Erykah Badu New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) 2LP (Purple Vinyl)

In 2008, as the U.S. engaged in the Iraq War and the nation prepared for an historic presidential election, Erykah Badu presented her own offering for the evolving times with New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War. Badu's fourth studio album and the first installment of the two-part New Amerykah series kept Badu's hip-hop spirit kindled. New Amerykah Part One boasts beats from the best soundsmiths in the game - including Madlib, 9th Wonder, Shafiq Husayn (for Sa-Ra Creative Partners), Sa-Ra, Karriem Riggins, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of The Roots, James Poyser, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Mike "Chav" Chavaria. With the singles "Honey" and "The Healer" generating significant cyberspace buzz, Badu reclaimed her cherished throne as a soul music phenom. New Amerykah Part One debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and Rolling Stone named it one of the year's best albums.

Immediately moving and yet rather bewildering, New Amerykah, Pt. 1 is an album that sounds special from the first play, yet it will probably take years before it is known just how special it is.