‘But You Caint Use My Phone’ Drops. Erykah Fans Rejoice

By Akiba Solomon Nov 27, 2015

Ahead of a December 4 Internet-wide release, Erykah Badu did an all-Apple-everything drop of her eagerly anticipated mixtape "But You Caint Use My Phone" today. 

The mixtape, now streaming on Apple Music and iTunes, has 11 tracks of telephone-related Baduism including the Dallas singer/songwriter’s giggle-inducing cover of Drake’s "Hotline Bling" (called "Cell U Lar Device"). The "tape" opens with an even-funnier interpolation of Badu’s 1997 smash "Tyrone" and features Baduized versions of New Edition’s "Mr. Telephone Man" and Usher’s "U Don’t Have to Call." "But You Caint Use My Phone" also contains a verse by Badu’s illusive ex Andre 3000 ("Hello") and a controversial preponderance of verses by a Drake impersonator.* 

Badu has been making the radio, TV and stage rounds lately, doing a rare (and at times awkward) interview with The Breakfast Club, performing on "The Tonight Show" with the Roots, and doing a reportedly random one-woman show, "Live Nudity," at Dallas’ Black Academy of Arts and Letters. 

You can listen to "But You Caint Use My Phone" in its entirety via pigeonsandplanes.com.  The Soul Train Awards will air on Sunday, November 29, at 8 p.m. EST on BET and sister station Centric.  Complete cover below.

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*Post has been updated to reflect that Drake did not appear on "But You Cain’t Use My Phone." A Drake impersonator, Aubrey Davis, appeared on the mixtape.