Album preview: Erykah Badu and The Alchemist to release collab album, “Sorry, we don’t have an album title yet.”
On Friday, August 28, famed singer and performer Erykah Badu and legendary DJ and producer, The Alchemist will release their highly anticipated collaborative album, currently titled, Sorry, we don’t have an album title yet. The LP marks the first full-length release from Badu in 16 years.
Badu, got her big break in Austin, at SXSW in 1996. Performing as Erykah Free then, the Dallas-based singer made the best of the networking element of the festival, handing out her demo while putting on a legendary performance at Sixth Street’s now-defunct Catfish Station, that has become part of Austin’s live-music lore.
Los Angeles-based record producer, Daniel Maman, widely known as The Alchemist, has decades of experience producing hip hop acts, and has recently been in top form. Over the years, The Alchemist has gained a following beyond his musical career with his work on “F*ck,That’s Delicious,” with Action Bronson and several travel documentaries on YouTube. He also tours as a DJ, with a plethora of artists, including the NBA Leather tour in 2021 with Earl Sweatshirt, Boldy James, and Action Bronson. Quite possibly the busiest producer in the game over the past decade, Alchemist finds himself exploring R&B-soul while incorporating his signature gritty sound with Badu’s eclectic, funky vocalization.
Badu and Alchemist released “Next To You” last year. The number incorporated a memorable Mobb Deep instrumental from “The Realest,” for which The Achemist provided production, and a defining track from the hip hop duo’s 1999 album, Murda Muzik. “Next to You’ is not currently on the tracklist for the new LP. At that, with the exception of “Witch Doctor,” the upcoming album contains only tracks named by number.
So, there’s some mystery to the highy-anticipated collaboration project. Much is left to surprise between now and its Friday release. It is highly probable, however, that the project will deliver something memorably moving. Given the pair’s respective bodies of work, we’re in for a musical treat this weekend.
Featured photo courtesy of Erykah Badu and The Alchemist
