Erykah Badu's forthcoming opus, the 18-track two-fer Nu AmErykah, isn't even out till February 26; the first single, "Honey," showed up only a week ago. But already the track's been given the sweet remix treatment courtesy Chuck Wild over at the Soul Sides cafe, where it's dying to be downloaded. And speaking of Erykah, she's much loved in Israel, where she performed over the weekend.
Update: After the jump, more info than you ever needed to know about that "Honey" video -- chiefly, what's up with the video within the video? But, more important, the details concerning the album's release -- and the release party scheduled for February 26 at the House of Blues, with tickets going on sale Friday. --Robert Wilonsky
Erykah Badu’s ‘Honey’ Music Video is Tribute to Music and Music Lovers
NEW AMERYKAH (Part One, 4th World War) In Stores February 26th
Multi-platinum, four-time Grammy® award-winning artist Erykah Badu introduces her fourth studio album, New Amerykah (Part One, 4th World War), with the creative video “Honey,” a love letter addressed in equal measure to a special soul, and to some classic records that have been among the greatest loves of our lives. Laced with Erykah’s bluesy grit and MC style vocals, “Honey’s” razor sharp hip-hop beats were produced by 9th Wonder. The much-anticipated album, will be released in two parts is Badu’s first full-length studio project in over seven years. New Amerykah (Part One, 4th World War) is scheduled for release on February 26, 2008.
Immediately added in rotation at MTV, VH-1, and BET, Badu’s self-conceived “Honey” video clip starts as a deceptively low-tech browse through the bins of a mom-and-pop record store. Landmark album sleeves of R&B, hip-hop and rock come to life in the hands of the customer – and Badu herself is re-cast in each of these iconic images, in a way that’s witty, fun and properly reverent. The clip was directed by Erykah and Chris Robinson (A co-direction team that won BET’s Video of the Year Award for “Love of My Life” video with Common in 2003). Shafiq from the hit production team Sa-Ra makes a cameo appearance, and in another striking moment, “Honey” is interrupted by a video-in-a-video, as an excerpt of “Annie,” recorded by Badu’s super-group side project Edith Funker, plays on the store’s video screen. (See footnotes for Edith Funker members below.)
Badu describes New Amerykah (Part One) as "the war within… the war we fight with ourselves." Though Badu's multifarious musical roots of soul, jazz, and hip-hop do collide to make sweet chaos, it is her organic hip-hop sensibilities that pervade her new opus. New Amerykah’s studio collaborators include Grammy Award-winning producer 9th Wonder, Madlib, Mike “Chav” Chavarria, R&B singer Bilal, Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, Shafiq Husayn, and Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López. The project will also be released in the USB Stick format. It will include the full album, the “Honey” video, album artwork and access to other exclusive web content. New content will be available for download on the 26th of each month.
Erykah Badu, a Dallas native, emerged in 1997 as a primal force of nature, with her masterpiece debut album, Baduizm, connecting old-school soul with contemporary R&B. The album garnered her numerous award nominations, pulling two coveted Grammys (Best Female R&B Vocal, Best R&B Album) and multiple top spots on critics’ best-of-the-year lists. In 2000, she followed up with the critically-acclaimed platinum-selling album, Mama’s Gun. In 2003, the EP World Wide Underground was awarded gold certification.
Erykah most recently performed at a Diana Ross Tribute on the BET Awards, and the hit show Girlfriends, receiving rave reviews.
"HONEY" VIDEO CLIP KEY TO RE-CREATED CLASSIC IMAGES
• Rufus featuring Chaka Khan • Diana Ross: Blue • Funkadelic: Maggot Brain • Eric B. & Rakim: Paid in Full • Ohio Players: Honey • Minnie Riperton: Perfect Angel • Labelle: Chameleon • De La Soul: 3 Feet High and Rising • The Beatles: Let It Be • Nas: Illmatic • Olivia Newton-John: Physical • Grace Jones: Nightclubbing • Earth, Wind & Fire: Head to the Sky • Rolling Stone Magazine cover shot of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, January 1981
EDITH FUNKER members are: Erykah Badu, Doyle Bramhall II, Wendy & Lisa [of Prince’s band The Revolution] ?uestlove, James Poyser, Mike Elizondo, Susannah Melvoin, and occasional special guest DJ Jazzy Jeff. The song “Annie” does not appear on NEW AMERYKAH (PART I).
CD release party will be hosted by Erykah Badu & friends!
House of Blues * Dallas, 2200 North Lamar Street, Dallas
Doors Open at 8:00PM
Ages: 18+
Tickets: $20.00 – GA advance
On Sale: Friday, February 8 @ 10AM
