Erykah Badu & The Alchemist Release New Album Before The World Blows Feat. Steve Lacy, Earl Sweatshirt, Thundercat, & More

It's here! It exists! Way back in March 2025, Erykah Badu revealed that she was working on a collaborative album with rap production giant the Alchemist. This was obviously a big deal, since Badu hadn't released an album since 2010's New Amerykah Part Two (Return Of The Ankh) or an album-length work since the 2015 mixtape But You Caint Use My Phone. Badu and Alchemist released a single called "Next To You" last June, and then nothing. Finally, after more than a year, they returned with the single "Witch Doctor" earlier this month, and they announced that the LP finally had a release date. But since it didn't have a title, cover, or tracklist, there was still some cause for skepticism. Banish that skepticism right now. For the first time in 16 years, we have a new Erykah Badu album today.Badu and Alchemist's new album is called Before The World Blows, and it's a loose, vibe-driven affair. Collaborators abound: Steve Lacy, Earl Sweatshirt, Thundercat, Kamasi Washington, DRAM, DJ Creole Princess, Badu's fellow '90s space-soul traveler Joi, two different Westside Gunn appearances. The album had its genesis when Badu decided that she wanted to rap over the Alchemist-produced beat from M...