Erykah Badu & The Alchemist - Before The World Blows (2026) [Hi-Res]

The collaboration between Erykah Badu and The Alchemist is a tantalizing prospect. On one side, the preeminent neo-soul singer of her generation; on the other, a producer who has become the benchmark for vintage boom-bap. Yet this joint album is far from a rigid division of labor between vocals and production. Built on a dynamic back-and-forth—tweaking each other’s work, dismantling initial ideas, and exploring new terrain—Before The World Blows is packed with unexpected twists and detours.

Conventional structures crumble, playfulness meets sensuality, and hypnotic grooves suddenly give way to total abandon. The sole constant is a shared devotion to the power of the drum-and-bass pairing. Serving as an unshakeable foundation reimagined across a variety of sonic textures, it acts as a guiding compass for their most wild and innovative ideas.

Then come the guest features, all encouraged to shine without compromising their signature sound: Steve Lacy, Westside Gunn, DJ Quik, Joi, and Earl Sweatshirt. Each answered the call from these two music heavyweights, determined to turn the album into a major event. © Brice Miclet/Qobuz