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In the afterglow of Drake’s seminal ode to cellular romance Hotline Bling, the underground queen of nu-R&B, Erykah Badu, brought us a playful and refined concept work which speaks charmingly to the smart-phone obsession of the world today. Concept albums are by no means new territory for Badu, whose discography boasts collaborations with some of the hip-hop world’s true leaders and is focussed on the realm of afro-centricity.  But You Caint Use My Phone is an effortless extension of her recording personality which demonstrates her ability to subtly adapt her vocals and production to a musical and technological landscape that has changed greatly since the beginning of her career.

All of the tracks take their names from the telephonic, with tongue-in-cheek titles ranging from Phone Down and Cel U Lar Device to Hello, which may be a cheeky nod to Adele’s recent phone-related platinum hit. However, this time André 3000 steps up and with his ice-cold voice, in a speech-like cadence fills out a smooth instrumental that melts into a repeat-refrain chorus of the word Hello in Badu’s irresistible tones.  

The underpinning instrumental is that of Hotline Bling which is sampled all over the album, most apparently in Cel U Lar Device, essentially a remix with fantastic lyrical reworking. Elsewhere Drake’s hooks appear with warming recognition, before blending into moments of soulful R&B or an acid jazz play off. Badu plays with the notion of mass distraction with Phone Down in which the bars ‘I can make you put your phone down’, reminding listeners that there is a real world around them and the purpose of these devices is as means of communication, and not as ends in themselves. The opening track manipulates a dial tone, transposing it into a strangely enticing introduction prefiguring a soul groove that nicely anticipates the dynamic of the tape as a whole. In addition, Usher’s U Don’t Have to Call is sampled and there is even a funky breaks throwback to Uncle Jamm’s Army in Dial’Afreaq.

This mixtape is not Badu’s magnum opus, but is a funny and knowing reminder that she is still a step ahead of the game in both sound and content. Not to be missed by anyone.