The Deconstruction of Erykah Badu's New Album Cover

As a spiritual eccentric, Erykah Badu is well known for inducing curiosity with her records and stage shows, but her visual art is just as provocative as her performance. For the artwork of her 6^th album, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), Badu enlisted five-year collaborator and award-winning visionary, EMEK, to produce a cover blushing with ethereal details and renaissance symbols. While the Badu fans buzzed last week about the debut of her album cover, VIBE caught up with the man behind the ink for an exclusive translation of Badu’s most stirring artwork yet. —Tracy Garraud 

CLICK 'NEXT' TO UNCOVER THE 12 SYMBOLS BEHIND NEW AMERYKAH PART TWO (RETURN OF THE ANKH)