André. This record does sound tantalizing to me. Erykah's singing voice often gets compared to Billie Holiday, and I can hear the comparison in the hypnotic and swirling nature of the delivery. It helps that the production she worked on with Questlove and Pino Palladino sounded very organic, as tracks vary in style across soul, funk, rock, jazz, and reggae without ever coming across as jarring in transitions, thanks in part to some excellent work from the session musicians. Adding to the experience are some very introspective lyrics coming from Erykah. The "mama's gun" of the album title serves as a metaphor for how she wants to be a protective mother for her son. As such, she draws on past experiences to explore themes of love, self-worth, and social equity as she wants the best for herself and her loved ones. The forewarnings of street crime on "Penitentiary Philosophy" and "Time's a Wastin'", the desire to seek a righteous path in "Didn't Cha Know" and "My Life", the challenging of perceptions around women on "Cleva" and "Booty", the pursuit of freedom simultaneously with love on "Kiss Me on My Neck", "In Love with You", and especially "Orange Moon" with her desire to find happiness and reinforce her belief in God. The album closes with the ten-minute suite "Green Eyes", in which Erykah explores her heartbreak and separation from André 3000 across three movements. She learns to accept that the relationship is over and must move on as amicably as she can. For as much as this album resonated well with me, there is still this nagging sense within myself that the album could've been trimmed down a bit. At the very least, it sounds like the back half after the "Hey Sugah" interlude sounded more intriguing in terms of composition and lyrical writing than the earlier tracks. Then again, it's difficult to say what could have been cut, considering how much Erykah made apparent on this record with the changes she went through at this time. I'm sure that Mama's Gun will grow on me, and it will be interesting to revisit down the line. For now, I think this album is good and worth your time.

Funky soul goodness. It goes on a little too long like a lot of this jazzy expressive shit does. Does the last song on an album always have to be the longest? Hard 3 close but no cigar on a soft 4.

I definitely wasn’t expecting to enjoy this album so much. My biggest problem honestly, and this was why I wasn’t expecting to like it, the album cover is so boring. I feel it doesn’t really convey what’s on the album and personally I don’t think it’s a good representation of said album. But that’s ok cause the album is fucking awesome. There’s a ton of variety in sound and tone. There were a few songs I didn’t like that were slower but it never once lost my attention, it had me hooked from the first two songs which are probably the best two on the album but it doesn’t feel like downhill after that. There are a ton more songs in this album that are fun and worth your time. Seriously this is a great cruisin’ album. Just hop in the car, no real destination in mind, and just drive around listening to this album. You will like it!

One of my favorite albums of all time

The backing instrumentals are pretty interesting but I just don’t care for Erykah Badu’s singing. It’s pretty monotonous throughout. 90s/00s soul has never appealed to me. I can only appreciate this so much before getting a bit bored

So.good. very warm, charismatic music. Great vibes, cool songs.

Pre: like this album Post: Still like, great combo of soul/funk/hip hop

Yeah, nah.

I would rate this a 5, but it's my first listen so not sure. we'll see.

Would have been a 2.5.

2000s soul. Neo soul, funk and jazz. Smooth and groovy.

An album that starts off incredibly strong, then doesn't really go anywhere or do anything. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 20 minutes or so, but the album starts to become incredibly repetitive and almost droning. Would've liked it to either be shorter or more musically diverse. Not a bad listen by any means, but could've been a lot better. Top tracks: Penitentiary Philosophy, Didn't Cha Know, Cleva

Really nice, smooth neo soul. A bit unremarkable, missing the catch.

I had Baduizm and had respect (if not total love) for it, but obviously not enough to buy the next album. This was in the days before streaming so I couldn't even easily try it, so Erykah didn't get another look in on my musical journey. I now find out how well thought of some of her subsequent albums are, and there are certainly many gems on here even if as a whole it can be a little long and strangely cold or abrasive at times (whilst conversely warm and gentle in others). I'm glad to get to know it better and will certainly check in more with her music in the future.

Chill vibes

Very good but not what I would pick on my own.

Not much of a fan. A little bit of it ok but eventually it kinda grates on me. I think it’s the winey voice and the jazzy music just all starts to sound the same.

The groove and vibe of this album are great. Her voice is smooth and sultry. It is a really good album. 4/5 Would listen again

Pretty smooth, but too light to this length

Not too bad. In fact there were some tracks that were pretty interesting. However, overall it just was not to my taste.

One of those albums that sounds familiar but it’s not. Great original voice.

Fantastic. However, no stand out tracks that keep me wanting more.

Pleasantly surprised with this one. I was afraid it was going to be infused with crappy hip-hop, and it really wasn't. Sounded influenced by 60s and 70s R&B. Reminded me of the Amy Winehouse album Frank on this list, though it was three years after this. She's got a great voice and the production was excellent. There were a couple of tracks I really didn't like (Booty being one, ugh those lyrics) and it went on too long

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

Not really my thing. Too much Soul, Funk, RnB.

Great album not my typical kind of music

Not too bad. Good start and a couple of nice ones.

The first song was ok. Ended up sampling the rest of the album.

Meh

Ok, but not something I'd ever listen to.

I would expect to overpay for my drinks and have an unexceptionally sad time in this bar. Stylish wallpaper, I grant. Simon, I’m willing to stake money one of our absent project comrades is an owner-liker of this album. Will report back.

Never seems to go anywhere, spinning it's souly, jazzy wheels aimlessly. "Baduizm" is a tighter, if equally ephemeral, tidbit.

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

Better than the reviews. Funky wild crazy, really fun listen. I enjoyed the production also. Stereo production was used really well. 6.0

Green eyes pushed this one to a 5 for me.

Decent album, musically good. I just never got into the R&B sound. 3/5 not for me I guess

4 from Sian 2 from Deb

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.

Good

Classic what more can I say

Pitchfork review said, “ It was music for the revolution that wasn’t televised.” Yea it seems a little forward politically, but her voice is crystal on porcelain. I agree with the independent” At 74 minutes, it wanders out of the groove far too much. They could have chopped 20 minutes off this.” I at times wanted to groove and was yawning instead. 3 star for me!

I was pleasantly surprised by this. Really enjoyed listening to it and would give it another listen. On second listen its very Soul and was enjoyable to listen to, but I still cannot see myself wanting to discover more or listen again. 3 stars

Wasn’t sure at first, but grew on me and went back to listen a second time. Enjoyed it.

7.2

Always quite liked Erykah Badu’s singles but I get bored listening to a full album. There’s good melodies here but it doesn’t really add up to more than just chill background music. The weird vocal delivery in some songs got on my nerves after a while.

Good to know something about Badu, but didn’t enjoy this much. I think every song was two chords in the same time? Nice voice etc. but this was aimless and boring.

Im almost entirely new to Badu’s voice. And without embarrassment, Im thoroughly drunk on it after one listen. Mostly neat tracks here, but Didnt Cha Know is a clear standout. Pretty sick that this album came after she took a break to raise her first child. My one note is that the album is kind of slow and feels like a single note/long concept - which tends to happen with this genre for me.

I remember Erykah Badu performing "...& On" (maybe the worst-titled song I've ever seen, like Elon Musk naming his kid !6&&XUYG or whatever) on All That when this album came out. My sister and I lost our minds laughing at her get-up (a gigantic headdress and a Cruella DeVille style long cigarette). I kinda get her music more now that I'm older, but I still don't love love it. It's just a little arty and overwrought for my taste. Her pretty recent album with Andre 3000 was an extreme example. But I still like the vibe enough that I'm kinda into it

The backing tracks have a lot more to offer than (what felt to me like) lazy vocals and boring melodies.

Not sure why this album is on the top 1000 list but it's easy listening. Each song flows into the next so you lose track of which song you're on. Overall not a bad album but nothing amazing.

Seriously tasty grooves under those vocals.. it's like she’s stuck in one gear. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - Didn't Cha Know - In Love With You - Bag Lady

A vibe for sure. Originally thought I was in 1979 with a big ole Afro and a fist in the air.

I’ve been behind on these! Whoops! This one was funky and I liked the beats. I don’t like her voice though

Really enjoyed a lot of this album. Every song was different and I appreciated the variety of instruments and vocal effects. A few of my favorites were Orange Moon, Time’s a Wastin, and Green Eyes 4/5

Groovy, funky, jazzy. Gorgeously nuanced and compelling vocals. Harmonically balanced with great diversity. There’s a coziness, like a sweater that fits just right. There is a loose, live-band feel that makes the record feel alive and intimate. Yet, it’s precise and masterfully crafted. Loved the sound of this record. Some BASS, which is nice to hear on this list. Atmospheric keyboards, big drums. Late-night, immersive, enrapturing. So many cool percussion sounds that fit in so well to create unique textures and vibes. It’s not a perfect record. Some of the songs feel bloated and some of the choices miss (like the stereo sweeps on A.D. 2000). Nevertheless, this was a great record. Looking forward to listening to this one again. Glad I heard this 8-8.5/10 Standouts: Cleva (feat. Roy Ayers) Orange Moon Green Eyes

As the story goes, Electric Ladyland’s resident feline “Jimmy” would show up to listen back, approvingly, to the desk mixes of “Mama’s Gun”. It’s cool cats all the way down, this one. Soulquarians Questlove, James Poyser, Jay Dee (genuine thrill when my ear caught his style in the first couple of bars of “Didn’t Cha Know?”) do a fine job of giving Erykah’s inimitable vocal style something to scratch up against … but the record’s at its best when it’s caterwauling on a level completely of its own (on “Penitentiary Philosophy”, “Kiss Me On My Neck” especially). This is a fantastic record; full of texture and swing. Inescapably, there’s the sense you’re getting treated to the sound of some of the turn of the century’s most brilliant and influential artists, not just collaborating but building each other up in true process. You have to hand it to Jimmy, the cat had taste.

That is one smooth voice. But it violates my rule about the inclusion of songs over 10 minutes that don't need to be over 10 minutes.

I have a soft spot for soul sisters singing sweetly. This album has a ton of great tracks. It doesn’t hang together as a unified album necessarily, so runs way too long. But I like plucking tracks from this for other playlists. How to rate?

Soulful vibes with some solid beats to match. Can't complain.

not really outstanding

Three stars feels unfair, four feels generous in the context of this list. If in doubt, bump it up

Superb!

OK enough Neo Soul grooves, but while I appreciate the range of Badu's voice, I can't handle the tone of it... She's no N'dea Davenport for example

Fantastic. Beautiful production.

Was mostly just wanting it to end, but still feel no other negative feelings towards it. Just whatever soul.

The beats were good, and would have been fine as an instrumental album But this way too long and repetitive. Her voice grated on me a bit and also some of the lyrics (I dont want to hear about your period thanks) 2 ⭐️

Ive always been a big fan of Badu's style and voice- she just oozes coolness. This album was a good listen- lots of emotion in her songs and funky instrumentation to match. I did feel the album was slightly long- I found myself getting bored near the very end. Still- plenty of jams. Overall 3.5 to 4 /5

It wasn’t really my thing, but interesting and fun

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.

7/10

This one started out good. Groovy, funky, it was great. Then it started falling apart a few tracks in. I love the funk, but the tracks that are more jazz like were hard to get through. Badu's vocals were also a bit hit or miss with me too. Some were great, and others not so much. The raspyness can be slightly annoying. The album also suffers from the early CD era problem of being too long. I'd like it a lot better in about 20 minutes was cut off somewhere in the middle. In the end, I liked it overall, but it's not something I'll go back too much. So about a 3.5, but it was just annoying enough that I can't round up.

Pleasingly inoffensive, with a mid-seventies smooth-jazz-funk groove. Not much variety or uniqueness here.

Uno de los discos clave para entender los inicios del Neo-Soul en la segunda mitad de los 90 e inicios de los 2000. Erykah Badu supo combinar las sensibilidades del Jazz, el Soul y el Hip Hop, publicando un disco mastodóntico de más de una hora de duración, que es lo único que podría criticarle. 4/5

Background noise. No business being on this list

Pretty pleasing to listen to while the snow falls. I hear the complaints about her voice but I think it works in that 90s/early 00s r&b sort of way that conveys authenticity but I also think I have a higher tolerance for unconventional singing voices. Production is really good too. I award a 3.5 with the right to revise upward at a later date if this sticks in the craw like previous albums heard for the first time.

It's a good background listen, but all the songs kind of blend together, except for kiss me on my neck, which was really annoying and I had to skip halfway through. The instrumentation is great, but it falters a bit in the back half of the album

Interesting but I don't like it enough to add it to my library

Amazingly smooth, groovy and chill. For a 2000s r&b album, the production is super lush and psychedelic and her vocals are really stunning. I also love the flow of this album and how the song transition into each other so perfectly.

I know Radek likes this. Really great music. I loved each song and the instruments, rhythms, melodies and whatever else is possible to enjoy in a song. Havent listened to a lot of soul or r&b so its new vibe to my ear.

7/10 - Had some good moments. Overall pretty enjoyable

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

Y'know, for the longest time, if I knew this album for anything, it was solely for how it used the YELLOW SUBMARINE title font on the cover. I'm aware that the font was used plenty of times before that film, and it's been used in a variety of circumstances afterwards... But dang if it'll ever be anything to me other than the YELLOW SUBMARINE title font. Compare it with this album: now I know it for two or three things. Not only does it use the YELLOW SUBMARINE title font, but it's also a very lovely and vibes-ful soul experience. Seriously, this is an album I can just glide on. I made more of an effort here to listen to the lyrics than usual, but just as well, I was very content to just let the general soundscape carry me through. The actual makeup of the instrumentation may not be very complex, sure, though they're played so wonderfully and Erykah's voice is so lovely that I can hardly find room to complain about it. Seriously, to all the reviews commenting on how Erykah's voice was a basebreaker: it's honestly not that bad. I will cop to one thing, and it does kind of keep me from fully loving this album: the length. Now, look, I'm no stranger to a bit of excess in a soul record. Stevie Wonder's SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE is two records **and** an EP's worth of tunes, and I consider that the greatest album ever made. And let's be clear, the songs across the board are strong enough that it's a generally enjoyable experience, especially if you can let yourself float along. And particularly, too, if you do it as I do and break it up by record side — it's not **that** bad. With all that said, though, I can still feel when an album exceeds an hour, and I very much did on here. It's the kind of situation where if I **did** ever return to it, it'd be in chunks and for sure not all at once. Still, as a piece of neo soul, I very much enjoyed my time with it. I don't even really have too much more I wanna say about it, unlike a fellow group member of mine. It's just a nice, vibe-y time, despite feeling its length — and, really, ain't that all I need to know it for?

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

I’m at a 10, even with one mild flaw to the album in my mind. Much like Janelle Monae back in March, Erykah Badu is one of those R&B artists that’s just escaped me, for almost no reason at all. I’ve definitely heard her before, since she’s done a number of features over the years, but this is my first full Erykah Badu album. It’s the only one on the list, and it’s one hell of a pick – I fucking loved this. It’s hard not to point to “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” at some point while listening to this, but I think that does both albums a disservice. Erykah Badu is not Lauryn Hill, and while their musical sensibilities & production styles might be similar, these albums aren’t going for the same thing. “Miseducation” is a hip-hop / rap album first & foremost, with Lauryn’s singing abilities constantly used to enhance the hip-hop base each track is built on to elevate it to a higher level. This album leans far more into the 70s Stevie Wonder-esque style of R&B and soul music, with Erykah’s rapping abilities occasionally used to enhance the R&B base of each track. This is a *soul* album first & foremost, and that’s a big enough distinction that it places each album distinctly separately from each other, no matter how intertwined they might feel. So, with all that preamble, how effective is Erykah Badu as a soul singer? Words can’t describe it; you simply have to hear her voice. Yes, sometimes she leans into a sort of Lenny Kravitz-y nasally tone, but it never once brings a track down. When she’s at her finest on this album, she’s evoking the past brilliantly, especially so on “Orange Moon”, which might be one of the most beautiful tracks I’ve ever heard in my life. Her voice blends so well into the instrumentals on this album, working hand-in-hand in a way where it all melts together into a harmony that’s hard to describe but impossible not to feel in the moment. Instrumentally, I adore the production here all the same; this does lean heavily into a “modernized” version of Stevie Wonder’s ‘70s work, combined with some of the overproduction flair that had come to pass in the “quiet storm” era of R&B throughout the 90s. That flair is simplified though, taking the best of its emotional pull while giving it a jazzier & funkier tone to create the grooves that make this album glide. There’s no better example of this than the 5 tracks that start the album; “Penitentiary Philosophy” is an incredible opener, down to the melodic interpolation of “Ordinary Pain”, the swirling instrumental & the much-needed cooldown of the final minute. “Didn’t Cha Know” has a beat that’s smooth as silk, and J. Dilla’s production work does wonders. The back-to-back-to-back punch of “My Life”, “...& On”, and “Cleva”, all flowing into each other, with one long lingering theme of living your life with a self-confidence that’s too undeniable for people to bring you down, is a highlight of the album for me. Those first 5 tracks set the tone, and they act as such a strong start to the whole album that I fully bought in the rest of the way. This album’s tracks get longer and longer, so mileage will certainly vary about how willing you are to buy into what this album is selling. Since I’m already accustomed to the sort of Stevie Wonder-esque “bloat” this album has, it was never that big of a deal for me. It is crazy to acknowledge that the final 3 tracks here are longer than the first 5 though; it’s something I felt vaguely aware of while listening, but since I was already DEEP into the groove, it’s not something that affected my experience with the album. However, those final 3 tracks are where my one flaw with this album lies. It’s the track order; very specifically, I think “Green Eyes” & “Time’s a Wastin’” should’ve been flipped. Within the normal context of the album, “Time’s a Wastin’” feels unnecessary; I think the lyricism is just a little broad to really send a message like she wants to, singing in broader platitudes as opposed to a more focused message like Stevie or others would’ve given. Because the lyrics are so broad, I don’t think they justify the 6 minute runtime; it’s a smooth instrumental, and her vocals glide when they do, but for what it’s actually saying, it’s not saying that much. Overall, I think it’s a bit of a momentum stopper right before the big finish. However, if it had come directly after “Green Eyes”, which is all about a sort of “relapsing” journey based around truly getting over an ex (maybe Andre 3000?), I think its broader messaging would be fine given the specificity of “Green Eyes” as an example of how to stop drifting along in life, and it would feel far more digestible. There’s lot more I didn’t touch on, like the fun dichotomy of “Booty” & “Kiss Me on My Neck” in terms of subject matter, the backstory behind “A.D. 2000” and my own personal frustration that we’ve moved nowhere in terms of police brutality & racial profiling, the deeper beauty of “Orange Moon” and how I think it’s a ballad to her son (genuinely an all-timer), the slightly long (but fun!) minimalist reggae vibes of “In Love with You”, or the absolute groove of “Bag Lady”, but those are all things that need to be heard once you’re in a full flow state with this album. If you can’t hit that flow state, you won’t be able to digest this as fully as I did, but I think it’s very achievable. Lyrically, these are about as simple as you can get, hitting you over the head with their meaning. Even if you can’t get into the lyrics, the grooves & her voice are so damn smooth that you can feel each track without a second thought. As a whole, even with my one flaw, I think this stands up as a pinnacle of the neo-soul genre, and I’m once again blown away both by my own stupidity at ignoring someone, and at just how damn good they ended up being for my tastes. It’s a 10. A great, great album. I gotta listen to Megadeth after this? Talk about a tone shift, jeez.

Smooth R & B

Fun funk, good vocals

One of the great r'n'b albums.

I was deep into nu metal when this album came out, I know, I regret it too. So, I was excited to listen to this & it started off great, but after about 10 songs, for me, the album ran out of steam. This is a Motown album, but it ain’t your dadd…or your great-grandaddy’s Motown. The musicianship was incredible. Around 2000, Questlove & others started the neo-soul movement & Badu was the high priestess. At least, according to what Wikipedia told me. I enjoyed the album for what it was, but in the end, it was too long & I got bored in the middle. I think the more boring songs were less neo-soul & more samples of other songs. Penitentiary Philosophy is going into my favorite songs playlist, but that’s about it. However, this is prime baby-making music if you want to add to or start a family.

guess rym likes this too. honestly its the same with every soul/contemporary R&B album: i can sleep in the middle of it and when i wake up i would jave no idea that the song changed. apart from The ArchAndroid, i mean. that one is really fucking eclectic. 2/5

2 out of 5. Penitentiary Philosophy is a great song, and the rest was so-so.

Not my thing

frekar kúl jassskotið hiphopp. í anda meðvitaðs. full langt en feykigott.

While listening to this album I was thinking that I could have listened to this in a clothes shop. It is repetitive, plain and with basic beats, too safe that it can't be good. Some songs have nice instrumentations, but the overall is far from working well. Badu's voice feels tired and uninterested, and sometimes is very strident and tiresome.

I'm not that into her

amazing album.

Solid album. Beautiful voice.

Background groovy funk. 7/10

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?

Mange af de her neosoulalbums har det samme problem, at de er for lange. Synes jeg også den her er. Men der er nok bangers på til at gøre op for det

Det hele lyder egentlig super lækkert, men ville ønske det var kortere (både pladen og de enkelte numre)

Not my jazz..

This album is groovy as hell, but overshadowed by aimless vocal runs that dull the sharpness on virtually every track. Badu can sing, but we have to be made hyper aware of it, and that makes for a boring record.

Badu's versatile delivery navigates the album's eclectic neo-soul arrangements with ease, creating a cohesive yet constantly shifting emotional landscape.

Isch no easy aber nid maximal catchy.

good, not for me tho

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

Not bad.

oki chill

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

Quite nice but not 100% my vibe

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.

It's always hard for me to review albums like this - talent and quality musicianship are obvious, but it's music I would never choose to listen to.

Erykah Bah Dooo

Brilliantly creative, expanding R&B’s range

Soulful. Very nice.

Nice soul music but didn't catch me

YO MAMMMAAAAAA

I am a fan of R&B and so far I am enjoying this album. The main thing that caught my attention is how each track starts and ends perfectly, like a perfect loop of a beautiful jingle. Reminds me of music being played in a cafe or bookstore: cozy atmospheric music that accompanies your thoughts while sipping tea or checking out books. Album cover art looks like from the 70's with it's blend of warm colors of green, red, yellow and Kubrick font. It explains why I was surprised to find out that it came out in 2000. Memorable lyric: "Give me water. Water for my mind." "No, you won't be no name no buildings after me."

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

Beautiful voice and a great sound on the album

Fav: A.D. 2000 Least Fav: Cleva I’m usually intimidated by albums over an hour long by artists I’ve never heard of before, but I’m glad I gave this a shot. Some nice chill vibes that I can see where current artists have used Erykah as inspiration

2

some great funky parts but it went on way too long and I got bored

8/10 I heart crystals

Love this record. Soul, jazz, R&B, hip hop: she puts it all together in an intense millennial complexity.

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

This album flows so so SO well. Erykah Badu’s voice seems to be polarizing, but I find it suits her neo-soul style and overall vibe very very well. The final track probably could have been cut a bit, but otherwise, a totally gorgeous album. 5/5

Okay.

Nice voice, good soul album.

I'd be down for a instrumental version of this album

Me no like R&B but I gave Lauryn Hill a 2 and this album gets on my nerves less than Lauryn Hill's, so I'll give it a 3. Many songs have a groove and nice funky elements. Good musicianship. One of the better albums I have heard in the genre I suppose. I still don't like it but who knows, one day I might.

It was ok, just not my style.

*2000 - In my wheelhouse, but never listened to this when it came out. *This took me a few tries, and still couldn’t get through it. *I like a lot of the music - very chill and smooth, but I really dislike her voice. *Like Macy Gray but without the catchy melodies. RATING - 5/10

I remember this album being a big deal when it came out. I don't really remember why but it was everywhere. My biggest complaint about it is that the vocal arrangements are all oddly the same. Like you can almost replace the vocal parts for one song with any other on the album. That's obviously not 100% true but still, it was something that I noticed. I can see that her voice would also be a bit of a debate for a lot of people. There are good and bad things about it, but I think I like it for the most part. It's, maybe not unique, but different enough to stand out a bit. I don't really know her music well, but I wouldn't be surprised if this album was kind of a departure from the one she had done before - like her saying 'look how grown up and sophisticated I am now'. But I don't really think it shows that. It sounds like someone trying to make you believe that. I don't know, that may be way off, like I said I don't know her music at all, that's just how it sounds to me. And the lyrics are just bad. If you listen without paying attention it makes it better. Overall I think this album is good, but not something that would make me want to explore the rest of her catalogue. And I probably wouldn't play it again but if it came up randomly, I'd probably let it play for at least a while. 2.5/5

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

did not appreciate her tone or singing style - couldn't finish

Found it boring but my son absolutely bopped to one track!

This record is a whole vibe. I went in and out of the vibe because I had to start and stop it a lot. But when you’re in it - it’s pretty great.

It’s kinda good but Im over it halfway through

This album was good, but it’s definitely shackled to the late ’90s era. It’s exactly the kind of stuff I used to hear on downtempo DJ mixtapes back in the day. The vibe is nostalgic, and while it still holds up in some ways, it definitely feels like a product of its time.

Penitentiary Philosophy // Didn’t Cha Know // …& On // Bag Lady // Green Eyes 4.5/5

This is a great start for my album listening. The genre is not that far off of my taste. 7.5 out of 10

As far as souly RnB albums go, I quite enjoyed it. Wouldn't go back too regularly but would definitely give it another spin on a chilled out weekend morning.

Достаточно лёгкая и спокойная музыка, соул с примесью джаза

That's one hour and eleven minutes I can't get back.

I thought it was groovy, but not as groovy as other albums I have listened to. I would not put it very high on my list.

I enjoyed it. Not something I'm going to listen to every day, but I can see why people would love it. Great vibes, a lot of talent. I could see some basic elements that Motown records were doing with some of their other records at this time also (Nelly)

I like this a lot. I like the music, the vibes, the flow. everything is pretty good, but I still consider it a 3 star album objectively. I do think the vocals could be more interesting and the lyrics are okay. I bumped it up to 4 stars bc I am likely to listen to this again, even with it's flaws

Every track felt like it would take one line and repeat it for the whole song

Great soul/R&B. Very rich sound overall and of course she sounds great. Favorites: Didn't Cha Know, In Love With You

Although I’m not inherently much of a neo-soul fan, there are quite a few musical elements here that I’m really digging, particularly the bass work on “Didn’t Cha Know”, Roy Ayers’ guest spot on “Cleva”, and the string arrangement/coda of “Time’s a Wastin”. Really, really cool stuff. I definitely felt the length of this one a bit, and there are also a few aspects that I’m not so hot on (definitely just personal preferences, though), but the aspects that I like of it are enough to get me to 3 stars. Perhaps it’s because I listened to it once more out of context, but I actually quite like “Green Eyes”. The jazz kid in me really, really digs the soundscape and shifting sections in that one. Similarly, “Cleva” is hard for me not to really like, and as I mentioned before, that bass line on “Didn’t Cha Know” goes so hard. One hour and 11 minutes of a genre I don’t love is a bit tough, and I don’t think I’m likely to visit the whole album again any time soon, but I do have a lot of respect for it/her and I’m glad I was finally given a good excuse to check it out. 3/5

Love the sound. The "songs" however ... It sounds like the producer makes the tracks and Erryka gets sloppy stoned and just riffs over them. Problem is, her ear can’t follow more than a two chord progression and she prefers just one because even two is a challenge. So we get this pretty-sounding modal-masturbation. It’s like a friend buys a Ferrari and invites you to check it out; she fires it up … and then tells you she doesn’t know how to drive. At first it’s exciting listening to the purring; quickly gets boring when you realize it’s going nowhere, and becomes infuriating sitting in the garage for an hour and ten minutes.

Pretty enjoyable

2nd album added to spotify list. I kind of pick up some groovy reggae beats.

I'm not a huge soul person, but so far I appreciate the big sounds of this album. The first track really hits you with the dynamics. You definitely get the funk/jazz sounds from this album. I don't love it, but it's certainly a strong representative of its genre. I enjoy "In Love With You." Good duet.

Meh

Thought I might like but not really.

5/10

Solid! I should have listened to more of her music than I have.

The album was fantastic lyrics music singing all fantastic

Det är ju väldigt mysig och behaglig musik. Men inte alls min kopp te. För mig är det najs i bakgrunden. Typ ha på när det kommer folk, jag går inte igång på det och vill inte sätta mig själv å lyssna (som jag gärna gör med musik jag gillar).

Önskar att jag gillade denna mer än vad jag faktiskt gjorde. Det är ett oklanderligt hantverk, men lite för tråkiga produktioner och lågmält i största allmänhet för att det ska bli mer än en trea.

Cool album! Thought we had Erykah on this list before, but apparently not. I really like the tone of this record. Sits somewhere between R&B and disco for me, the former of which I am not a fan usually, but it works well here. 'Didn't Cha Know' is a cool track, and the rest doesn't come far behind. Guess I didn't listen that attentatively, but I'm still missing some recognizable songs. Still, very solid and even performance thoughout the record. Weak 4!

Funk that really failed to grab me. I was mostly bored throughout. It felt like she was trying to mimic Funkadelic. The instrumentals were there, but the vocals just didn’t sit well with me. I'm not sure if it was the mixing or the singing, but it just didn’t work. I also missed some catchy riffs or hooks to pique my interest.

Some nice tunes

Erykah Badon't

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

Jazzy and hip, obviously. A little meandering for my taste.

very chill and groovy

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

Already listened ❤️

A soul album that wouldn't seem out of place being played quietly in the background of a bar or restaurant. I liked how funky some of the backing instrumentals were, but as a whole I found it all a bit boring and the album really dragged on by the end.

Way too slick to be genuinely soulful, and melodically malnourished. All it has going for it is the occasional funky groove, because the voice just isn't that interesting or original, especially over the bloated runtime. Really dull stuff, I expected more fron this.

Interesting 🧐

I didn’t mind this to start with but then it just kept going on and on and on and on. A couple of times I didn’t realise one song had ended and another had started as they sounded so similar.

fantastic instrumentals, incredible follow up to her debut

Fine

i enjoyed this a lot, i like the vibe, i don’t listen to much R&B but this was great, i listened to Baduizm and wasn’t crazy on it but i might need to listen to it again

Solid voice, lyrics, and music.

My first (neo) soul album here! Had no clue what to expect. The cover looks a little dated for 2000s but perhaps there's some meaning to it that I just don't understand. A super strong record with some songs that I honestly feel could've been cut. They are very likely subjective picks, but it's hard for me not to feel that way when the high points of the record are so damn high, and it doesn't help that the record's pretty long at 1h15. When the album's in its stride, it's interesting, varied, smooth, hypnotising, everything, but it has enough bumps in the road to keep it from the 5 star spot, for me. Don't get me wrong though, it's close. Penitentiary starts the record off strongly featuring a powerful drum performance in particular, and a cool intermission midway through. I think it serves well as the intro track, though, perhaps paradoxically, it's not something I can see myself listening to again individually. Didn't Cha Know takes things slower, while still having good energy. It's something I can get behind a lot more. Very cool chilled vibe. I like what Erykah does with her voice here too. My Life is even more laidback, with a fun piano melody, and even more smooth, nice vocals. It's not quite as infectious as the previous track, but does enough to keep it interesting and fun to listen to, especially where the beat occasionally reverses. The transition to ...& On caught me off guard that was smooth lol. The shift of the vibes towards the second half too oh mah gaw. I think this is the most vocally and instrumentally interesting track so far. Of course the best way to attempt to match such a track is to shake things up even more, which she does with a feature and a killer vibraphone (never thought I'd feel so strongly about a vibraphone but here we are). Cleva somehow lives up to the previous track. A nitpick is the chorus is ever so slightly not nice to the ears. But I don't really mind, that vibraphone is doing bits. Come on mayyyyynnnn even the interlude goes hard. Hell nah come on what's going on. Booty completely switches things up again with a crazy funky beat. The brass going off too. The brief empty spaces do so much as well I can't even describe it eloquently but it's like when the beat cuts out and gets back into it, neuron activation. Kiss Me On My Neck is finally a track I'm not really into lol. Things were so good for a few tracks I was starting to get worried, was gonna lose my mind. It's not even a bad track honestly, I'm just not super into it, particularly the vocal melodies chosen. Not so sure about A.D. 2000 either, honestly, though that keyboard(?) in the chorus stands out, very pleasant on the ears. Started levitating as soon as the initial piano of Orange Moon started playing. We're so back. We are so back. The harmonisation bro. Are you hearing this music too?? The crickets in the background. I can see the orange moon, I see it. If this isn't the definitive stargazing song, do not hesitate to tell me what it is, not that I'd believe you. The way the song climaxes at the end too ohhhh mah gaw. In Love With You isn't for me. Similar feelings to Kiss Me On My Neck honestly. Just not really into it. Stephen Marley is featured here but he unfortunately doesn't save it from feeling a bit uninteresting. Something about Bag Lady feels a bit more empty than some of the other tracks I liked. However I still really like it lol. There are some really catchy elements here that I can't really describe but I can't ignore the groove. Time's A Wastin is fine. I mean it's fine by this record's standards, so that means it's good. But I also don't feel like I have much to say. I'm a bit fatigued by this point, but Green Eyes is actually so good too. I wasn't sure initially but after a few minutes I was convinced. Tired but convinced lol. This is music. FAVOURITES - Didn't Cha Know; ...& On; Cleva; Hey Sugah; Booty; Orange Moon; Green Eyes LEAST FAVOURITES - Kiss Me On My Neck; A.D. 2000; In Love With You

Overall I think the album is really strong with a slightly weaker middle section. It has some really stand out moments, from more groovy, catchy tracks like ...& on, to the slower beautiful ballad of Orange Moon. Penitentiary Philosophy - whispering is alright, groovy start, don't love the vocals that much but there are good moments, like "why world", pretty catchy too. Reminded me slightly of Prince with the vocal inflections at the end. Nice guitar and drums throughout. Would be more re-playable if slightly shorter, but good nonetheless. Didn't Cha Know - I think in general I don't like her voice that much which is quite unfortunate. The start of the chorus is great though. My Life - the piano has this slightly weighty feel to it, I like it. ...& On - zika deka del. She says herself in this song that her words can only do good if they are understood, so I want to note here that I think she has achieved her goal of a clearer album. The things being tackled here are relatable and at times comforting, very human. Cleva - deals with the body image issues many people face, instead moving the focus over to the positives, accepting herself. Pretty relaxed beat, sounds good. I like the vibraphone a lot here. Booty - I just don't like the idea in the first place, the horns were nice but the whole track becomes stale pretty quickly. Kiss Me On My Neck - simple premise, everyone wants love and to feel desired, as far as the actual song not the best but not too bad. A.D. 2000 - this track seems more relevant now than ever, the world is changing at such a rapid rate it's difficult to keep up or understand the implications of what we are doing. Sounds decent. Orange Moon - such a chilled out song, beautiful slow beat, nice simple idea too - the light that love brings. The increase in volume and instrumental filling out is a really powerful moment. The longest track so far, and it uses the time well. In Love With You - really like the male vocalist here and the guitar, groovy. Catchy too. Bag Lady - fun song, another good simple idea. Drums are great. Time's A Wastin - a little too long but good enough otherwise. Green Eyes - vinyl cracking and the old style initial section in general is fun. I liked how the song developed too, another long song that really hits the mark. Best - ...& On, Cleva, Orange Moon, In Love With You, Green Eyes Worst - Booty, A.D. 2000

This was great. Strong 3.5

almost no skips, thank you to the manager of one of my first jobs for not firing me when i put this on the barnes and noble music section stereo and a wine mom got mad about it

Pleasant. I fear this is yet another case of me not being able to process human language and probably missing out on a lot.

No idea why this one is on the list. Maybe it came over better at time of release and didn't age well. Songwriting is bland and production is lackluster. Quite possibly, Erykah may have a good voice. It's hard to tell though, buried under sound effects as it is. Not a horrible album, but definitely one I could have done without.

Erykah Badu is just cool. This is the hippest early 2000s album that is just a lost sense of flow and hipness. Great throw on for a sweaty summer night

I didn't really like this. I didn't like the vocal effects, and the beats didn't resonate with me. This falls on the side of soul/r&b that I don't enjoy but it's hard to say exactly why. I think it's because the beats are '"jazz-inspired" but not all that interesting or complex.

love

first time really listening to erykah badu outside of her features on other artists' songs and honestly I'm a little disappointed. the music is a little too flat for my tastes, there's no ups and downs, just very chilled out and stable, both in terms of volume and energy. her voice is undeniably good but i feel like she's not doing anything too crazy with it, again she's keeping it at like a 4-6 the whole time when I'm wanting her to crank it up to 10 and pull it back to 1 as needed. not a bad album, just very much not to my tastes

This album was good, but it’s definitely shackled to the late ’90s era. It’s exactly the kind of stuff I used to hear on downtempo DJ mixtapes back in the day. The vibe is nostalgic, and while it still holds up in some ways, it definitely feels like a product of its time.

I've heard these songs sampled on countless other hip hop songs. Clearly an influential project. I loved Didn't Cha Know. I started to lose interest a little at the end but overall solid album.

⭐️Didn’t Cha Know

Pleasant enough, but I forgot it was on mostly.

This started out great and I had high hopes but unfortunately it got boring fast.

Started off with promise but it got old so quickly. I really rarely skip songs but i had to to get through this

You better call Tyrone and tell him to come get this shit.

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

Good summery atmospheric album, like the melody and bass. Wouldn’t listen for singing along with the lyrics or beat.

meh. not my favorite

I'm an absolute fan of everything Soulquarian, and this record is no exception. Badu is excellent, and the production team are in top form. The record is an excellent sample of the soulful, organic sound crafted by the collective at that time. The production is stellar, Poyser and J Dilla created gems in which Badu just shines, her exceptional vocals fit perfectly with the tracks. She has great range, she flows well and she's so soulful. Lyrically the tracks are interesting too, she discusses her life philosophy, politics and relationships. "A.D. 2000" is a touching tribute. The first half is full of great tracks, my favourite is "Didn't Cha Know", which showcases J Dilla's amazing production and Badu's singing is excellent, it's a catchy track and it works so well. Aside from that, "...&On" is also excellent. On the downside, the record can be a bit overlong on the second half, as some parts aren't as catchy or interesting, but still always sounds very good. Overall though, it's a landmark Neosoul record that perfectly represents the Soulquarian sound.

Yikes. Did not enjoy at all. Nasally vocals. Boring music production. Not for me.

Unremarkable. Musically good lyrically meh

Better than coldplay

Pretty good stuff! great voice and lyrics, Surprised!

questlove my goat

I didn’t hate this, but really thought most of the songs were too long and that the whole album was too long…which results in boring. Badu’s voice can be a bit nasally a lot of the time as well, which I found annoying. Adds up to a two star rating.

Solid groves

Hip-Hop, 33eme album => 1/5 Les morceaux sont chantés au lieu d'être rappés, ce qui aurait pu éviter à cet album la note minimale. Mais non, les morceaux sont long, répétitifs et inintéressants. Je ne suis pas allé au bout, l'album étant lui aussi bien trop long.

This was definitely an album that I’m glad that I discovered from this list! Her voice is incredible and I only ever heard a couple of her songs. But this truly was an enjoyable album!

absolute perfection

Erykah Badu has a great voice and the backing music is good, chill jazzy stuff... but the overall effect is kind of boring. Good background for a coffee shop but not that interesting for a close listen.

While a little scattered in style, some absolutely beautiful torch songs. Unbelievable quality of voice. I only felt there were one or two songs out of place, but they were still good songs.

Miss Badu’s magnum opus.

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.

01) Penitentiary Philosophy - 6,0 02) Didn't Cha Know? - 6,0 03) My Life - 6,5 04) ...& On - 6,5 05) Cleva - 6,5 06) Hey Sugah - / 07) Booty - 6,0 08) Kiss Me on My Neck (Hesi) - 6,0 09) A.D. 2000 - 6,0 10) Orange Moon - 6,5 11) In Love with You - 6,5 12) Bag Lady - 7,0 13) Time's a Wastin - 6,5 14) Green Eyes - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,31 (63/100) Current ranking: 423/571

7/10 While Badu has many great ideas and lovely jazz production, she fails to carry them throughout a whole hour and 15 minute project. There are great highlights however, such as Green Eyes and In Love With You where her performance really suits the tone of the song. Favorite Tracks: In Love With You, Green Eyes, AD 2000, Penitentiary Philosophy

Masterpiece

She's really cool!

soooo good !! love her

Sweetly produced record, amazing songs throughout the length of the record, good lyrics and you can't tell when it's going to end because it's very enjoyable. Loved it!

This was a lengthy album (almost 1.5 hours) and I expected to get bored by the end of it. However, this was not the case. My only criticism was the talking which was heard on a few occasions (apparently it was the artist’s mother doing the talking).

Neo-soul seems like it'd be cool, but turns out, I like regular soul better (just call me an [[old soul] fan]). Hate to be such a hater, but I didn't like Erykah Badu's stuff when she was popular 25 years ago, and my music taste hasn't really evolved much since then. The lyrics seem good (minus a few slurs), but they are too muddled up in the music for me. (Although I did catch the very meta lyric: "What good do your words do / if they can't understand you?") To be fair, the music itself is kinda cool and jazzy, but it's muddled up in the vocals! Much muddle. Highlight: 'In Love with You' (thanks to Stephen Marley, Delawarean)

Nice

If it weren't for this album's length it really would be that much better, and I get that an hour and 10 minutes isn't *that* long, but for this kind of music, especially with how many moments on this album are so long and monotonous, you really do feel the length. It's still super smooth and funky, and showcases loads of really cool ideas. But the whole album as a finished product really could have had it's runtime cut down by a lot.

3/5 run of the mill R and B

really good , 3.5

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!

It's alright, need more time for this one than just 1 day, but I can see some potential here.

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.

This is a nice time, but in a quite unassuming way. My main criticism, if it even is one, is that it doesn’t feel immediate and engaging. It plays more like pleasant, soulful background music, with just a touch of jazz and funk. But you know, everything has its place, and in circumstances where you just want to play something casual, which will sit nicely in the background, this is perfect. 3.5 rounded down.

Throughly enjoyable. Loved the vibe. Didn't think it would be my thing.

ok but too long

Very good, but a little repetitive

What a voice!

I find Erykah Badu's voice a little nasally and flat, but the instrumentation almost comes close to making up for it. Almost. The stereo effects on some of the songs are annoying on headphones.

I overall liked this album more than my initial thoughts of it during the first few songs. It isn't as interesting a listen as her first Baduizm and a little long. But it won me over by the end. I really liked 'Green Eyes'. Her voice reminds me of Billie Holiday's.

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

these all kind of sounded the same. when the next song would come on and if i wasn’t paying attention it just seemed like all of the same song. also hard to relate to any of the lyrics. some of them were also weird. but the beats were good and if this were on in the background somewhere i wouldn’t be upset but idk if i would want to listen to this on my own.

Bori... ZzzzzZzzzzzZzzzz...

too long for my taste and i didn’t really vibe with most of the songs. unfortunately didn’t finish the record

It not you, it’s me. I don’t understand/enjoy this genre. Just sounded boring and at times irritating. I don’t hate it and it was ok to have in the background but it doesn’t do anything for me. Really annoying voice?

I find albums like this tough to rate. I’m just not that into this genre, and also I dislike the ‘sexy baby voice’ in singing (and IRL) it just really grates! (with one exception on a track called Plenty by Guru) That being said, Erykah Badu was hugely important within neo-soul, is an icon, and a powerhouse woman in a male dominated industry. I’m not into the music, but I do think it should be on the list

Neo Soul. I like her voice and production quality.

Fine, groovy

Liked, didnt love. Some parts stood out a lot though. I prefer baduizm

6.5/10. The vocals are incredible, but the music gets a bit boring over time.

Someone had it right on here that her voice sort of ruins it. Good vibe but ultimately not very exciting, I got bored QUICK.

Women do R&B better than men. Change my mind. This just in: you can't. Really good album, but holy hell some of the songs were excessive in length.

Not a fan of this lady's voice. Can't really put my finger on why. It's otherwise basic R&B which

i know now

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!

Альбом приятной черной музыки.