Erykah Badu has revealed that fans will have to wait a little longer for her highly anticipated collaboration with The Alchemist. Just hours before the scheduled release of their joint project Abi & Alan, Badu took to Instagram Live to announce the delay, putting the responsibility on the celebrated producer.
“The Alchemist told me to tell y’all the album is not dropping at midnight,” Badu explained, leaving her audience both surprised and disappointed. While she did not provide a new release date, the sudden postponement has only heightened anticipation for what many expect to be one of the year’s most unique collaborations.
See her commentary on IG HERE
The project marks an unexpected yet intriguing pairing. Badu, a neo-soul pioneer with a reputation for pushing boundaries, and The Alchemist, one of hip-hop’s most respected producers, first teased the collaboration in December 2024 when Alc posted photos of their studio sessions with the caption “Life altering.” The announcement officially came in March, sparking excitement across both fan bases.
For Badu, Abi & Alan would mark her first full-length project in more than a decade. Her last studio album, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), arrived in 2010, debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Since then, she has released a compilation album (Icon) and her only mixtape (But You Caint Use My Phone) in 2015.
Given The Alchemist’s recent run of acclaimed projects with artists like Freddie Gibbs, Boldy James, and Earl Sweatshirt, fans have high expectations for this collaborative effort. While the delay has shifted the timeline, the buzz surrounding Abi & Alan suggests the wait may be well worth it.