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Erykah Badu is an artist who blends R&B, hip-hop, and soul into a fusion that can be labeled as experimental R&B, which is portrayed throughout her best album, 2000’s Mama’s Gun.

The album’s soothing vibe is a characteristic of Badu’s style, which heavily focuses on jazz, blues, soul, and funk-style beats. Blend this with production from producers such as Questlove and J Dilla, and listeners can immerse themselves in a unique style labeled as psychedelic soul.  

The third track, “My Life,” is a perfect example of this. Badu’s use of metaphors describes the process of overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of freedom. In addition to the great lyrical work, the drum’s upbeat feeling and the unique sample credited to J Dilla easily make this the best song on the album. 

Another highlight of the album is “Didn’t Cha Know,” which has a very similar vibe to “My Life.” The radiance within this song comes from the peculiar sample, produced by J Dilla, and the intricacy of the beat that Badu sings over, as well as from lyrics discussing mindfulness. 

The combination of genres makes this a versatile album and allows fans of many types of music to enjoy the album.