Bernell DorroughErykah Badu
Worldwide Underground
Motown Records
For fans of: Lauryn Hill, The Roots, The Fugees
Grade: A-
Final Word: Badu moves “on and on” to more success.
In her third studio release, “Worldwide Underground,” Erykah Badu bravely explores a sound where soul and funk meet and recreates a time when people could sit back to purely enjoy music for the fun of it. As Badu states about her newest album, “I wasn’t thinking singles, I just wanted to groove and groove for a long time,” and groove she does.
Badu condenses eight highly refreshing songs that can be easily translated as one long underground recording session, hence the title of the CD. The first song on the album, “Bump It,” celebrates not only the love of the music but also shows the creativity process behind it, setting the stage for the rest of “Worldwide Underground.” Although “Bump It” displays an infectious original drumbeat, it drowns out the song a bit too much.
As a treat, Lenny Kravitz adds his incredible talent to “Back in the Day.” He uses his almost impeccable guitar skills to add a distinct jazz sound to the song, establishing a nice change of pace. This song is built on lyrics such as “oh bop ba ba ba ba ba du,” which remind listners of much-needed childish impulses when listening to music.
Badu’s first single, “Danger,” exposes the perils of the streets and the struggle that so many endure. “Danger” boasts a catchy hook, and although the theme of the song is powerful, at first listen it might seem as if the song’s subject matter does not fit in with the rest of the album. However, Badu prevails in the difficult task of singing tastefully and maturely about “gangsta” life.
The highlight of the album is “Love of my Life Worldwide,” a remake of her Grammy-winning song, which she performed with Common. The remix replaces Common with special guests Queen Latifah and Angie Stone. “Love of My Life Worldwide” borrows from the track “Funk You Up” by Sequence and has an addictive eighties sound reminiscent of old school rap.
The only disappointment with “World Wide Underground” is its length. It has been three years since Erykah Badu’s last album, “Mama’s Gun,” and the CD should include more material. Nonetheless, the eight songs on the album are of higher quality than most recent releases.
All complaints aside, Badu gracefully re-enters the music scene with her latest debut. Her individuality is a force to be reckoned with. Erykah exposes the honesty of the music process and enables the listener to feel the pure essence of each beat and lyric that she creates. “Worldwide Underground” is a compilation of songs that effortlessly blend together while screaming diversity at the same time. By fearlessly giving birth to her music, Badu gives listeners the courage to forget superficial, emotionless, money-driven music and focus on music that makes us beg to hear more.