Erykah Badu – Mama's Gun

Just bought this sealed, and everything points to it being this 2016 pressing. However my matrix doesn’t match what’s listed here. Anyone else run into this?

We definitely need a new entry for this album. Some listings sold under this release is not the Bernie Grundman/RTI pressing. Most listings here are manufactured at GZ Media and pressed at Record Precision Pressing. The way you can tell without opening the album and inspecting the matrix is to look on the back of the shrink. If there's a stamp reading 'Printed in Canada " with a date code of some sort, it was manufactured by Record Precision Pressing. This is the only way to know unless the "Respect the Classics" hype sticker is present. I purchased one today that didn't have the hype sticker but the store was kind enough to let me inspect the matrix and was the Bernie Grundman/RTI pressing. Unfortunately, that was the only copy they had like this, the others were the Record Precision Pressing release. Sellers, if the record you have matches the matrix in this release, you should mention it in your listing.

I have to say I prefer this cut to the vinyl me please version which I also have. However my copy of this gets really noisy on Side D, despite the rest sounding great (after a wet clean). It’s not THAT noticeable but it’s there.

Overall this sounds punchier and more alive to me than the VMP release.

Maybe someone has some additional information to supplement my comment. All the Companies and Credit information noted above matches up with my pressing except two things:
1) There was no hype sticker on the front, as pictured above.
2) It was definitely not pressed at RTI. I have hundreds of RTI records and this ain't one of them. Looking at the flat vinyl in the deadwax shows a cake batter type texture and the edge profile is completely different from all other RTI pressings. Also, the use of generic paper inner sleeves is not typical for RTI as they usually have plastic sleeves. It actually looks like a URP pressing, but there is no U with a circle marking in the deadwax; however, I've heard that they don't do this on all pressings so perhaps it is.

Also, and probably most importantly, side one is very off-center. Enough to be very audible. There's a lot of pops on the first 30 seconds of the first track too. Due to the defects, that's about all I could listen to.

Maybe they started pressing at a different plant for reissues, using the same stampers?

I guess my advice would be to make sure you get a copy that you know was pressed at RTI. The hype sticker on the front may be an indication that it was or was not. Perhaps someone else can contribute additional information.

For a sealed copy some skips throughout and a bit of a warp to the vinyl along with knicks and marks along the outer edge. Sound quality is still amazing with the exception of the noticeable skips. Still an enjoyable listing experience but not what I expected.

Mastering is incredible. The pressing... not so much. I expected more from a record pressed at RTI. It also could be the paper sleeves, but mine has a decent amount of surface noise and probably some non-fill at the beginning of side C. I still need to wash it, so maybe I'll try that and update this.

That said, the sonics are awesome. Great dynamics and punchy bass and the vocals are perfect. Esses sound how they should. If it wasn't for the pressing defects, this would be perfect.

The mastering is good though my copy of this is noisey as all hell especially on Side D2 ‘Green Eyes’ awful pressing on my copy, lotsa non-fill despite all the other great reviews here

As another reviewer stated, there are an unreasonable amount of horns/scuffing on my sealed copy, but that's honestly been my experience with all of my Erykah Badu records. Audio quality is still great. Bernie Grundman did a hell of a job on this mastering and lacquer cut. This is cut on 140g vinyl, but it still sounds wonderful.

anyone compare this one to original mastering job? im sure BG did great but seems like original was a good cut as well. wondering which one i should spend on

All time classic from the golden era of Okayplayer output from Electric Lady Studios. 'Nuff said there.

Master + lacquer cut by Bernie Grundman on this reissue. My sealed copy had an unreasonable amount of horns/visible "scuffing" that don't affect audio quality at all, thankfully (brand new grades as a VG+ at best). Pressing sound quite excellent, actually--very apparent in the quieter moments on Side 3. Interesting they cut the EU reissue on 180g vinyl and not this, but it doesn't suffer for it at all.