Erykah Badu's Mama's Gun Is A Bold Experiment Of The Soul And The Self

Mama's Gun is one of Erykah Badu’s acclaimed albums. After she made headlines with her debut album, Baduizm, her second studio album, Mama's Gun, was widely anticipated. Erykah Badu's distinct sound is a tasteful blend of RnB, neo-soul, jazz, and hip-hop. In one of her recent interviews, the American music icon told Popcast’s Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli that she only puts out a record when she has something to say. The songwriting in Mama's Gun touched on spiritual themes, romantic love, and the mistreatment of marginalized groups. 

Mama's Gun is many things; bold, soulful, inspiring and lyrically witty. This is the second album after her exciting 1997 debut, Baduizm. Mama's Gun set out with a goal and at Green Eyes, a song about her then breakup with rapper Andre 3000, that goal was completely achieved. The neo-soul album successfully blends elements of funk,  jazz, rock, and reggae. Released in 2000, Mama’s Gun is more than 25 years old and is considered one of the best albums of its era by numerous publications like NPR and Pitchfork.

The record succeeds at expert storytelling. It starts with a 6-minute opener, Penitentiary Philosophy, where Erykah uses her vocals like an instrument. She sings about boxing oneself into an identity, and the nonconformity of individualism. Three songs off this album; Bag Lady, Cleva, and Didn't Cha Know explores self-fulfilment in relationships with self and others. This is one of many things that makes Mama's Gun a timeless listen; she covers issues—both personal and societal— that are integral to the human experience. 

My Life, the third track of the album, was from a 1995 demo. Two other songs from that era On &  On and Appletree were released as singles from Baduizm. Following My Life is ...& On, a sequel to her Grammy-winning single, On & On. She continues to teach the principles of the Five-Percent Nation, a black supremacist movement on this track. Erykah Badu has been linked to the Five-Percent Nation due to her cultural identity and lyrics with nods to the doctrines of this movement. Based on research documented in Encyclopaedia Britannica, Five Percenters believe that 85 percent of humanity are oblivious to the true nature of God and thus, are misled by 10 percent of humanity who are knowledgeable but falsely teach about the existence of God. Only 5 percent understands the truth about God; He is living and He is a black man teaching freedom to black communities. Hey Sugah (interlude) levels the tempo before going into the track Booty. A song with clever lyrics about an unfaithful man and his protective lover. Other songs that explore romantic motifs include; Kiss Me On My Neck (Hesi), Orange Moon, In Love With You (featuring Stephen Marley), and Green Eyes. 

Mama's Gun also features two songs about the racialized sufferings of black people in early 2000s America. A.D. 2000 is a tribute song to a 22-year-old Guinean immigrant Amadou Diallo, who was shot dead by members of the New York City Police Department in 1999. Wyclef Jean also made a similar tribute that year with the track Diallo. Time's A Wastin' is a message about survival, targeted at young black men who aim at thriving in a white supremacist system that wasn't created for them. The  album  spans more than an hour of soulful melodies and grounding lyricism.

When Erykah Badu broke into the scene with her signature head wrap inspired by African women and her silver jewelry, she came as herself and noted the influence her spirituality has on her music. Perhaps one of my personal favourite things about Mama's Gun, apart from its mid-tempo groove is its richly textured soundscape, with everyday sounds like finger clicks and sounds from analog or naturalistic elements being incorporated into the composition of the album. This was the perfect addition to nail down the perfect album for a chill, candle-lit day. 

Truly, who could compare to the great Erykah Badu? Her influence can be seen in fashion, film, and music. Erykah Badu is more of a lifestyle. She is a cultural tastemaker, and a trueborn artist. RnB and soul acts like SZA, Summer Walker, Jhené Aiko, Ari Lennox, Teyana Taylor and many more have cited her as a major influence in their music artistry, especially for her spiritual teachings and use of sound systems like tuning forks. Ari Lennox has covered a lot of Badu songs including Green Eyes. According to VIBE, the singer Solange said of her at ESSENCE‘s 8th annual Black Women in Music in 2017: “She is a beautiful reminder that you cannot put us in a box.”

P.S: If you enjoyed Mama's Gun by Erykah Badu, then give two of Willow Smith's projects a listen; Petal Rock Black, and The Thread. A Seat At The Table by Solange and 5 by Sault are also some of this writer’s personal favourites. 

 Cover Credit: Erykah Badu captured by Eric Johnson in 1997

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