Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu’s long awaited album, New Amerykah Part One (Fourth World War), is her first LP since 2000, but its concision could justify an EP classification. "The Healer,” an eerie Madlib production, is another one of her embracing odes to hip-hop, but differs from most of the album, which is a mediation on America. "Soldier,” featuring ad-libs from former partner Common, is the closest we get to a rapper cameo, which is all the better, because the album lets the songstress carry the project like she did on her debut. After the mid-way mark, it takes on a more sombre tone, clinching with "Telephone,” probably the best Dilla-dedication yet. As a bonus track, the 9th Wonder-assisted "Honey” ends things sweetly. New Amerykah is unfortunately short and occasionally unusual (it could be said that this is her Electric Circus) but it is definitely worth the long wait.