The best tracks include her lead single "Bag Lady" which might not grab you in at first, but as you listen more, you'll realize how intelligent and straight from the soul it really is. It's one of those hypothetically metaphoric songs Erykah Badu has made so popular. It talks about a woman who got kicked out a relationship and how she has nothing "to hold on" anymore except for bags. "Bags" represent depression and the feeling of wanting the boyfriend back. Erykah Badu almost acts as the "spiritual grandmother", guiding and advising her to "let go of everything" (the "bags") and then proclaims, "All you need to do is hold on to yourself". Simple, yet it depicts such an uplifting message. Another standout track is "My Life", where she sings the line "no turning back". It has a catchy beat and also contains a sample taken from "Paul Revere" by: Beastie Boys. She talks about not giving up when times are hard. "Booty" is an intelligently clever & sexy song where Badu is saying she could get any man, but she "don't want them", and she does it without sounding arrogant. "Kiss Me On My Neck (Hesi)" has a very addictive chorus. The song is about her yearning for appreciation. "Cleva" is a song about materialism & appearance. She talks about how it doesn't matter how you look, but what you say.

So why 4 Stars? Well, one thing, not every song on the album is perfection. Although some of the tracks were really good, some of them just dragged on & on & on & on (No, not like a "rolling stone"). An example would be the intro, "penitentiary philosophy". It has a heavy rock & drums beat, which is fine, but you could barely hear what she's saying. The only thing you can probably make out is the first two lines, which is "Here is my philosophy, living in a penitentiary". Another problem I had was "Green Eyes". I know the song is suppose to be long since it mentions "movement I, II, III". Movement I is good, which is about denial. Movement II is the best, about acceptance. But movement III is a bit drag again. Also another minor problem is "A.D. 2000". It has a nice beat, but the problem I have is the constant yearning of "love me" written all over the lyrics. The song is about being forgotten. But there is something wrong with artists constantly saying, "don't forget me"...

But I'll stop whining. Overall, I love this album. Lyrics are what keep me listening to this album since I like the various subject and words she uses to get through her point. I also enjoy how soulful this album is. It's one of those album you can listen to while just sitting around and reading (well, once you get past the intro "Penitentiary Philosophy", it can be distracting, both in a good & bad way). "Time's a wastin" if you didn't cop this album yet...


IT'S THE SECOND HALF THAT MAKES THIS ALBUM...   February 9, 2001
Knyte (Chicago, IL)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Everyone I know warned me about 'Mama's Gun' - they told me to skip it. I listened to their warnings, but when I heard "Penitentiary Philosophy" I was sold. It's a rock track, with a 70s-ish Sly & the Family Stone/Zeppelin appeal, and it impressed me because it was different. That's what I wanted to hear...something different, so I bought it.

I'm glad I own it, especially because of the second half of 'Mama's Gun'. The best songs start with "Kiss Me On My Neck", a funky, self-confident jam in which Ms. Badu lays out her requirements for love. Then on "A.D. 2000" we get a real quaint, smoothed out, Stevie Wonder styled melody with an ever-so-subtle voice. Next we have "Orange Moon" (my favorite) and we get a perfect mix of jazz, soul, and R&B. "Orange Moon" sounds so sweet, soothing, and romantic - trust me. I'm listening to it right now...(how good it is, how, good it is...)

We then have singer Stephen Marley joining Ms. Badu for a soaring "I'm In Love With You" which is brilliant. The album version of "Bag Lady" is more musical, and her voice at the end of this song (if you really just let it sink in) is soul stirring...and then we get two more tracks, one of which is in three parts, called "Green Eyes" - and it ends the album perfectly.

So, you won't find "Rimshot" on here, or "Next Lifetime" (my favorite track off Baduizm - cuz it's so true...) but I still really enjoy this one. R&B music is really experiencing a great moment right now. If you like this I also recommend Musiq and of course, Ms. Jill Scott. If you can get into some more conventional R&B don't miss Dave Hollister either. Peace!

Yours,

Andrew Knyte


Lyrically Poetic on a Rhythmic Vibe!   November 22, 2000
Shazzar Kallie (Long Beach, CA USA)
10 out of 14 found this review helpful

I enjoyed Ms. Badu's "Mama's Gun". It's a very good follow up to her classic Baduizm, which is a musical gem! Although Mama's Gun doesn't truly reach that freshness it come close. I know Erykah must have had the material for a double album, because this album comes in over 70 minutes, plus half the songs on the album are not even featured on the original album song list, so it shows that she did some last minute cutting and adding of songs. Even most of the songs listed on the album cover are out of place, pretty much expressing that at press time she had not completed the sequencing of the music. I later realized that she wanted each song to blend into the other, which is done very well on this album. Here's the song list:

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

I must admit that I was a bit disapointed that one of the songs "Props To The Loney People" didn't appear on the album, although it was listed on the album cover and lyric sheet. It would have also been very nice to get the remixed version of "Bag Lady" which is not included on the album. I thought the album should have at least had the remixed song, because the version on the album is not the one heard on the radio or seen in the video. Otherwise, despite those flaws I believe the album is truly worth the experience! She educates and motivates and the production is done very well.

This album was delayed a long time, and I think it should have been delayed a little bit longer to get the song list on the album correct, because you'll have to guess at what song you're listening to because it doesn't correlate to the album song list on the back cover. Plus, the remixed version of "Bag Lady" should have been included. This may force people to buy the single version just to hear the song that blew up the charts. Seventy-One minutes of Badu is pretty good despite what they album could have been. I just imagine what happened to all of those songs that were listed on the first version of the album? Erykah should have definitely come out with a double album to satisfy her fans. "Mama's Gun" is satisfying, although is lacks the bold spirituality of her first album. The only reference we have to why she called the album "Mama's Gun" is from a poem she wrote which is listed on the cd booklet called "The Warriors Reminder", I think having a song expressing what the poem conveys would have been better than just a poem one has to read instead of listen to. I've been waiting three years for this album, although a little bit disapointed at what it could have been, I'm very satisfied because hearing 14 new songs by Ms. Badu is truly a treat and motivates one to think! God is Love!


How Good It Is!   November 22, 2000
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Eryka (and Kedar) have done it again! Guest appearances include Ahmir Thompson, Ron Hargrove ans Roy Ayers. Steven Marley is melodic on "In Love With You" where he and Erykah go back and forth describing love at its best (lion to lioness). "Orange Moon" is by far one of the best tracks, very mellow and laid back as it appears to describe her sun (son). "Cleva" is a tight bass-heavy jam. "Bag Lady" is a different version than what has been cranked out on the airwaves - a little slower but serves the same message. "Didn't Cha Know" is so very fly-only takes one listen to love this groove. Eryka mixes melody, R&B, jazz, funk & straight blues all together which brings this follow-up album to the forefront of soulful music. Serious airplay needs to be devoted to "Green-Eyes" where Badu describes the little green monster in all of us and how she copes with it. The music is great. "Booty" describes another womans' man that desires her but the feeling is not mutual. There is a great flute player on serval pieces of this project and they deserve some serious credit. This is a must have in any collection and previous fans will appreciate all that it offers.


Welcome to Erykah's Psychedelic Soul Lounge...   December 21, 2000
Richard T. Hall (USA)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Although I admire her immense talents as a vocalist and writer, I'm not a huge Badu fan. So when my lady(who is a fan) gave me 'Mama Gun' and said that she didn't care for it that much, I knew something was up. And just as I figured, Baduizm decided to wade out to a deeper part of the musical pool of her soul(much like D'Angelo did with Voodoo and RaShaan Patterson with Love in Stereo). Like a good mother, Erykah attempts to wean her Gen-X hip-hop fans from the baby food of programmed beats and synth bass of her debut cd, to the greens and cornbread of live drums and bass of this Psychedic 70's, concept-based sound. You definitely have to listen to the whole record to appreciate it. Its very much on the so-called 'neo-soul' tip, at times sounding like a female version of a Isley Bros meets Stevie Wonder record. But the X-factor that separates Ms. Badu from everyone else is that voice. That Voice! Not the most powerful, nor the sweetest sounding, but unique in its own way. Sincerity flows in the way she interpetes the lyrics of the songs (Booty, Cleva, A.D. 2000, Penitentiary Philosophy). I actually like the cd version of 'Bag Lady' more than the single(which should have been included on the cd, record company's bilking us again); it fits in with the 'concept' nicely. My only nitpick is that ...& On seems to have been thrown in to appease her labels' request for a sound-alike hit, but thats under the bridge. I'm sure some fans of the studio sound of Baduizm will be put off by the 'live vibe' of Mama's Gun, and others will say she's just biting on a style that's been done already, but believe me, if you give this record a fair chance, it may become one of your all-time faves.

P.S.: On a more personal note, I must say that it is so beautiful to see and hear more R&B artists using live instruments in their music; taking more creative responsibility on themselves, following their instincts, and relying more on their talents as musicians and writers rather than the advancements in music technology(Although I do appeciate the better sound quality of some of today's equipment). As they try to raise their level of integrity and musicianship, lets all try to raise our level as listeners by being more receptive and supportive of them and their works. Its time for some of us to raise our game and stop being so short-sighted musically. Peace and Love.