Erykah Badu But You Caint Use My Phone

Prompted by Drake's "Hotling Bling," Erykah Badu quickly recorded this loose, phone-themed mixtape, an official Motown release, with help from producer and fellow Dallas dweller Zach Witness. It's a trivial if fun diversion. Badu puts her spin on "Hotline Bling," quotes "Tyrone," and appends a "ghost of Screw" mix of "Telephone" to one of the low-slung new tracks. Original content is greatly outweighed by covers of songs originally recorded by New Edition, Usher, Egyptian Lover, and Todd Rundgren (via the Isley Brothers). Appearances from a Drake soundalike, Aubrey "Itsroutine" Davis, add to the mixtape's peculiarity. André 3000 joins in on the Rundgren cover, while Seven Benjamin, his and Badu's son, picks up a co-writing credit on the eighth track.

A neo-soul singer with some of the finest interpretive gifts since the swing era, and an uncompromising innovator who dug deep into experimental R&B. Collection includes: 'Baduizm' (1997); 'Baduizm Live' (1997); 'Mama's Gun' (2000); 'Worldwide Underground' EP (2003); 'New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)' (2008); 'Live' (2009); 'New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)' (2010).