Erykah Badu has released a special 25th-anniversary edition of her seminal sophomore album, Mama’s Gun, per consequence.net. The 2000 neo-soul classic, which solidified Badu’s status as a global icon, returns in several new high-fidelity formats.
The anniversary drop caters to collectors with several exclusive pressings like the Amazon Exclusive (An ‘Apple Red’ edition), Gold Black Ice (A limited marble-effect variant featuring alternate artwork and an exclusive lithograph) and Vinylphyle Edition (A premium hi-res remaster sourced from the original production tapes, pressed on 180g black vinyl at RTI).
Every 2xLP version includes brand-new liner notes written by Badu herself. The audio for the reissues was cut by Joe Nino-Hernes at Sterling Sound in Nashville.
Originally released in November 2000, Mama’s Gun served as the follow-up to her breakthrough debut, Baduizm. The album produced the hit “Bag Lady”, Badu’s first Top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, which earned Grammy nominations for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. Other tracks, such as the J Dilla-produced “Didn’t Cha Know,” have since become cornerstones of the genre.
The reissue arrives as fans await Abi & Alan, Badu’s first new studio album in 16 years. Produced entirely by The Alchemist, the project was previewed during a string of live dates in 2025. Initially scheduled for an August release, the album is now expected to arrive later in 2026.
•Featured image: Erykah Badu/Amy Price
