New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Erykah Badu, first released on March 30, 2010, through Universal Motown.

Contrasting its socially themed and complex predecessor, New Amerykah Part Two contains a prominently groove-based, analog sound.

The production for the album was handled by several of Badu's previous collaborators, including J Dilla, Questlove, James Poyser, Madlib, 9th Wonder, Sa-Ra, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Karriem Riggins, along with appearances from Lil Wayne, Bilal, and harpist Kirsten Agresta.

[1] Beginning in 2005,[2] Badu worked from her home in Dallas and used the software application GarageBand as a digital audio workstation,[3] which she was introduced to by her son,[1] Seven.

"[1] Badu's iChat contacts,[2] including hip hop producers Questlove,[7] Madlib, 9th Wonder, and J Dilla, instant messaged her to get back into the studio and sent her tracks.

[4] Such exchanges inspired a creative spark for Badu, which she explained in an interview for the Dallas Observer, "I started to accept that maybe it's OK for me to put out music, and it doesn't have to be something dynamic or world-changing.

[8] She told Rolling Stone that she recorded her vocals for the song "Window Seat" in her shower, stating "I wanted to sound like I was in a tunnel.

"[9] In an interview for Billboard, Badu explained that "we used a lot of analog instruments—harps, strings, drums, piano, and even a Theremin—to give the album that sonic feel.

[11] According to Badu, the album's closing track, "Out My Mind, Just in Time", is a three-movement song: "The first movement is called 'Recovering Undercover Over-lover.'

"[11] The internet-only promotional single "Jump Up in the Air (Stay There)", featuring Lil Wayne and Bilal, was released on Badu's official website in January 2010.

[18] The album's first official single, "Window Seat", was released by Badu through a downloadable link on her Twitter page.

[20] The video for "Window Seat" was directed by Coodie Rock and premiered on Erykah's official site on March 27, 2010, at 3:33 AM EDT.

In the video, Badu is seen walking the streets of Dallas near Dealey Plaza, slowly stripping to the nude, before being shot by an unseen assassin.

[38][39][40] New Amerykah Part Two achieved moderate chart success in international markets, peaking within the top-50 in several countries, including Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, and Denmark.

[43] Eric Henderson from Slant Magazine praised the record's "freeform" style and compared Badu's songwriting approach to that of Marvin Gaye, who "would usually feel out his melodies first and then come up with lyrics to fit into those lines.

[48] In The Guardian, Alexis Petridis argued that repeated listens revealed a number of gratifying eccentric musical and lyrical details.

[45] Some critics, however, found Badu's songwriting overly vague and deemed New Amerykah Part Two less adventurous than its predecessor.

[11] In The New York Times, Jon Pareles felt the music's "atmosphere easily upstages the words",[54] while Rolling Stone magazine's Jody Rosen found its "hazy texture" and songwriting sketchy.

track 7 mixed by Chris BellExecutive production: Erykah Badu, Mike ChavariaDesign concept: Erykah BaduArt direction/design: Erykah Badu, KyledidthisIllustrations: EMEK Studios (Emek & Gan)Typography inspiration: Alfredo GrayProject management and marketing: Paul Levatino (for Badu World), Xavier Jernigan (for Universal Motown)A&R: Edward Richardson (Universal Motown) Produced by Erykah Badu, 9th Wonder (original track), James Poyser ("acoustic interpolation")Lyrics written by Erykah BaduErykah Badu (vocals sung by), James Poyser (keyboards), Mike Chavaria (synthesizer)Embodies portions of "My Darling Baby" by Wood Brass & Steel Produced by Erykah Badu and James PoyserSong arrangement & Lyrics written by Erykah BaduErykah Badu (vocals, handclaps, stomps), James Poyser (Rhodes and all pianos), Mike Chavaria (synthesizer, cajón, handclaps, stomps), Alfredo Gray (handclaps, stomps), Kirsten Agresta (harp), Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner (bass), Questlove (drums) Produced by Erykah Badu and Shafiq Husayn of Sa-Ra Creative PartnersErykah Badu (all vocals), Mike Chavaria (additional programming)Contains a sample of "Just as I Thought" by David Sancious Produced by Erykah BaduAdditional Lyrics written by Erykah BaduErykah Badu (handclaps), Karriem Riggins (drums, handclaps), Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner (bass, handclaps), James Poyser (keyboards, handclaps), Tommy Trajlio (guitar, handclaps), Questlove (handclaps), Mike Chavaria (synthesizer, additional programming)Contains an interpolation of "You Can't Turn Me Away" by Sylvia Striplin Produced by Ta'Raach and Erykah BaduLyrics Written by Erykah Badu & Shafiq HusaynJeff Lee Johnson (guitar), Ta'Raach and Mike Chavaria (programming)Contains a sample of "Arrow Through Me" by Paul McCartney and Wings Produced by Madlib and Erykah BaduErykah Badu (lead & additional backing vocals,[62] cabasa, additional percussion), Madlib (programming), James Poyser (keyboards, additional programming), Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner (bass)Contains a sample of "Take Some Time" by Ndugu & The Chocolate Jam Co.