News

Erykah Badu held a small press conference at New York's Electric Lady Studios last Thursday to reveal details of her Nu AmErykah project. The double album—due out on February 26 through Universal Motown—spreads 18 new songs over two separate discs, from a retro-fitted soul number ("Soldier 7") to a 9th Wonder-produced lead single ("Honey").

"I named this album 'Nu AmErykah' because I'm dealing with whatever is to come instead of what was," Badu said, when asked about the effort's initial title, Kabbah. "In taking on a project like this, I'm taking the responsibility to talk for my race and my planet. I'm sure the record company will make their money and they've given me the blessing of time."

Expectations are high for Badu's fourth full-length, as it comes more than four years after the muted push of her previous 'EP,' Worldwide Underground. (Badu insisted on the classification despite its considerable running time of 50 minutes.) "We've waited almost 10 years for this album to come," said Universal executive vice president/Motown president Sylvia Rhone. "She inspires, sets trends and does music that no one's done before. Male, female, black [and] white can listen to her and come away with something."

Confirmed Nu AmErykah cuts:

"American Promise"
"The Healer"
"Me"
"My People"
"Speech"
"Soldier 7"
"The Cell"
"Twinkle"
"Love Me"
"Honey"
"Emotions"
"Don't Be Long"
"YPOM"
"Hot Slow Jam"
"Jump Up in the Air"
"Loretta Brown"
"Dirty Dirty"
"The Healer Outro"

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
12.11.07