New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War cover

New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War

Released

Even with so many notable collaborators — Madlib, Omar Rodríguez-López, Sa-Ra, Georgia Anne Muldrow, a whole nebula of Soulquarians — Badu’s greatest album in a career filled with them still feels like a powerful auteur statement. This is where what feels like her bohemian-cool neo-soul assurance fully displays itself as the product of a lot of navigated anxiety and meditative strength. And it also happens to be the funkiest record of the whole decade, from the Blaxplendence of the opening “Amerykah Promise” to the closing lover’s euphoria “Honey.”

Nate Patrin

Recommended by

Suggestions
Head Hunters cover

Head Hunters

Herbie Hancock
Reflections cover

Reflections

Gil Scott-Heron
Remain in Light cover

Remain in Light

Talking Heads
Baby cover

Baby

Dijon
Testifyin’ cover

Testifyin’

Clarence Carter
Get Ready cover

Get Ready

Rare Earth
Agüita cover

Agüita

Gabriel Garzón-Montano
Express Yourself cover

Express Yourself

Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band