Erykah Badu Unveils Cover Art & Track List for ‘But You Caint Use My Phone’
In a couple of days, Erykah Badu will release her highly anticipated mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone. On Wednesday (Nov. 25), the R&B icon unveiled the artwork and track list to her project.
According to Badu, the 11-song collection was inspired by Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and that all of the songs will be about a cellular phone. The mixtape title itself was inspired by her classic 1997 hit, “Tyrone.”
Badu’s fantastic remix of Drake’s “Hotline Bling” is on the mixtape but it’s under the new title, "Cell U Lar Device.” Her other sensual ballad, “Phone Down,” is also on the project as well. Other tracks like "Mr. Telephone Man," "Whats Yo Phone Number" and "Dial’afreaq" play on the cellular phone theme as well.
In a press release (via Pitchfork), the 44-year-old states that she recorded the mixtape with producer Zach Witnessin in her hometown of Dallas, Texas, over 12 consecutive days.
The statement reads:
The mixtape expertly weaves Erykah Badu’s trademark soulful vocals with psychedelic soundscapes, hip-hop-inflected beats, smooth R&B, jazz, art-rock and found sounds into a new genre Erykah describes as TRap & B. Badu and Witnessin dedicated a lot of time to precise mixing work, toying with EQs and other filters so that the sound’s frequency and vibration move in tandem to capture a feeling she refers to as “sympathetic vibration.” Badu also used a tuning fork and Tibetan singing bowls to fine-tune these details, with the goal of creating a sound that brings peace and tranquility to its listener. It is a sound that Badu herself referrers to as a “whole new frequency” for fans."
Badu's mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone, will arrive via the internet on Black Friday (Nov. 27).
In addition, Erykah Badu will perform and host the 2015 Soul Train Awards, which airs on Sunday (Nov. 29) at 8PM ET on BET.
But You Caint Use My Phone Track List:
1. "Caint Use My Phone Suite"
2. "Hi"
3. "Cell U Lar Device"
4. "Phone Down"
5. "U Use To Call Me"
6. "Mr. Telephone Man"
7. "U Don’t Have To Call"
8. "Whats Yo Phone Number"
9. "Dial’afreaq"
10. "I’ll Call U Back"
11. "Hello"