<p>“The mothership can’t save you, so your ass is goin’ get left.”</p><p>Back in 1997 Erykah Badu’s “On & On” became a Billboard Hot 100 hit, and subsequently led her debut album “Baduizm” toward triple platinum sales. Now more than a decade later she’s back with a new single and new album; both anchored by her signature sound.</p><p>“Window Seat,” the lead single from Badu’s forthcoming “New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)” is a breezy mid-tempo that is as endearing in production and delivery as it is in lyricism: “I just want a chance to fly – a chance to cry. And a long bye-bye.” Less political than the material on “New Amerykah Part One,” “Window Seat” works much like the material on “Baduizm:” strong in metaphor, soulful in production, and full of personal sentiment.</p><p>Her second full-length album, “Mama’s Gun” sold platinum, but charted well below her debut. Despite the success of the album’s first single, “Bag Lady” and overall strong critical response, audiences didn’t fall for the record’s stripped-down 70s soul aesthetic. Her 2003, “Worldwide Underground” faired even worse, selling just enough to be certified gold, while 2008’s “New Amerykah Part One” stalled after moving just 354,000 units. Through it all Badu has remained a critical darling and neo-soul sensation – celebrated for her work and hardly taken to task for the steady decline of her sales.</p><p>What keeps Badu relevant is her commitment to creativity. The success of her debut, paired with her history of high charting singles has given her the Top 40 exposure that the quality of her music sustains. Few of Badu’s contemporaries like Jill Scott and India.Arie take the risks that she has to establish a sound that feels organically unique. From the slick send-off “Next Lifetime,” to the made-for-summer soul of “Honey,” Badu’s appeal is broad and far-reaching because every offering feels sincere.</p>
