#158 Erykah Badu, 'Mama's Gun' (2000)

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‘Mama’s Gun’ was the second album by the Queen Of Neo Soul, Erykah Badu. The album follows the both the birth of her son, Seven, after which she took some time off to be a full time mother, and the breakdown of the relationship with his father, Andre Benjamin (AKA Andre 3000 from Outkast). Outkast would famously release the single, ‘Ms. Jackson,’ based on their breakup. The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios, Jimi Hendrix’s studio in New York City and was recorded almost back-to-back with D’Angelo’s ‘Voodoo,’ featuring many of the same musicians; the great Pino Palladino on bass, Questlove on drums, J Dilla, Roy Hargrove, and so many other incredible musicians. The two albums are considered by many as unofficial companion albums thanks to their similar sound.

Badu’s lyrics on this record showed a more mature songwriter, a songwriter that had gone through two major life events since the release of her debut album. Songs such as ‘Green Eyes’ deal with her break up; “I'm insecure/But I can't help it/My mind says "move on"/My heart lags behind/But I don't love you anymore/I'm so insecure/Never knew that love did this.” First single, ‘Bag Lady,’ deals with a similar subject; a woman trying to move on with a new relationship, but having to deal with her emotional baggage at the same time. “Pack light,” is what Badu suggests. The song was nominated for two Grammys and was the last Motown single to reach #1 on the RnB chart before their merger with Universal. Other highlights on the record include ‘Didn’t Cha Know?,’ ‘Cleva,’ ‘A.D. 2000’ and ‘In Love With You,’ a duet with Stephen Marley, the son of Bob Marley. The album is smooth, yet sassy. Badu is a force of nature and a true pioneer of Neo Soul.

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