Nobody do like Badu do!!!

E.Badu is back and better than ever on "New America:4th world War." The Album is laced with hot tracks provided mostly by Mad Lib and Little Brother Alumni 9th Wonder and as always Badu's flawless vocals.The Artiste has never been so honest about her take on the state of the world, or her own state of mind as she is on this set.The album cover revels the singer posing in a 70's Cleopatra Jones-esqe pose. She's rockin' her trade mark fro', heavy with images of fetuses,ankhs,syringes,bling,money,floods,etc mingled inside her crown of glory, while her fist is high before her triumphantly wielding the message "NEW AMERYKAH." The title is a play on words referring to her personal changes as well as her countries. On the autobiographical "Me" the singer coo's soulfully "This year I turn 36,damn the time went so quick. My ass and legs have gotten thick, but its all me." The album also tackles issues like hurricane Katrina, cycles of poverty and addiction and, perhaps most profoundly mortality. The albums closer "Telephone" is dedicated to noted legendary hip-hop producer J-dilla.It's set around a story the producers mother relayed to Badu the day after his funeral. As he was losing his battle to Lupus he would slip in and out of conciseness and he would have full conversations with late hip-hop artist ODB where the rapper would inform Dilla on which bus to take once he arrived in heaven.On the track the singer laments the death of her colleague and friend "fly away to heaven,brother,put in a word for me" she quietly recites over the lush flute laddened track. In this moment Badu is at her best mourning the death of a loved one and realizing and excepting her own mortality.The album will have a sequel which the title and the date of release will be announced later this year.

Grade:A