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Album Review: Erykah Badu - But You Caint Use My Phone

Roshan Clerke
StarStarStarStar

"...an album dedicated to the exploration of ideas both on the page and in the listener's ears."

More Erykah Badu Erykah Badu Profile

The Queen of Neo-Soul's latest album will probably mostly be known for its Hotline Bling cover, although thankfully it's much more than that.

From the incredible production of the opening suite and its myriad of intertextual references, it's apparent that But You Caint Use My Phone is an album dedicated to the exploration of ideas both on the page and in the listener's ears. Lyrically, Badu's revamp of Todd Rundgren's hit Hello It's Me featuring ex-partner André 3000 is the ultimate highlight of the album, while Mr Telephone Man and Cel U Lar Device drift by with a jazzy levity rarely achieved.