The neo-soul queen has officially returned with Erykah Badu! After a 10-plus-year wait for a new album, the Grammy-winning artist has made it clear that she is back in the studio, and this time, she's enlisting The Alchemist as her production partner for the yet-untitled album.
Surprise Badu, who last dropped a full-length project with 2010's New Amerykah Part Two: 'Return of the Ankh,' announced the news during a new Billboard interview. Although she did not reveal the album's title or release date, the news of new music alone has sent much of the music world into a frenzy.
For anyone wondering why Badu was absent from the recording road for so long, the simple answer is that she never left music. She just went about it differently.
"I have toured eight months of the year for the last 25 years," she explained. That's what I do. I am a performance artist."
Where so many artists talk about their studio time, Badu comes alive in a concert setting; she spoke about why it's the stage, not the studio, that's been her home for so long:
"It's that immediate connection between you and the audience and that immediate feeling," Badu said. "Where you suddenly become one living, breathing organism with people. That's what I live for. It's my therapy. And theirs, too. We're in it together. And I like the idea of it only happening once."
To Badu, music is about connection, and though she is by no means a fixture of the album charts, she's never been absent from the hearts of her fans.
Not only does her triumphant return to the studio signify a new chapter in her artistry, but what better way to reintroduce herself than with a collaboration with The Alchemist? With his hypnotic beats and ability to seamlessly blend genres, The Alchemist's production style will undoubtedly make for a beautiful pairing alongside Badu's signature soulful sound.
Fans got a taste of what was to come when there was speculation after Badu and The Alchemist previewed music. With the project now officially announced, the excitement is through the roof.
Badu also took a moment to share her thoughts on hip-hop today. She believes the genre's essence remains the same as when she fell in love with it.
"What I like about rap right now is the same thing I liked about rap when I first met it," she said. "Rap is the people. Hip-hop is the people. It's the folks. It's the tribe."
With years of experience and raising her children in the culture behind her, Badu sees today's new artists as an extension of a continuous, ever-evolving tradition.
While information is still lacking, Erykah Badu's studio return is a time to rejoice. Her impact cannot be overstated, blessing audiences' lives or churning out new experiences in the studio. She seems excited to begin this new chapter, and with The Alchemist behind her, it's shaping up to be one of her most impassioned yet.
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