Erykah Badu and The Alchemist Set August 28 Release for Joint Album

Erykah Badu and The Alchemist have finally placed a firm date on their long-discussed collaborative album. The as-yet-untitled project is scheduled for digital release on Aug. 28 through Control FREAQ Records and Young Recordings.

The announcement arrived with “Witch Doctor,” the pair’s newest single. It follows “Next to You” and the Amazon Music exclusive “Echos 19 (mix 122),” giving listeners a clearer sense of the space where Badu’s elastic vocals meet The Alchemist’s textured production.

The two artists co-produced the record across 18 months of sessions in Dallas and Los Angeles. Their partnership has also developed onstage, including joint performances and a North American tour scheduled for September.

The release carries unusual weight in Badu’s catalog. It is set to be her first studio album in 16 years and her first new music project in 11, ending a long period in which her live work and cultural influence often moved faster than her official discography.

Badu remains one of modern R&B’s most singular voices, while The Alchemist has become a defining producer in contemporary hip-hop through a steady run of collaborative records. The pairing is compelling because neither artist tends to smooth out the edges that make a project feel personal.

The album’s title and full track list have not yet been publicly detailed. What is confirmed is the date, the new single and the scope of the recording process. After years of anticipation, the project now has something fans can hold onto: a release that is only days away.

Badu’s long recording gap makes the album significant, but the pairing is more interesting than a simple comeback narrative. Her voice moves easily between melody, rhythm and spoken phrasing, while The Alchemist’s restrained, detail-heavy production often rewards close listening.

The Alchemist has built much of his recent reputation through focused collaborations that allow one rapper or singer and one producer to create a complete atmosphere. Badu, meanwhile, has rarely followed the conventional release schedule or stylistic boundaries of the music business.

A North American tour scheduled for September will give the material another form. The title and full track list remain undisclosed, so speculation should wait. What is confirmed—the date, singles and 18-month recording process—already points to a deliberate joint statement.