Erykah Badu and The Alchemist Release Joint Album Before the World Blows

After a yearlong delay, Erykah Badu and The Alchemist have finally unleashed their joint album, Before the World Blows: The Abi and Alan Experiment.

Released via Control Freaq Records/Young Recordings, the project was preceded by “Echos 19 (mix 122),” previously an Amazon Music exclusive, now titled “Echos,” “Next to You” (now stylized as “Next 2 U”), and “Witch Doctor.”

It includes collaborations with genre-bending artists such as Steve Lacy, Thundercat, and DRAM. Badu recently joined Lacy on “Pure Colour” from his third album, Oh yeah? Meanwhile, she teamed up with DRAM on 2016’s “WiFi” and 2021’s “‘93 Acura Vigor.”

The album also features verses from rappers Westside Gunn and Earl Sweatshirt, while multi-instrumentalist Kamasi Washington appears on the closing track, “Black Box.”

Co-produced by Badu and The Alchemist, Before The World Blows was recorded over 18 months, between Dallas and Los Angeles. Previously titled Abi & Alan, the album was originally scheduled to release Aug. 29, 2025. However, the day before its release, Badu took to Instagram to warn that it wouldn’t drop as intended. She cheekily blamed The Alchemist for its last-minute change. “Don’t worry tho … No aug 29 It’s @alanthechemist fault,” she wrote in the caption, with a smiley face emoji.

On the supposed album release date, The Alchemist went on X to respond to fans asking about the album. “Please show me where i said anything was coming out today,” he wrote.

Before The World Blows is Badu’s first album since 2010’s New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh. The latter album, which included the hit “Window Seat,” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

Badu and The Alchemist will support their new project on tour. The 13-city North American leg kicks off Sept. 10 at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois, with stops in Toronto, Washington, D.C., Denver and San Diego. They will wrap up Sept. 29 at Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Stream Erykah Badu and The Alchemist’s Before The World Blows and see their upcoming tour dates below.

Erykah Badu and The Alchemist’s 2026 Tour Dates

Sep 10 – Highland Park, IL @ Ravinia Festival
Sep 11 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
Sep 13 – Toronto, ON @ RBC Amphitheatre
Sep 15 – Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavilion
Sep 17 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
Sep 18 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
Sep 20 – Washington, D.C. @ Wolf Trap
Sep 22 – Indianapolis, IN @ Everwise Amphitheater
Sep 24 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
Sep 26 – San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Sep 27 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
Sep 28 – Highland, CA @ Yaamava Theater
Sep 29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl