Erykah Badu and The Alchemist Team Up for First Album in 16 Years
Neo-soul icon Erykah Badu has announced her first studio album in 16 years, a full collaboration with hip-hop producer The Alchemist titled Before the World Blows: The Abi and Alan Experiment. The two call the collaboration the "Abi and Alan Project," with The Alchemist supplying raw material for Badu to shape freely. They also appear together on the cover of Crack Magazine issue 181, which ran a cover interview with both artists.
How the "Abi and Alan Project" came together
According to Crack Magazine, The Alchemist's connection to Badu goes back nearly 30 years, to when he worked as a roadie at the Smokin' Grooves festival and spent a whole summer watching her perform from the side of the stage.
The two didn't actually meet until three years ago, introduced by Badu's longtime collaborator Cold Cris. Soon after, they were in the studio together — the starting point for what became the Abi and Alan Project.
In the interview, The Alchemist describes his approach as bringing in raw material just enough to spark ideas, saying he deliberately "left the screws loose on purpose" to hand control over to Badu. He also said Badu brought him into her world and her team quickly, describing it as joining an "extended family."
What we know about the album
- Title: Before the World Blows: The Abi and Alan Experiment
- Production: co-produced by Erykah Badu and The Alchemist
- Project name: "Abi and Alan Project"
- Cover story: Crack Magazine issue 181 (words by Kadish Morris; photography and creative direction by Michelle Helena Janssen)
Crack Magazine issue 181 is on sale now, with the cover story also published on the magazine's website.