As we approach the release of the new Badu record 'New Amerkah Partt II - Return Of The Ankh', we are lucky to get another insight into the record. Set for release March 30, the cover art has just been released (above) and it comes with an intersting story.

The cover design for the new album (New Amerkah Pt II) is a collaboration between Erykah and artist/designer EMEK, who also designed the inspired packaging for the previous record 2008’s (New Amerykah Pt I). The new album cover depicts an underwater image of Badu wearing a suit of armor that symbolizes the tough exterior she developed to protect herself from the harsh realities of life. The armor is her old shell and now she’s liberating herself from it by climbing out of her own head so that she can be reborn.

Here is a song from the album called “Strawberry Incense,” which was produced by Madlib and features Kirsten Agresta playing the harp.

Erykah Badu - Strawberry Incense