The Return of Erykah. The Return of the Ankh

Erykah Badu is set to release her new album New AmErykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh on February 23, 2010. Recently she did an interview with Billboard and gave them a sneak peek of her upcoming album.

I called it 'Part II: The Return of the Ankh' because this album is the sister of the left side of my brain -- it is the right side," Badu explained during a listening session this week at New York City's Chung King Studios. "'Part I was the left side of my thoughts -- it was more socially political and my thought process was more analytical. This time there wasn't anything to be concerned with -- the album is more emotional and flowy and talks about feelings. It reminds of the days of 'Baduizm' -- this is just about beats and rhymes in a cipher."

From what Billboard describes of Return of the Ankh's sound Badu is going to be blending this free flowing style with a heavy dose of hip-hop and some very personal storytelling.

On the banjo-laden "Don't Be Long," Badu pleads her lover to return soon although she understands "you gotta get your hustle on." She taps into her inner B-girl and pays homage to the Notorious B.I.G. on tracks like "Get Money," which features elements of the Junior M.A.F.I.A. feat. Notorious B.I.G. track of the same title, and "Incense," on which she harmonizes the Biggie lyrics, "there's gonna be a lot of slow singing and flower bringing if my burglar alarm starts ringing," over a beat reminiscent of Alicia Keys' "Unbreakable."

Some of the other stand-out tracks include "Fall In Love" which finds her candidly warning potential lovers, "You're loving me and I'm driving your Benz / you're loving me and I'm fucking your friends;" the harp-heavy " Out of My Mind Just in Time (Part I) (Undercover Over-Lover)," on which she pleads, "I hate for you, when I hate you too, if you want me to;" and " Out of My Mind Just In Time (Part 2)," on which she confesses, "I am a recovering undercover over-lover / recovering from a love I can't get over / and now my lover thinks he wants another," over piano strokes.

Concerns over internet leaks of her music have caused Badu to become very protective of her work, and understandably so.

"Jump In The Air" was slated to appear on the album, but parts of it leaked on the internet earlier this week, and as a result Badu is unsure if she will include it on the set. "If anything leaks, I won't put out this album," she said about potential future leaks. "I worked too hard for that to happen. Let a bitch make some money some kind of way."

Yaes Badu!! I so hope it doesn't leak, then...but when it does (This is the state of the industry. Even Sade couldn't hold off anyleaks of their for single until it's appointed release time) I'll be there to share it with you. But seriously, buy her music. It's good stuff.

To see the rest of her article with Billboard click HERE