December 16, 2009 - Universal Motown Records multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-actress ERYKAH BADU will release her fifth studio album, New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh, on February 23, 2010. The new album is the singer's hotly anticipated follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2008 disc, New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War.

In contrast to New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War, which was digitally produced and political in tone, New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh features lush live instrumentation and taps into Badu's emotional side by thematically focusing on romance and relationships. "With Part I, I was standing at an apex, looking at what was going on around me politically, socially, and economically," Badu explained. "With Part II, I'm hovering over me, looking at what's going on inside of me."

New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh features contributions from some of the most talented, groundbreaking, underground producers and engineers in the hip-hop game, including Grammy winners 9th Wonder and James Poyser, eclectic soul singer Bilal, and the late J Dilla. "We used a lot of analog instruments—harps, strings, drums, piano, and even a Theremin—to give the album that sonic feel," said Badu. "There's a strong undercurrent of bottom, a rumbling to these songs that feels good to me. It feels like a hug."

In advance of the album's release date, ERYKAH BADU hosted a series of intimate candlelit listening sessions for press and VIPs at Chung King Studios in New York City on December 9 and December 10, 2009. Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone, R&B star Ryan Leslie, British pop sensation Corinne Bailey Rae, hip-hop impresario Damon Dash, and rapper-producer Jay Electronica were all on hand for the exclusive preview, where the self-proclaimed "analog girl in a digital world" gave listeners insight into her creative process: "When I write songs, the music always comes first…otherwise, it would be poetry," she explained.

The press is already raving about New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh, one of the most anticipated albums of 2010. The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog calls it "a throwback to her 1997 debut, 'Baduizm,' with a more acoustic feel" while Vibe.com says, "Badu delivers an album that offers the emotional highs, lows and maddening complexities of being involved in a romantic relationship." Additionally, Suite903.com declares, "The new album is beyond amazing," and Okayplayer.com writes, "The album is dope."

ERYKAH BADU, a Dallas native, emerged in 1997 with her masterpiece debut album, Baduizm, as a primal force of nature connecting old school soul with contemporary R&B. The album garnered her numerous award nominations, including two Grammys (Best Female R&B Vocal, Best R&B Album) and multiple top spots on critics' Best-Of-The-Year Lists. In 2000, she followed up with the critically acclaimed platinum-selling album, Mama's Gun. In 2003, the EP World Wide Underground was awarded Gold certification.

New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh
1. "20 Feet Tall"
2. "Window Seat"
3. "Agitation"
4. "Get Money"
5. "Don't Be Long"
6. "Love"
7. "Umm Hmm"
8. "Fall in Love"
9. "Incense" (Instrumental)
10. "Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 1) (Undercover Over-Lover)"
11. "Out My Mind Just in Time (Part 2)"