Badu, Alchemist's Untitled Project
Erykah Badu and The Alchemist Set 2026 Release for Untitled Joint Album, Drop New Single
Key Points
Originally announced for August 29, 2025, the project was at one point publicly dubbed Abi & Alan; the release did not occur on that date and has since been rescheduled to August 28, 2026 with no final title yet. During this period, Badu also posted a vintage-style photo with Lauryn Hill, adding nostalgia to the rollout.
Bandcamp listings echo the public placeholder by showing 'Sorry, we don’t have an album title yet…', underscoring that an official title has not been announced publicly.
Origin story: Badu told her longtime creative partner Cold Cris that she had always wanted to rap over Mobb Deep's 'The Realest,' which sparked The Alchemist’s involvement in the project.
The LP has been co-produced over roughly 18 months in Dallas and Los Angeles, indicating an extended, cross-city recording process.
Live testing: The duo reportedly tested the material in intimate, phone-free sessions with Badu's Cannabinoids collective and The Alchemist using the MPC during development.
Erykah Badu and The Alchemist have set August 28, 2026, as the release date for their long-awaited collaborative album, according to Consequence and Yahoo Music. The 16-track project will drop digitally through Control FREAQ Records and Young Recordings — and it still has no official title.
A new single, "Witch Doctor," arrived alongside the announcement, giving fans their latest taste of the duo's sound. The album was recorded over roughly 18 months across Dallas and Los Angeles, blending soul, blues, funk, rock, jazz, and underground hip-hop.
A Year-Long Delay Finally Has a New Date
The album was originally set to drop on August 29, 2025 — but that date came and went. Dallas Observer reported the project has been delayed for roughly a year and a half. Now, with August 28, 2026, locked in, the duo is moving forward even without a finished title.
Bandcamp listings reflect the confusion. The placeholder reads, "Sorry, we don't have an album title yet," per Flood Magazine. The title may end up being exactly that — a playful nod to the long wait. The album was previously rumored to be called Abi & Alan.
How a Mobb Deep Record Started the Whole Thing
The collaboration has a very specific origin story. Badu told her longtime creative partner Cold Cris that she had always wanted to rap over Mobb Deep's "The Realest." That desire pulled The Alchemist into the picture. Their first session produced the track "Next To You," which has already been released.
The sessions then expanded across two cities over 18 months. Badu co-produced the project alongside The Alchemist, who is known for working with artists like Freddie Gibbs on Alfredo. The scope grew well beyond one song, eventually landing at a 16-track LP, per Yahoo Music.
Phone-Free Tests and Three Songs Already Released
Before any public rollout, the duo tried the music out in private. The Alchemist used his MPC — a beat-making drum machine — during intimate listening sessions with Badu's Cannabinoids collective. Phones were not allowed in the room, keeping the material under wraps while the pair refined it.
Three tracks are already out ahead of the August 28 release. "Next To You" came first, followed by "Echos 19 (mix 122)," an exclusive released through Amazon Music. "Witch Doctor" dropped this week alongside the official album announcement, according to Consequence.
Badu's First Studio Album in 16 Years
The stakes are high for Badu. Hot Press noted this project marks her first studio album in 16 years and her first new project in 11 years. Her last full studio release was New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh, which came out in 2010.
A North American tour is expected to follow the album's release. The Alchemist, meanwhile, has stayed busy — he released Alfredo 2 with Freddie Gibbs during the wait. Both artists arrive at this project at the peak of their creative reputations, making the August 28 date one of the most anticipated drops of 2026.
Sentiment
Mostly PositivePublishers
13
Articles
18
Reach
31
