Mama’s Gun Still Pops Off 20 Years Later

By the time Erykah Badu released her sophomore album, Mama’s Gun, she was already a household name. She commanded our attention with early hits like “On & On,” “Next Lifetime”, and “Tyrone”. However, I’ll never forget how I felt after the first time I heard “Bag Lady”, the standout single from Mama’s Gun. I was intrigued, inspired, and entertained. Although the song was directed to women, it resonated with men too. She spoke to a generation of people with a sexy, slick, cautionary swag.

Mama’s Gun had all the makings to be great, including a then high-profile relationship with OutKast’s Andre 3000 and recording it at the legendary Electric Lady studio. Nonetheless, the stakes were just as high for her to defy the sophomore jinx. The introspectively hypnotic gem, “Didn’t Cha Now” oozed with traces of the golden 90s era of R&B and the new wave of neo-soul.

Songs like “Penitentiary Philosophy” and “Orange Moon” (which featured her son, Seven) offered a closer glimpse into the socially conscious mind of Erykah Badu. She exuded flawless confidence on fan favorites like the Roy Ayers assisted “Cleva” and the witty dismissal of “Booty”. Even during the album’s most tender moments (revisit “In Love With You”), there’s still an undertone of badass “Southern Gul”.

“Time’s A Wastin” is crisp, clean, and as poignant now as it was in 2000. By that point in the album, it had already eclipsed her debut, Baduizm, in my mind. Then comes “Green Eyes”. There is not a single song on the planet that so delicately, cleverly, and accurately describes all of the stages of a breakup. This song is genius and perhaps my favorite in Erykah Badu’s entire catalog. With a history of consistently relevant and soul-stirring music, Mama’s Gun is undoubtedly one of the brightest moments in Erykah Badu’s colorful career.

Relive some of the best moments from Mama’s Gun below. What are your favorite songs on the album?