Released: 31/03/23
Erica Wright, aka Erykah Badu, returns after five years with New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War, a smart, eclectic album continuing her legacy of socially conscious soul. Tracks like Amerykahn Promise sample ’70s funk, while The Healer honors hip hop’s grounding power and Telephone pays tribute to late producer J Dilla. The album tackles issues like drug addiction (That Hump) and Black America’s struggles (Soldier), blending tough, twisted beats with jazz-funk grooves. Produced by Madlib, 9th Wonder, and Sa-Ra, New Amerykah was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.