About

Badu describes her latest album as the "struggle on a good day", a somewhat harsh self-assessment. This is the Badu that we've grown to love and trust; pure 100% uncut, uncompromising R&B that touches on folk, jazz, blues and hip-hop. No one does eclectic in quite the same style.

Reunited with her production team, Freakaquency,the formula is a trusted and familiar one. "Danger", the first single, is typical of this -oozing soulful sophistication with profound lyrical interplay and beats that would make the Neptunes proud. The abstract wordology is particularly evident on the albums opener, "Bump It". "Push up the fader/bust the meter/shake the tweeter" she sings atop an eighties embellished groove.

Guests are plenty: Lenny Kravitz plays guitar on the smooth and assured "Back In The Day"; Dead Prez drops science on the meatier "The Grind" and Queen Latifah, Angie Stone and Bahamadia lend their vocal support to "Love Of My Life Worldwide".

Since Erykah set the standard with Baduism her crown has been passed between a succession of contemporaries, in Worldwide Underground she rightly reclaims her place upon the throne. No one else comes close. - BBC