New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Erykah Badu, first released on March 30, 2010, through Control Freaq and Universal Motown. Collaborating with several hip hop producers over the Internet, Badu conceived 75 songs set to be split over three albums with New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) (2008) being the first. The album was recorded primarily at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
Contrasting its socially themed and complex predecessor, New Amerykah Part Two contains a prominently groove-based, analog sound. The album incorporates sampling and live instrumentation, while its more personal lyrics focus on themes of romance and relationships. The production for the album was handled by several of Badu's previous collaborators, including J Dilla, Questlove, James Poyser, Madlib, 9th Wonder, Sa-Ra, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Karriem Riggins, along with appearances from Lil Wayne, Bilal, and harpist Kirsten Agresta.
New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) received widespread critical acclaim from critics, who commended its soulful sound and loose structure, and viewed it as more accessible than that of its predecessor. The album was ranked as one of the best albums of 2010 and the decade by several publications. It debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 110,000 copies in its first week. As of 2011, it has sold around 300,000 copies in United States. The album produced three singles, "Window Seat", "Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)", and "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long".
Writing and recording In 2004, Badu received her first computer as a Christmas gift from drummer and producer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, and began communicating with and receiving music from him and other producers such as Q-Tip and J Dilla. Beginning in 2005, Badu worked from her home in Dallas and used the software application GarageBand as a digital audio workstation, which she was introduced to by her son, Seven. He taught her how to use her laptop as a mini recording studio, and she used it to construct various backing tracks for songs. Using GarageBand, she recorded demos of her vocals by singing into the computer's microphone.
She composed more than 75 songs within the year and intended on splitting them among her planned series of New Amerykah albums. She said of her productivity with her laptop, "I could be here, in my own space, with headphones on, and the kids could be doing what they doing, and I’m cooking dinner still, I’m making juices still, and it’s so easy just to sing. You got an idea — boom! Idea, boom!" Badu's iChat contacts, including hip hop producers Questlove, Madlib, 9th Wonder, and J Dilla, instant messaged her to get back into the studio and sent her tracks. Such exchanges inspired a creative spark for Badu, which she explained in an interview for the Dallas Observer, "I started to accept that maybe it's OK for me to put out music, and it doesn't have to be something dynamic or world-changing. But just as I was accepting that, here comes this burst of light and energy and creativity. And that's the process, I guess, of life—the detachment and the release of something gives you even more room to grow or be creative."
A portion of the album was recorded at New York City's Electric Lady Studios.Ganz, Caryn. Erykah Badu on Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, and Being a Twitter Goddess. New York. Retrieved on 2010-03-30. She told Rolling Stone that she recorded her vocals for the song "Window Seat" in her shower, stating "I wanted to sound like I was in a tunnel. I got my laptop and closed the door."Staff. Spring Music Preview 2010. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-04-05. In an interview for Billboard, Badu explained that "we used a lot of analog instruments—harps, strings, drums, piano, and even a Theremin—to give the album that sonic feel. There's a strong undercurrent of bottom, a rumbling to these songs that feels good to me. It feels like a hug."
Music and lyrics In contrast to its predecessor New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) (2008), which was digitally produced and political in tone, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) incorporates sampling and live instrumentation, while its more personal lyrics focus on themes of romance and relationships. "Return of the Ankh" was seen as a departure from the experimental work of New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) and a return to the musical style of Badu's earlier catalogue, particularly the jazz elements of Badu's debut, Baduizm (1997).Chick, Stevie. Review: New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). BBC Online. Retrieved on 2010-03-30. The album's style and production is characterized as being down-tempo, built around soul and jazz. Badu has described its sound as "very analog".Matos, Michaelangelo. Erykah Badu: Soul Diva Scales Back . Paste. Retrieved on 2010-03-28. According to Exclaim! critic Ryan B. Patrick, New Amerykah Part Two featured a "progressive fusion of 'Neo Soul' Badu with 'Seasoned and Savvy' Badu together at last". " "Window Seat" was compared to the Badu's early work particularly "On & On" and "Otherside of the Game" from her debut album, "Window Seat" contains stomp-and-clap breakdowns built under halting lyrics.
According to Badu, the album's closing track, "Out My Mind, Just in Time", is a three-movement song: "The first movement is called 'Recovering Undercover Over-lover.' It actually sums up the whole album, because I'm talking about love and emotion – 'I need you to do this,' 'I want you to do this,' 'You make me feel like this,' 'Why don't you feel like this?' It's typical of how you feel in relationships. The second movement is called ... 'Easier Said Than Done,' and it's about how hard it is to change after you've been in a relationship for so long. And then the third movement is called 'But Not This Time,' because even though I've done things a certain way for so long, I won't do that this time".Hauk, Hunter. Erykah Badu talks 'New Amerykah Part Two'. QuickDFW. Retrieved on 2010-03-31. Andy Kellman of AllMusic described the song as being innocently as a piano ballad, before changing into a "psychedelic, slow-motion soul-jazz" song that sees Badu becoming "increasingly fragmentary and tripped-out" before being "renewed."
Singles The internet-only promotional single "Jump Up in the Air (Stay There)", featuring Lil Wayne and Bilal, was released on Badu's official website in January 2010. RC Williams, Badu's musical director, said that a music video for the track was shot in Dallas. A censored "clean" version of the video was released on February 12, 2010, on Badu's official website.Official Erykah Badu Website . ErykahBadu.com. Archived on 2010-03-27. It has been made available as a free, legal download by Giant Step, the marketing and promotion company for the album.Nero, Mark Edward. Erykah Badu Says "Jump Up in the Air (Stay There)" . About.com. Retrieved on 2010-03-31.
The album's first official single, "Window Seat", was released by Badu through a downloadable link on her Twitter page.fatbellybella. Twitter. Retrieved on 2010-03-27. The song peaked at number 16 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[ Chart History: Erykah Badu - R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-03-27. The video for "Window Seat" was directed by Coodie Rock and premiered on Erykah's official site on March 27, 2010, at 3:33 AM EDT. In the video, Badu is seen walking the streets of Dallas near Dealey Plaza, slowly stripping to the nude, before being shot by an unseen assassin.
The album's second single, "Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)", was released March 24, 2010 by Badu as a free download online.Columnist. New Music: Erykah Badu ~ 'Turn Me Away'. American Idolizing. Retrieved on 2010-04-25.Columnist. Erykah Badu Offers New Single As Free Download. RTTNews. Retrieved on 2010-04-25. It spent three weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number 87. On Wednesday, February 9, 2011, vimeo.com released a new video for "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long" directed by Flying Lotus. The video was tweeted by Badu herself and friend and associated music act Questlove.
Release and promotion
The album was released March 30, 2010 on Universal Motown in the United States, and two weeks later in Japan on April 14, 2010.Product Page: New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). CDJapan. Retrieved on 2010-03-31. New Amerykah Part Twos cover art, titled "Out My Mind Just in Time",Staff. Are You Feeling This Get Up? . Bossip. Retrieved on 2010-03-31. shares the name of the album's closing track and was designed by visual artist Emek, who had also designed the artwork for New Amerykah Part One. He explained on his website that he used song lyrics from the album as inspiration.Speeakz. Visual Artist Emek Talks About The Process Behind Erykah Badu’s New Album Artwork. Pinboard. Retrieved on 2010-03-31. In an interview with Billboard, she explained the album's title, stating:
In promotion of the album, Erykah Badu hosted a series of listening sessions for press and VIPs at Chung King Studios in New York City on December 9 and December 10, 2009.ERYKAH BADU TO RELEASE NEW AMERYKAH, PART II: RETURN OF THE ANKH IN FEBRUARY 2010 . Hip Hop Press. Retrieved on 2010-03-31. During March 2010, Badu promoted the album through television performances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Wendy Williams Show, Chelsea Lately, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Good Day New York. She also appeared on the April issue cover of EQ magazine and was featured in the April issues of Nylon and Playboy, while she is also scheduled to appear in upcoming issues of several publications, including Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Time Out New York, Spin, Vibe, Paste, and People, among many other publications.Press release. ERYKAH BADU’s New Album, NEW AMERYKAH PART TWO: RETURN OF THE ANKH, in Stores Today . Business Wire. Retrieved on 2010-03-31. Badu performed at a surprise midnight show on March 31, 2010, at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles.Kennedy, Gerrick D. Live review: Erykah Badu's surprise midnight show at the El Rey. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2010-03-31.
The album's international supporting tour, "Out My Mind, Just in Time Tour", began its North American-leg on May 28, 2010, starting at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. and ended June 24, 2010 at the Pearl Concert Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada.Press release. Erykah Badu Reschedules 2010 Out My Mind, Just in Time U.S. Tour Dates . Universal Motown Records. Retrieved on 2010-05-10. Its European-leg began July 9, 2010 at Sweden's Hultsfred Festival and ended July 24 at Brixton Academy in London, England.Erykah Badu :: Out My Mind, Just in Time Tour 2010 AD. www.erykahbadu.com. Retrieved on 2010-05-10. Badu was supported on the tour by N.E.R.D., Bilal, Janelle Monáe and The Roots-drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson.Concepcion, Mariel. Erykah Badu Announces Tour. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-04-20. She also performed at the Lollapalooza festival and Lilith Fair during the 2010 summer, along with special guest appearances at Maxwell's concerts at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on June 11 and at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 26, 2010.
Commercial performance