Erykah Badu

𝙇𝙖𝙞𝙙-𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙠, 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚—𝙀𝙧𝙮𝙠𝙖𝙝 𝘽𝙖𝙙𝙪’𝙨 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙮𝙡.

Originally released in 2003, *Worldwide Underground* marked a bold chapter in Badu's catalogue—less concerned with conventional album structure and more focused on a fluid, jam-session vibe. The result is a hypnotic suite of extended grooves that blend neo-soul, hip hop, and funk with an improvisational spirit. The album's foundation lies in tracks like “Back in the Day (Puff),” “Danger,” and the standout posse cut “Love of My Life Worldwide,” featuring Bahamadia, Queen Latifah, and Angie Stone over a loop from Sugarhill’s Sequence classic “Funk You Up.”

Collaborators on the record are drawn from across the spectrum of Black music excellence. Roy Hargrove’s trumpet, James Poyser’s signature keys, Stic.Man of Dead Prez, and even Lenny Kravitz on guitar lend a rich, layered dynamic to the production. Dead Prez and Rashad Smith bring programming muscle, while vocal cameos from Zap Mama and Caron Wheeler add texture and depth to Badu’s unmistakable tone.

Whether played from start to finish as a continuous listening experience or dipped into for its standout singles, this edition of *Worldwide Underground* is both a collector’s item and a spiritual reset—soulful, sultry, and defiantly unhurried.