Mama's Gun

Nice, but not fantastic

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

Cool 8.5/10

Damn

This was very nice, although quite long.

Nog nooit van gehoord, maar damn, wijs album! Lekker zomers! 3.5

hate this kind of music. hate her voice.

I enjoyed this a lot more than i anticipated. It was just so easy to enjoy it. This is like a real sexy record, not the weird Pulp stuff.

Hype for this album was high... then I started listening. Nothing much standing out or making me excited, but it's pleasant enough

Most fun when it's most jazzy

Nice soulful album

Parts of this were cool - jazzy and chill - but others annoyed me a bit, and tracks that weren’t even that long felt like they dragged (“Kiss Me On My Neck”). I wasn’t in a mood to feel especially charitable toward it, unfortunately, even though on another day I might’ve really enjoyed it.

Meh

I was never really hooked. I could probably be discounting this a bit, but I didn't care enough to actually dig into the lyrics.

Really impressed here, expected this was going to be not great but enjoyed it more than expected. Definitely long but still solid. 6.1/10

Eh

For my money, her live album from ‘97 is better, if only because it includes Tyrone, but this is still a pretty solid album. Badu’s voice is reminiscent of Billie Holliday; I could imagine her doing something like this if she were around then. It’s cool, it’s smooth, and is adequately funky.

I've heard of Erykah Badu, but the only song of hers that I've heard is "Tyrone," and I only heard that because it was discussed on a podcast that I listen to regularly. I'm not a huge R&B fan (shut up, nerd, Neo Soul is a branch of R&B), and the R&B albums from the nineties and aughts that I've reviewed have been pretty hit-or-miss with me. However, I'm excited to experience something new and different today, so let's load up Mama's Gun! I wasn’t in love with this album, but I still thought it was really good. The production, songwriting, and musical arrangements were all top notch. “Penitentiary Philosophy” really hooked me right from the start, with its great Rhodes playing and fantastic bass line. From there, the album went on this great segue-less run of really beautiful and great songs. I thought the whole album felt really seamless as it went from song to song, and the quality never really dipped. There were only a handful of songs that really stood out to me, but I thought “Penitentiary Philosophy,” “Kiss Me On My Neck,” and “A.D. 2000” were the best songs on the album. The Rhodes playing on “A.D. 2000” was just as good as it was on “Penitentiary Philosophy,” and I loved the overall funky sound of the song. As good as I thought this album was, I wasn’t wowed by the vocal work, and there were some stretches where I felt the album was a bit tedious, and I found myself getting bored. Still, this was a really good album, and I’m glad I got to experience something outside of my normal tastes.

Nice chilled vibe

There are hints of really good here but the whole thing is unconvincing. She doesn’t convince me that she’s really behind the ideas and musically it’s rather pedestrian. I can believe she means the lyrics she writes and that they relate deeply to her works and experience but I she just doesn’t deliver them convincingly.

Was digging the first half of this album and enjoyed songs like the opener, Didn't Cha Know, and &On. Really enjoyed the upbeat pace and groovy instrumentals. Badu's vocals also standout really well. It started losing me in the second half right around Orange Moon. Just felt slow and dragged out. Felt as though I landed in a "liked it, not loved it" territory, so I'm going with a 3 here.

A few songs in I am struck most by the quality of the production, sequencing, and overall mixing. Love the endless run effect at play with the seamless transitions between tracks. Badu's vocals are mixed wonderfully and each song carries its own carefully curated atmosphere. The instrumentals are clean and varied with crisp snare hits and luscious keys and interesting effects. Never heard the original Didn't Cha Know -- only ever heard J. Cole's use of the instrumental on one of his early mixtapes. Instrumental itself is fantastic and I do enjoy how Badu uses it. Seamless bleed into My Life is nice and effectively done. This song is an upbeat bop in comparison to the previous. Love the internal beat flips in ...& On and the handover to Cleva is so well done. Booty is a funky soulful journey -- loving this. Not really loving the roots-vibe cross-over of In Love With You. Feel like relative to the rest of the album it feels deflated and almost amateur. Green Eyes is a long winded jazzy outro -- starts on an old-time concept and then builds and shifts slowly around a shifting instrumental. Nice way to end things. I'd say this album had me a lot more hooked during the first half than the second, but it was quality through and through. Could have done without In Love With You, but that is a small gripe. For me this is a solid 4.

I liked this one a lot. Great voice with an overall smoothness to the album that makes it an easy listener. I was surprised this was released in 2000. I was expecting 2018 or so. Had a bit more oomph in the first half that had me holding out hope for a sneaky 5, but it settled nicely into a 4.

Something about her singing was really off putting to me. Beats were kind of mid. Too long. To be fair though the second half of the album was much better than the first. Green Eyes especially to end it was the best song. On a side note her alternate name from wiki, DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown, is a great name.

This definitely had its moments but overall is just not my jam. Not bad but not great.

brabo, 4 estrelas

Sexy and fun, with a lot of soul and big grooves. Sometimes a bit too smooth for it's own good. Definitely too long. Favourite tracks: Penitentiary Philosophy, Booty, Orange Moon, Bag Lady, Green Eyes

Very good album. It’s a bit of a time capsule for me, back to a time when neo-soul was hot, and acts like Erykah Brady, D’Angelo, and Music Soulchild were at the height of their powers. Badu wasn’t in the heaviest rotation for me at that time, but my wife tells a story of how when we first met, she had a boyfriend. So on her drive home she gave herself until a certain point on her trip to think of me, and up until that point, her artist of choice was Erykah Badu.

Not my style but listenable.

An okay album but no stand out songs.

Relativ entspannti Hendergrondmusig. Typisch RnB

A mixture of the most boring elements of music in the 70s and 90s.

Love r&b but not the weird political shit

A few too many excessively long songs, but overall a great album driven by a strong, unique voice. Best song: Didn’t Cha Know

The band that Erykah has is wild. Not to mention Roy Ayers on the album!

Beautiful voice

It's good but at 70 minutes and most of the songs sounding the same and sounding like one long song it just drags on a lot, but still good

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. There is literally nothing here to talk about.

It's nice background music - in the best meaning of the word. There is nothing worse than being in a restaurant trying to enjoy your meal and the music is shitty. This would be perfect with a good meal or a nice drink.

One really good song. Easy to listen to otherwise

2.15

Increíble, RnB en estado puro, voz única.

Some good ones

4/10… neo soul / r&b

#546. Kind of a whiney voice. I don't really like the songs either. This one's not for me. 2/5: meh

She has a nice voice and I like early 2000s R&B. 3.5 Stars.

Too laid back for me and way too long. It all sounds the same

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.

Not a genre I would usually gravitate towards, but enjoyed this album!

Musically really good, but I absolutely hate this style of singing. Also 1h 16 is just too long for an album, got very repetitive.

It makes me wonder what happened to her after this release. Hopefully, she continued with a devoted fanbase.

A very chilled vibe - enjoyed

solid

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!

With so many of these neo soul albums from the 90s and 2000s I start by really liking them and slowly come to think they’re mid by the end. Not a lot of variety and probably a bit longer than it needed to be.

гнусавый высокий соул? не, не моё

It's been a week of albums falling outside of my wheelhouse but being very good at the same time. Some of this was brilliant and really impressed me. Love the voice and at times the rhythm section and production are fantastic. It also had some really dull moments and went on for far too long. I fluctuated from a 2 to a 4 so obviously need to settle on a 3 for Ms. Badu. Won't mind if it comes on again but doubt I'll seek it out.

3.7 - Really nice album, very very smooth

A very nice vibe, not a lot of standout tracks, but a very enjoyable experience. 3.8/5

Favorite Track: In Love With You

2.75 - Easy listening

Wasn't feeling it at first, but some of the later songs really hit right. Good instrumentals, but the vocal work wasn't my cup of tea. 'In Love With You' was my fave.

This is a sensational album. Even though the production is restrained and the songs are often very personal, there is an epic and sweeping feel to the album.

# Album Name: Mamas Gun # Artist: Erykah Badu # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Honestly, this is not my thing. Theres some decent vocals and sounds but none of the tracks really stuck for me. Nothing stood out. It could be background music and i wouldnt remember it. The music wasnt offense. It was just meh. # Top Tunes: None # Would I listen to it again? No

Fun album. Great vibes

Schön, aber nicht super spannend

🥱

Lekker rustig, maar niet echt bijzonder ofzo

2.5

Oh hey, I know this lady! Gabi actually likes her too.

Not my jam but interesting

I like the music, I like the quirky lyrics,

A vibe. I'd listen again.

I really liked this. Would listen again

I see why Erykah Badu and Andre 3000 were married. On a different note, this album is a seminal piece of work, but it just didn't click with me like other R&B/Soul does. Best Songs: Didn't Cha Know, ..& On, In Love With You Worst Songs: My Life, Kiss Me On My Neck

Pleasant and enjoyable, but I don't think it reached its full potential.

there goes my guuuun

3.5

It's really good until she starts singing and then it just sort of goes downhill from there unfortunately. This could've been a vibe, and that's the biggest tragedy of them all.

It’s good. Nothing wrong with it. Nothing amazing about it.

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

Never heard of this. Wanted to like it more but alas, just wasn’t great. Got better towards the end but she doesn’t have a great voice. This album is definitely a vibe and I just wasn’t getting it today. Maybe another time but I won’t come back to this.

An ok jazz album

I like the instrumentation, specifically the bass. Sometimes it gives me a cozy wintery vibe for whatever reason. That said nothing super duper grabbed me.

Easy listening on a Sunday morning with coffee.

This is a nice and groovy RnB album. It's a bit lengthy and several tracks sound quite similar, but it' still a solid album.

I may have fallen asleep during this album, but my dreams were nice

Liked it more than I thought I would. Pleasantly surprised. Nice and relaxing Edit Mar 23 2026: 3 --> 2. I don't like the vocals that much

Goaded

Nice and easy listening, with just enough soul to keep it interesting. You need to be in the mood for something soft but it works

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

Why are most modern r&b albums so/too long?

Just couldn't seem to get behind this one at all, I found it a real struggle to listen to for some reason.

Pleasant chilled funky sounds spoiled by whiney voice

She has a nice voice and I like early 2000s R&B. 3.5 Stars.

Smooth as silk

Sounds amazing.

One of the most influential R&B albums of 2000 did not disappoint. Ms. Badu presented a witty vulnerability vocally and a breadth of musical emotion. While it does sound dated to the time, still serves as a powerful work of art.

Wow- I wish I had been listening to this when it came out. It would be prime listening for me. I was 19 or 20. Starting to understand and appreciate soul and r&b. My loss, but thankfully, my gain as well.

mi è piaciuto

nose

Gruv

Some great tracks. 3.6.

Interesting example of neo soul. The songs all sounded the same, though, specifically the vocals. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5

Very strong soul album. Really smooth and enjoyable. Erykah Badu has an incredible voice.

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

Nu soul, good grooves, relaxed vibe - pleasant without being essential listening

Ughhh for my money one of the more overrated artists of the last 20 years

Erykah Badu, eine amerikanische Künstlerin aus den USA, veröffentlichte 2000 ihr zweites Studioalbum Mama’s Gun. Der Neo-Soul-Klassiker wurde in den legendären Electric Lady Studios in New York sowie in den Dallas Sound Lab Studios in Texas aufgenommen. Das Album verbindet Jazz, Funk und Soul mit tiefgründigen, oft gesellschaftskritischen Texten. Songs wie Bag Lady oder Didn’t Cha Know zeigen Badu als kreative Visionärin, die mit ihrem warmen Gesang und organischen Arrangements die Neo-Soul-Bewegung prägte. Die instrumentale Unterstützung der Soulquarians, darunter ?uestlove (The Roots) und James Poyser, verleiht dem Sound eine analoge, fast improvisierte Qualität. Mama’s Gun ist ein zeitloses Album, das Soul mit Tiefgang und sozialem Bewusstsein verbindet. Mit seiner warmen, handgemachten Produktion und Badus charismatischer Performance bleibt es eines der wichtigsten Werke des Neo-Soul.

This is not bad, but very boring. Her voice is great, but there's nothing interesting going on really.

burner

Sounds like a jam session. Not exactly something I'm clamoring to listen to on repeat, but it's fine enough.

bare rate it

It was a struggle to get through this. Her voice is not the voice of a professional singer and the music sounds like it comes from a high school jazz band Best Song: N/A Rating: 2.0/10 1 Star

Pleasant, mild R&B, neither memorable nor exciting.

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

It's pretty basic. I know fans will say it's effortlessly cool and sophisticated. I get that. But I found it pleasant - no more. I liked it more towards the later tracks too.

Kinda boring for my ears.

28/1001 This is a weird record, on one hand it’s obvious she’s talented, but on the other it just seems more like elevator or background music at a restaurant. Nothing really memorable and the songs and album dragged on for way too long. Really not my kinda jam. 2,5/5

Im trying not to let my dislike of her voice cloud my judgement of the music. That said, as a woman, I don't agree with the sweeping generalizations she makes about women. I suppose my experience is very different, so I'm not compelled to listen to this again.

I really enjoy the instrumentals to this album, especially Bag Lady and Orange Moon. My issue is that I don't particularly like her voice, I find it a tiny bit grating. I enjoyed this album.

It’s a voice I do not like. Very slow and bluesy which would sound great in a cafe or bar.

Good start but repetitive towards end

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

Mellow and long but not bad

3.5 really as I enjoyed it more on second listen. Think it is one that would grow on me

This genre goes over my head. I've tried listening to this album a few times and I can't connect with it. I like 'Didn't Cha Know' but the rest becomes background music to me. I expect it would be much more engaging live. Not for me!

Appreciated it more on the second listen. Bearing in mind I'm in possession of only half my hearing I thought it was stimulating enough. Favourites for me are "& On...", "Cleva" and "Green Eyes". Amazing voice, fun drums and chilled, jazzy melodies.

I thought I’d enjoy this more than I did - it’s still very good but I found it quite repetitive. 3.5!

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!)

Likeable album, some fun soul elements, definitely a nice foray into a genre I don't usually listen to, but no true taste breakers here

gorgeous music, not quite my vibe on an angry day!

Probably wouldn’t listen again; not too bad to have on in the background at work, but not really my style, i think my favorite songs were the first and last

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.

Interesting voice but not a style of music I prefer so 3 stars or C.

Soup for the soul

Hmm... Maybe it's just not my vibe but man did it make me miserable.

Soul, R&B Schöne Stimme

Þetta var skemmtilegri plata en ég bjóst við. Ekki að ég hafi búist við leiðinlegri plötu. Hún var samt bara eitthvað svo þægileg að hlusta á. Ekki samt nægilega mikið til að toga hana upp um stjörnu en ég ætla samt að reyna að hlusta á hana aftur við tækifæri

Not at all what I expected. Mostly good but way too long

Good Instrumental, bad vocals. Didn't really grab me 4/10

Not much variation between songs; everything kind of blended together.

Solid listen, not really my bag but Erykah Badu has an important place in music history/culture.

Utter toss.

- ich bin einfach bisher kein R&B Fan und auch das Album bekehrt mich da nicht - ABER es war weitestgehend sehr entspannt und man konnte das Album gut hören 2,25/5

I have so much good will towards the women on the list and there are some nice groves here. I’m not a huge fan of her voice though. And nothing stands out, it just sort of counters along inoffensiveky. I want to give it a 2.5 but the length cuts it to a 2. No need

It's very monotonous. Short loops repeated with uninspired singing. There's a 7 minute song with only 2 chords. That's not proper songwriting. Favorite song: hey sugah

Another of this artists album that is very good

Good dinner jams

Beautiful soul album with elevating touches of jazz and hip hop.

Every song sounds the same. Not really vibing with this.

Power

rating up from 2.5

No.... I fucking hate R&B. It just makes my skin crawl... This is in the same realm as Solange or D'Angelo. Erykah's voice is so nasally and horrible. Nothing about this album was enjoyable. It was horrid... Favourite songs: Booty Least favourite songs: Kiss Me On My Neck, Orange Moon... And the rest of this album.... 1/5...... Yuck

Quite a retro sound- chilled and mellow. I enjoyed it but nothing special.

Gorgeous and atmospheric

Had a bad time listening to this - Badu sings well but refuses to sing anything interesting.

One of the greatest snare productions this list has ever seen - no wonder with Questlove behind the kit. Badu is a great singer, but there’s simply not enough interesting material on here to warrant the runtime.

Bland, long, and quite repellent in certain ways. The lyrical themes wear thin after about 2 tracks and while the first half of the record is decent background music, by the end Mama’s Gun has become background in the worst possible way. Neo-soul might be my least favourite genre.

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.

Every song got continually more boring. Like why keep going for an hour we get it.

I don’t like her voice, the instrumentals were pretty good though. Way too long.

This music is kind of washing over me, not in a good way, not in a bad way. Its just there. I cant really tell what she is saying. I know Erykah has crazy talent and I love her but just not really on this album. I think R&B just isn't really for me.

This first track just makes me smile. Liked Orange Moon. Just a nice album from beginning to end.

The best female rap album ive ever heard and my introduction into Neo Soul I guess. Really messed with the vibe from the start and laid back atmosphere. Will return to this one

I got bored with this very quickly. The sound is dated now.

This was fairly bland and unmemorable. Reasonably pleasant to listen to, but I can't see myself coming back to it.

3.5/5

Worth a listen

Me encanta este tipo de música. 4/5

Super chill album

Some cool Latin rhythms mixed with trippy vocals and groovy bass lines and flashes of exotica. It was an enjoyable listen.

Very nice

Not really my thing, this was inoffensive and pleasant enough in the background but I doubt I'd choose to give it another listen

Erykah Badu bringing the soul back from the streets. A lovely voice, a lovely mix of styles. Arguably too much gangster tripping, and I would have loved a couple of phat bass-lead funky hooks, but what do I know?

Enjoyed this much more than I'd expected.

Starts alright, but the last few tracks are whiney as shit

A nice vibe, but it dragged towards the middle/end and didn't go anywhere

Good way to start the day

This feels like it should be impactful and I should be wowed and find something in it, but it just fell flat for me. I'm surprised it isn't clicking more for me. There's clear talent and it flows together really well. Something is missing or not hitting it for me.

An instrumental copy of this for playing during a dinner party could work. It's fine sonically. I wouldn't mind hearing a version where all of the vocals were replaced by maybe a flute. The mixing is pretty solid but the album is a few tracks too long. If I want something with this vibe I'd probably look else where. This just isn't something I would write home about. I'm trying to find a reason to be generous and go to 3, but I just don't care enough.

I don’t particularly like this style of music, but this is fine.

Good one. Too much of the N bomb for me, personally, but great music/vocals.

Better than expected. Won’t be adding to my collection. Not my thing.

Mama's Gun is alright, it's a lovely chilled soulful sound with a voice that unfortunately ruins it far, far too often. She can sing to a point but when she stays too high for too long - which is very often - it grates very quickly. Also goes on for far too long, could cut 20% of it and be better off. Probably a high 2, it's not bad, it's not all that good, has its moments but plenty that lets it down, and not a patch on better from the same or similar genres.

Also a bit underwhelming - chilled, soul sound that doesn't have much in the way of bite or energy, it fades into the background far too easily and isn't memorable really at all. 2/5.

This album was OK. I like the sound but the songs didn't stand out. I only marked "Green Eyes" as a song I like, and even that one was borderline.

Really solid album. I could even see it being a 5 star, if I lived with it longer.

I was lazy about keeping up with Erykah Badu after her debut album, picking up on the occasional excellent single courtesy of Spotify throwing her in the mix. I always knew she was talented but this album is proof I've been sleeping on her consistency. Added multiple additional songs to playlists (the rocking opener, the fun '...& On' throwback, 'Kiss Me on My Neck' - and I already had 'Bag Lady' in the mix given it's the most popular song from this album.) Will have to do a deeper dig on her other work.

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

Really like the concept of this and really cool parts but I’m sorry most of these songs are too long.

Thoroughly enjoyed this

Started off pretty strong but didn't last long

Cafe R&B? First listen it just felt like the kind of music you would put on in your hip little cafe. On the second listen I started to appreciate the personal lyrics a bit more. Still it didn't really grab me. Fave: ...& On

Huh, was expecting a big nostalgia bump on this as my first serious girlfriend was a fan, but it turns out that was mostly the previous album "Baduizm". Still, a perfectly pleasant listen in its own right. Smooth and funky. Only really suitable for one mood, but it does it very well. Fave tracks - "Penitentiary Philosophy" is a nice opener. "In Love with You" benefits from having that extra voice. "Green Eyes" is an amusing closer....

The cymbals were a little too much on the first track. Otherwise, I liked the album overall. I loved the vocals from In Love With You. It was a pretty good track.

It’s fine. I never really connected with this type of music.

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

First the lenght. Just because you can fit 72 minutes on a cd doesn't mean you should. Secondly there is something very irritating about her voice. Only lasted 4 tracks and then I couldn't take the assault on my ears anymore.

Chill soul/R&B from the 2000s. Standouts: Cleva, Didn't Cha Know, Penitentiary Philosophy.

I honestly really liked Mama's Gun. With it's album art, i thought that this was going to be an album with a ton of Mexican influences but most of the world influences here seemed as if they were Malian or Indian rather than Mexican. I really did like most of the beats here with many of them feeling very jazzy. Erykah's voice though, was the main selling point even if the lyrics she sang were a mixed bag of smart and dumb. I also found the song transitions to also be a mixed bag with them either being cool or me being like \"Just make it one song at this point\". Regardless, this album kept me interested even with a 71 minute runtime and i really can see how many female Hip Hop/R&B artists today got their sound from this album. Best Song: Orange Moon Worst Song: Booty

It's jazz, lounge, smooth, dinner party, background hum scat singing nothingness. As pleasant as you want it to be and no more.

I mean... It's nice... But is it enough? I somehow place this album close to Lauryn Hill's music. Hill's album from the list is great representation of her talent. And if this album is representation of Erykah Badu's talent, then it's not enough for me.

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

"Mama's Gun" is the second studio album by American singer Erykah Badu. The Wiki-listed musical genre is neo-soul incorporating elements of funk, soul and jazz. I'll agree with that. The lyrics are more confessional than her previous album and address insecurity, personal relationships and social issues. There were a host of producers including Badu, James Poyser and Questlove. The album received generally positive reviews and, commercially, hit #11 in the US and #76 in the UK. Whispering opens "Penitentiary Philosophy" which picks up with a funky guitar and soulful organ. The song slowly builds and ends with loud guitars, backing vocals and Badu screaming. The second song and single "Didn't Cha Know" is more chill. Bass and percussion lead the way. She is struggling and needs to get out of a relationship. The third single "Cleva" brings the jazzy side to this neo-soul album. Piano led, a bouncey bass, jazzy drums and a xylophone. She may not look good but she makes it fly cause she's cleva. An acoustic guitar begins "In Love With You." It's a duet with Badu and Stephen Marley. A romantic song with fingersnapping keeping the beat. Marley scatting a bit. The next song and first single "Bag Lady" keeps the chill vibe. Drums and a sparse electric guitar. The bass picks the pace up a bit and Badu as trying to get over a relationship. Backing vocals, more guitar and the song soars to the end. Great song structure. Badu leaves no doubt that Billie Holiday has to be a major influence in the last song "Green Eyes." Vinly- dust sound and Badu singing opens the song...very 1930's/1940's jazz. Piano, flute, horns. It's a song about her breakup with André Benjamin. This is a really solid album. Souful, jazzy and chill (hence it's neo-soul classification). I like the way the songs feature different instruments (piano, bass, horns, acoustic and electric guitars, drums). The production is on the mark most of the time. Badu has a very, nice souful voice. I do see the Billie Holiday comparisons. A CD-era album so its perhaps overly long but the music is so chill I didnt mind it as much. If you're a jazz, soul or R&B fan, it's an album worth checking out.

I was grooving to this

This felt like a pretty unique album on the list, and I liked it. It sounds to me like a 2000s approach to R&B with a skilled enough artist to explore a variety of styles and sounds. Green Eyes and Bag Lady stood out to me, and they both have pretty silly lyrics.

Smooth rhythms and great singing. The whole album is full of great R&B songs. Not much more to say, just a solid album through and through.

I’m gonna stat with my one and only complaint with this album. There’s fourteen songs on here and the album is an hour and twelve minutes long. That’s over a five minute average for each track. That isn’t needed. Not for every track. I get the idea of sitting back and jamming and enjoying the music, but I get bored after a while if nothing new is introduced. That’s just me. Moving on, her vocals are gorgeous and unique, the writing is incredible and feels fresh. Production is wonderful. The album feels original and out of time. It is good always. I really enjoy this. 4/5

This feels authentic and it's dated so much better than that horrible "chill" music Morcheeba and Zero 7 were putting out around this time. Reminds me of Nina Simone or Ella Fitzgerald. Totally classy and unexpectedly fantastic.

Her voice is just okay. Other times it's really not it. The production is super solid though.

back half was better for me. good production. voice isn't my favorite

This is actually fun, instrumentally speaking. The vocals are not the worst, but it could have been better if she made different choices regarding the voice. Otherwise, a pretty fun record.

Listen to Betty Davis.

It's very slick and smooth. For some reason, Neo-Soul vocals sometimes get very nasally and sound very goofy to me. Not really my thing. Key tracks: ....& On Bag Lady

Really enjoyed the first half. Second half dragged a bit. Standout songs: Didn't Cha Know ...& on Cleva

A fun, vibrant R&B Album where every song is unique. It takes me right back to the early 2000s, sitting in my living room, watching music videos on my small TV.

So groovy! Much better than I expected. Had already heard of her before, but never stopped to actually listen to it.

Went in skeptical, appreciate it more than I expected to.

Beh...

I really got sick of hearing her voice for over an hour

Yeah it's alright. Not much variety, but at least it sounds nice

Bueno

Something about her, the lore, the fandom makes me feel annoyed and off put. I feel narcissism and idk , I didn’t really enjoy this the same along with her other music.

Rating: 8.5/10 Some damn good neo soul, runs a bit long though. Production was the highlight but Badu's quirkiness also works very well here.

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

4.5

R&B, 2000 -> 2

I haven’t listened to much Erykah Badu, so this was a new listening experience. Overall, this is a solid funky sound. Some tracks run long for no rhyme or reason but this album is great background fodder nonetheless.

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.

Not for me

i was so ready to love this album but the second half of it dragged on and got samey

I'm vaguely familiar with Erykah. It's not bad. It's not great either

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

Sveiflast á milli þrists og fjarka. Alveg solid stöff og oft glettilega gott, en svo kemur það sem mér finnst vera filler á milli. Gæti kannski fílað enn betur með fleiri hlustunum, en áfram gakk!

Chill lo-fi. Good background album, I'm rounding up 3.5. Stand-out: My Life

The jazz influences, especially on Orange Moon were spectacular. However for many of the songs I found myself feeling they were too long. I think some songs could have been shortened and that would make this a tighter, better album in my opinion

Today I continued to delve further into the Soulquarian era of the 2000s. Which, through all of my listening, has steadily become one of my favorite musical movements ever. To me, Erykah Badu belongs in the trifecta of female soul artists, right next to Lauryn Hill and Sade Adu. And Mama's Gun is the most exemplary work of her career. It contains just about everything that I look for in a great neo-soul record. Erykah herself approaches this with such a sense of effortlessness. And in that approach she actually comes off as much cooler than the average artist. It’s not laziness. She just radiates a very powerful energy through her singing and lyricism. She has a beautiful voice too. This is often labeled as the female companion to Voodoo by D'Angelo. Which is unironically a really great comparison. Obviously both were released in the same year. But both also act as great vibe records. And D'Angelo also maintains that level of coolness. Most of what these two are singing is barely understandable, but their voices are so sublime and they just float over the instrumentals perfectly. Speaking of instrumentals, what a powerhouse this album is. Penitentiary Philosophy is such an explosive and exciting way to start things. And it sets the stage. Multiple members of the Soulquarian group are credited here. Most notably, three of the original ones who started the movement. J Dilla was involved in the making of a few beats. Particularly Didn’t Cha Know, which is an incredible song. ?uestlove plays the drums on multiple songs. I would say he shines best on A.D. 2000 and Green Eyes. And James Poyser honestly gives the strongest contributions out of all three. His keyboard work brings these songs to live, where they would otherwise be pretty plain without it. His work, and really this record as whole, is so much of what I love about the soul genre. And it’s remarkable how much amazing music was put together in such a short span of time. Rating: 8/10

Soulful

R&B is probably one of my least explored genres, but after living in Dallas where Erykah Badu is a local icon, I was looking forward to this album. Love her vocals. Songs are a little same-y to me but I still love the mellow grooves. 4/5 Highlights: Booty Orange Moon In Love With You Bag Lady - Cheeba Sac Radio Edit

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

Killer r+b record. While her voice does get a lil annoying, overall I enjoyed this one

Chill hudbicka 👌🏻

this record is way too long and inane and i just plain hate the sound of badu's voice to be honest. the album goes nowhere and i found myself hitting the skip button on a lot of it

Incredible

While others criticize this album for not having stronger backing instrumentation or memorable hooks, I think that it has these things at a more subtle scale. Every song is groovy and chill, and you have to slow down to appreciate it.

I really enjoyed the music on this but her vocals got old pretty fast

Digging the music, much more than the vocals. She has something to say, for sure, but I don't love her voice. Sounds a little bit like a cartoon character. It's really just the tone, I like her vocal flow. Definitely got bored of this album long before it got done. Booty was a particular low point, but Kiss Me On My Neck wasn't a whole lot better. Time was a wasting, while I was listening to Time is Wasting. I hate the fake record pops throughout Green Eyes. I was glad when this album was over. I'll likely never listen to any of it again.

This is an interesting album. Not a genre I'd typically listen to, but I quite enjoyed it. There were a lot of sections throughout the album that were really cool. I'm a sucker for jazz fusion, and this has A LOT of jazz influence throughout. Every song has its moments and every song is worth listening to. What I really enjoyed about this album is that it never did the expected. Key changes, odd time signatures, those were the main take aways from this. It's definitely an album that needs a lot of attention, like, "Sit in a dark room with no distractions". Fortunately, I was commuting while listening to this so I was able to close my eyes and let the music take me on a journey. Enjoyed my time with it, but probably will not be returning.

Largely forgettable to me. Not my kind of music, though she seemed to sing well. 2/5

Such a wonderful voice and a beautiful album.

Listened some more—this really is a cool, chill vibe with some real jams. Great atmosphere and just loose enough to keep it feeling alive.

A.D. 3000 is an amazing tune. Lots of jazzy stuff to dig into here. Eryka is one of a kind.

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.

Oh yeah, c'est du hip et du hop funky à la Jamiroquai bien braisé!

Badu is like a slightly more chill version of Lauren Hill - which I dig. Very poetic, kinda funky. Good stuff.

Funky!

not for me not keen on vocals, too slow and lazy, doesn't appeal to me

Didn't leave much of an impression but I enjoyed it while it was on.

I didn’t get this. Like really at all. I really liked some of the instrumental arrangements. There’s some really cool stuff here. Jazz, funk, soul, maybe even a little reggae all combine to create this interesting soundscape that just grooves. If this was an instrumental album, I’d give it an easy five stars. Lyrically? It didn’t do it for me. It’s repetitive, and the lyrics seem to lack depth. Maybe you don’t go to an album like this for lyrical depth but instead come for the grooves. But there’s an emphasis on the lyrics and vocals for sure and it just didn’t do it for me. That brings me to the vocals. Sometimes her voice is angelic and flows like a fine wine out of a bottle. Sometimes it takes on a tone that feels grating and is downright annoying. It’s a shame it couldn’t better compliment the great instrumentals here. Overall I hate to give it two stars but that’s where I’m at. It overstays its welcome and just doesn’t get me excited. A second listen might change that but who has time for that when it’s over an hour long?? Standout Tracks: Penitentiary Philosophy, Bag Lady

Soul at best

Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun showcases her distinctive voice and creative flair, with a range of inventive arrangements. Badu’s vocal performance is strong, delivering both emotional depth and technical skill. The album blends elements of funk, soul, and R&B, creating a varied soundscape. However, while the production is polished and the arrangements are intriguing, the overall style might not appeal to everyone. The album’s eclectic mix may not resonate with all listeners, including myself, but it’s clear that Badu has put significant effort into her craft. Mama’s Gun is a solid listen for those who appreciate genre-blending and soulful artistry. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 2 STAND OUT TRACK - Penitentiary Philosophy

really liked this, super chilled and her voice is awesome

Really good, soul/r&b

Can I give this a 5? No because I accidentally gave Abby Road a 4. Lol

Not bad, wasn't up beat enough for me.

Disappointed with this one. I really recognise the cover and love what I’ve heard (mostly “on & on”) so had very high expectations. It didn’t deliver at all, no discernible bops and I found her tone pretty unpleasant. Still, I’d rather listen to this than more CSN&Y or whatever.

Nice- chill out beat

Maybe I like Neo soul?

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

Love it.

Here's another name I've heard most of my life but never paid attention to. Compared to soul/R&B contemporary Lauryn Hill, I don't get as excited about Badu but that's not to say she's not a phenomenal singer.

This album enveloped me like a warm sweater. It got my head on straight. It told me to keep my chin up and move forward, and to dance. I'll be listening again. Highlights: Penitentiary Philosophy, Didn't Cha Know, ...& On, In Love With You

Another one of those albums that feels that feels like it was created for characters in a movie to put on their radio in the background

Just kinda meh?

Het klinkt allemaal wel lekker, en een hoop talent zit er in de plaat, maar de muziek is veel van hetzelfde, en meandert, waardoor het album best wel saai is.

If I was a big hip hop fan, I feel like I'd be very fond of this album. I quite enjoyed the flow of the beats throughout the album, but I just don't really care for it much overall.

Not bad music but not what I’m into

I liked this album quite a bit. Jake Streek’s a fan of her which had me worried but good album. 3.5

So distinctive and so soothing. Somehow I never really got into Erykah Badu, but listening to this album certainly fills me with respect for her, and curiosity about her other work.

This is solid.

Smooth, sleek, chill

All right Album but I liked her later stuff more. After a while it's just unnecessary convoluted I find.

First track is the best, memorable... The rest less so. Great vocals, but it all becomes quite boring as it continues... Good for music in the background though.

chill

Enjoyed, great vibe

Nice mellow vibe

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

For over a decade, until he died in 2022, I used to store my old mate Neil’s insulin in my fridge, because his fridge had given up & he wasn’t interested in buying a new one. As a way of thanking me for this arrangement, he would often run me off cd’s or dvd’s. He was a few years older than me & was an encyclopaedia of funk. And it was Neil who woke me up to Erykah Badu, when he gave me a copy of her 2008 dvd, Live at VH1 Soul Stage. I’d missed Badu when she landed in the late 90’s. I’ve since picked up her hugely successful debut cd, Baduizm, which I love, but I’d never heard this, her second album before. Not quite as exciting as her debut. I have to agree with the dude from Entertainment Weekly, who claimed that it “ too often substitutes good taste for good tunes." Still, there’s a lot to like. Any album that opens with some wah-wah (it was after all recorded at the studio named after Hendrix’s great album) on Penitentiary Philosophy, co-written with the great Questlove, has credentials. I don’t know about the references to her sounding like Billie Holiday. Sometimes she sounds more like Blossom Dearie to me. I really like the funky Booty (hush your mouth) & the following track, Kiss Me On My Neck (one of two tracks featuring the great Betty Wright). And I really enjoy her duet with Bob’s son, Stephen Marley, on In Love With You, which they co-wrote. But the best is left for last - the ten-minute-long Green Eyes, together with record scratches to place it back in the day. One of her better lyrics here. A really good listen.

Jazz and soul inflected, with some strong songs, the album is laid back and meanders a bit, but this reflects the way it was made. The album is long and unfocussed for a reason; it's the vibe. Possibly one of the strongest of the soulquarian/neo-soul albums of this period, Badu's voice is at its peak. Questlove and (especially) Dilla bring their woozy rhythms to play. Some terrific players guesting, like Questlove, Pino Palladino, Dilla, Roy Ayers, Betty Wright. Neosoul really did it for me; the mix of analogue soul approach with a hip hop sensibility was right up my alley, and this album is one of the best. Mwah - chef's kiss. I confess that Jill Scott is actually my favourite artist of that soulquarian/neosoul scene. I saw both Jill Scott and Erykah Badu live in Sydney in 2013/14, and fell hard for Ms. Scott; she's the bomb. It doesn't diminish my love and appreciation of this terrific album.

It was fun to listen to while I wrote to work and sat and checked my emails but 12 hours later I honestly can't recall a single song in any specific way. It was good but nothing to write home about

First track got me interested , nice and funky, but the next few were competent if not exceptional r n b. Zero recognition of any of these songs, I thought she was a chart-botherer? Enjoyed Orange Moon and AD 2000, sunny slices of soul. Overall, decent enough listen, glad I heard it, will probably just stick to Come to my Garden though.

Nope. Nope. Nope. Just nope.