Track Listing

1. Penitentiary Philosophy
2. Didn't Cha Know
3. My Life
4. ... & On
5. Cleva - Roy Ayers, Erykah Badu
6. Hey Sugah
7. Booty
8. Kiss Me On My Neck
9. A.D. 2000
10. Orange Moon
11. I'm In Love With You
12. Bag Lady
13. Time's A Wastin
14. Green Eyes
15. Bag Lady

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9526 in Music
• Released on: 2002-12-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Running time: 76 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Dallas native Erykah Badu was responsible for the project that pretty much defined out-there, Afro-spiritual R&B. Her debut album, Baduizm, paved the way for neo-soul talents like Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott, and was hailed deservedly as the "most innovative and exciting soul debut since D'Angelo's Brown Sugar". With Mama's Gun, Badu takes another giant step into the left-field with less delirious results. Aided by D'Angelo's backing band, the SoulAquarians (Jay Dee, Ahmir "Quest-Love" Thompson and James Poyser), the relationship angst of first track, "Penitentiary Philosophy" is accompanied by truly turgid hard rock. Thankfully, the rest of the album doesn't harbour ambitions to "rock-out" in an Alanis Morrissette style. The guests include Bilal (Common), Roy Ayers, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, Betty Wright and Steven Marley but this is Badu's show. Sonically speaking, Mama's Gun's best tracks--"Cleva", the staccato funk of "Booty", the gorgeous, "A.D.2000", "Orange Moon" and epic closer "Green Eyes" (where she really does sound like Billie Holliday")--are once again a cool hybrid of jazz, blues, soul and hip-hop. Mama's Gun is definitely less immediate than its predecessor and perhaps requires repeated listening to appreciate. However it is hard to escape the feeling that this is Badu by numbers, a well-crafted, though ultimately dull facsimile that aims to capitalise on ground first broken by a focused and fascinating original. --Reuben Dessay

Customer Reviews

One of the best modern album's ever
I agree with the reviewer who described Mama's Gun as "mindblowing." I adore Erykah and this is her best album yet. Green Eyes is one of the most beautiful and original tracks I've ever heard in my life. Vintage Badu.

Good stuff!
A lovely album I bought this years ago and still enjoy playing this. The one thing I was hugely annoyed about is when Erykah decides to put the other version of Bag Lady on a limited edition and that was the main reason for purchasing the album in the first place.

Armed & Beautiful *CLASSIC*
Erykah Badu where too begin is without a doubt one of the most innovative singers of our generation, vocally she's compared to Billie Holiday with the passion and consciousness of Meshell NdegeOcello she manages to keep her own organic style of artistry.
"Mama's Gun" was released in 2000 around about the same time she split from her boyfriend one half of Outkast Andre 3000 (Ms. Jackson is about her).Filled with metaphores and ineuendo i think you can get the picture that Badu was a very vulnerable person at the time of putting this in production.
It start's off with the Sly Stone influence funk of "Penetentiary Philosophy" which is an ode to all the 'brothas' in prison then the confused "Didn't Cha Know" where we see Badu not knowing where she is or where she's going a very good song to listen to if your at this point in you life "didnt cha know/didnt cha know/now you never know where the cards may lay".
Other songs worth mentioning are "Cleva" where Erykah give a freestyle-like performance saying that even though she might not be perfect and have her flaws her mind and creativity is flawless. "Orange Moon" is probably one of the sexiest songs shes ever sung a very introvertive song and stands as a favourite of mine a song about how her and her man compliment each other and made her a better person for knowing him.
"In Love With You" is a song i think alot of people can relate to if they've ever been in a situation like this even though people say the person you with aint know good you go against it and go with your instincts a fantastic duet with Stephen Marley really go together as both artist having that bold raspyness in their voice.
"Bag Lady" although its commercial appeal it's quite a personal song about people with emotional baggage the original is a bit better than the cheeba sac remix that was featured in the video
The closer "Green Eyes" is split into 3 movements which is probably about Andre 3000 and is the most clearest indication of the Billie Holiday comparison the song runs for 10 minutes you make think thats long but it's such a great song you hardly notice it.

Top 5
1.Orange Moon
2.Green Eyes
3.In Love With You
4.Didn't Cha Know
5.Bag Lady & Cleva

This album is one of my favourites thats great for them "post- relationship blues" Erykah is rumoured to return this year with a brand new album let's hope it tops the superiority of Baduizm and Mama's Gun.