Worldwide Underground is the third studio album by American singer Erykah Badu, released September 16, 2003, by Motown Records.

Recording sessions for the album took place during 2003, following Badu's period of writer's block, and her performances during the Frustrated Artist Tour.

[2] Prominently influenced by old-school 1970s and 80s hip hop, soul, R&B and funk elements, the album features an unconventional musical structure; the songwriting took a path of somewhat less subliminal, metaphorical lyrics than Badu’s previous work, expressing more lighthearted (but sincere) feelings, instead.

[1][3][4][5][6][7] The album features appearances from artists Dead Prez, Common, Queen Latifah, Bahamadia, and singer Angie Stone.

[10] Despite not charting as high as her first two albums, Mama's Gun was another platinum-selling success, and "Bag Lady" was nominated for a Grammy Award.

[23] Andy Kellman from AllMusic said the record sounded "more like a weekend jam session than an endlessly labored-over, polished project.

[2] PopMatters critic Mark Anthony Neal commended Badu for her themes relating to hip hop culture and for her musical direction, writing that "it finds the artist 'Stepping into Tomorrow', with a new production collective in tow and some straight-up, free-floating, funky-ass R&B.

[1] Georgia Christgau from The Village Voice wrote that "although sometimes her reliance on mood threatens to get the better of Worldwide Underground, Badu remains faithful to the old school of flow, a blend of drums and rhythm designed to service soul's best instruments: its vocalists.

[35] In a less enthusiastic review, Uncut deemed Worldwide Underground oft-interesting but too groove-oriented music,[22] while Blender observed "rambling, digital fiddling and self-indulgent sprawl here, but a sense of purpose, too, even as her lips move on autopilot.

"[14] Jon Caramanica from Rolling Stone was more critical and said apart from "Danger" and "Love of My Life Worldwide", most of the songs sounded aimless, "variations on some atmospheric theme ... slither[ing] along unthreateningly".

In August, Badu co-headlined dates with Jill Scott and Queen Latifah at the "Sugar Water Festival".