Product Description

Despite being classified as an EP, the near 50-minute length of WORLD WIDE UNDERGROUND makes it closer to being Erykah Badu's fourth full-length outing. Inspired by the FrustratedArtist Tour that found this Texan crisscrossing the world in 2002, Badu uses a very groove-oriented and loosely definedapproach towards these songs, thanks to the collaborative skills of her fellow members in the Freakquency team--James Poyser, Rashad "Ringo" Smith, and RC Williams.
The resultsrange from the light and sensual flow of "Back in the Day",(featuring some crisp guitar licks by Lenny Kravitz) to "Bump It" with its mix of sprinkled in hip-hop beats, lightly layered synths, and a sweet mix of harmonies by Zap Mama and Karon Wheeler. Along the way, Badu must have been digging inthe crates for inspiration, because she includes a hypnotictake on Donald Byrd's 1975 recording "Think Twice" (featuring tasty playing by trumpeter Roy Hargrove). Badu also serves up a remix of the Grammy-winning "Love of My Life Worldwide", built on the foundation of Sequence's 1979 hit "Funk YouUp", which features cameos by Queen Latifah, Bahamadia, Badu alter-ego MC Apples, and Angie Stone (the original Angie Bof Sequence).

Track Listing

1. Intro (World Keeps Turnin')
2. Bump It (Part 1 & 2)
3. Back In The Day
4. I Want You
5. Woo
6. The Grind - Erykah Badu, Dead Prez
7. Danger
8. Think Twice
9. Love Of My Life Worldwide - Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah, Angie Stone, Bahamadia
10. Outro (World Keeps Turnin')
11. Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop) - Erykah Badu, Common
12. Hollywood

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19757 in Music
• Released on: 2003-09-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Worldwide Underground, the third studio album from nu-soul pioneer Erykah Badu, is both a marvel of jazz smooth sensuality and misguided genius. Without question, Badu was--and clearly still is--an original; her 1997 debut album Baduizm, a rich and unexpected fusion of soul, jazz and rootsy hip-hop, paved the way for Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, India Arie, Macy Gray and Alicia Keys.

However, as with her last album, Mama's Gun, it's her pioneering spirit that's actually Worldwide Underground's stumbling block. The gorgeous "I Want You" is a prime example. Starting off with the simple trick of chanted notes which mutate into a fantastically sexy groove, it's the album's woozy highlight until, inexplicably, it breaks into bizarre snarling synth riffs and jazz-fusion noodling. On the one hand it's a stroke of stripped-back brilliance; on the other it's a fragmented mess. Elsewhere the barrage of influences, ideas and production add-ons, while ensuring that things are never dull, make for confused and chaotic listening. Yet with "Bump It Up" and "Danger"'s hypnotic melodies, "Woo"'s head nodding sway and a raft of smooching soul tunes like "Think Twice" and Back in the Day (Puff)" to get lost in, she still manages to mesmerise, even when she's trying way too hard. --Dan Gennoe

Customer Reviews

Groovin'
In 2002, suffering from writer's block, Badu hit the road on the extensive 'Frustrated Artist Tour' seeking inspiration to breakthrough that block. Worldwide Underground is the result, originally billed as an EP, despite being 10 songs long even in its original form, perhaps as much to signal that it was not, in a straight forward way, the follow-up to 'Mama's Gun'. Certainly World Wide Underground is looser, less polished and includes several extended jams, and some fans of her earlier work were confused, and not always impressed. There may be fewer obvious singles here but this is a fine album of sweet sophisticated nu-soul with plenty to enjoy, and unusually the songs get stronger as the album progresses, with 'Danger', the Donald Byrd cover 'Think Twice', 'Love of My Life (an ode to hip hop) recorded with then lover Common, and 'Hollywood' all excellent.

Worldwide Underground - Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu, the critically acclaimed Neo-Soul diva returned in 2003 to release Worldwide Underground - originally an EP but with the addition of two UK bonus tracks, becoming an album. Worldwide Underground is an album that takes repeated listens to fully appreciate, the music being so different to Badu's previous albums.

The albums kicks off with a decent intro, before the first song: 'Bump It,' the beats on this track are excellent, great catchy song that ends in a wonderful collage of interesting, weird vocals. The next track, 'Back In The Day' is one of the album's highlights. Featuring Lenny Kravitz on the electric guitar, 'Back In The Day' is a smooth & funky soul track. Another highlight is the epic 'I Want You' - certainly the most unusual song Badu has ever recorded, but it works incredibly well, a gorgeous chill-out track that builds into something spectacular.

'Think Twice,' is the sweetest moment on the album, it's an electro/soul ballad with a great trumpet solo. On 'Love Of My Life (Worldwide),' Badu team up with Queen Latifah, Angie Stone & Bahamedia for a funky party track. Despite all these great songs, the best one on Worldwide Underground is the stunning 'Danger,' Badu's vocals are outstanding here - her most animated and the instruments are extraordinary.

The bonus track, 'Love Of My Life' won the 2003 Grammy for Best R&B song - produced by Raphael Saadiq and featuring a rap from Common. 'Hollywood,' another bonus, is also a fine song. Worldwide Underground is a strong album from Erykah Badu. With every album Badu manages to amaze. If you are new to this lady, then I suggest you purchase Baduizm first, then Mama's Gun, and then Worldwide Underground (just so that you understand where she's coming from).

The Best Album In The Whole Worldwide Underground!
Now Erykah never really reached out to me on a real but after hearin' a few tracks from her past albums i thought she was a really moody singer
The Love Of My Life came out as the lead song for the film Brown Sugar i fell in love with the song
I went out & got the Album/EP straight away

1.World Keeps Turnin'/Yep its an intro what what a boring one it is 0/10

2.Bump It (Featuring Zapp Mama & Karo)/8.49 Minute jam with Erykah a good was to start the album 10/10

3.Back In The Day (Puff)/This song is one of my favourites on the album nice chilled tun about Back in the day smokin weed and stuff 10/10

4.I Want You/I skipped this song alot as it takes like 5 minutes to begin her actually to sing a verse but i left it on one day & feel in love great tune 10/10

5.Woo/"Erykah...BaaaDooooo" this reminds me of an old skool hip-hop track this is also an album highlight

6.Steady On The Grind (Featuring Dead Prez)/Wow what a great tune a soulful hip-hop track also a album highlight 10/10

7.Danger (Featuring China Blac)/My Favourite song on the album i kno how she feels with the calls frm prison hehe this had a really great video as well only saw it once or twice tho 11/10

8.Think Twice (Featuring Roy Hargrove)/The beat is very electronic soundin in parts dont like this song much but its not terrible 7/10

9.Love Of My Life Worldwide (Featuring Angie Stone,Queen Latifa & Bahamadia)/Its a funky version of the original very good makes ya wanna get up & move yo a*s 10/10

10.World Keeps Turnin'(Outro)/And On & On lol 0/10

11.Love Of My Life (Ode 2 Hip-Hop)/I LOVE THIS SONG the beat the lyrics the video everything about it Common also does hes lil bit on this as well 11/10

12.Hollywood/Didnt like it at 1st but its a really cool song 9/10

Top 5 WWUG Tunes

1.Love Of My Life
2.Back In The Day (Puff)
3.Danger
4.Woo
5.Hollywood