Erykah Badu and the Alchemist Finally Releasing Joint Album This Month — SkimNews
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- Erykah Badu and The Alchemist confirmed an August 28 release date for their debut joint album, ending a wait that stretches back to spring 2025 when the project was first teased
- The announcement notably omits the album title — Alchemist had previously revealed "Abi & Alan" in 2025, while a Bandcamp listing simply reads "Sorry, we don't have an album title yet..."
- Lead single "Witch Doctor" dropped with the announcement, accompanied by a 10-minute music video set 16 years after Badu's 2010 "Window Seat" clip at the JFK assassination site
- The "Witch Doctor" video shows Badu walking nighttime streets facing escalating violence; unlike "Window Seat" where she stripped herself, she is ultimately robbed of her clothes
- The album was co-produced by Badu and Alan Maman over 18 months across Dallas and Los Angeles, with launch single "Next to You" expected on the tracklist
- The project is being released through Control Freaq/Young, and the duo will launch a joint North American tour in September
Why it matters: The August 28 date gives fans a concrete window after more than a year of teases, but the missing title is a notable creative posture from two artists who clearly control the rollout — Badu trades her 2010 voluntary stripping for being forcibly stripped, reframing a decade-old statement about vulnerability and public violence.
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