Photo Credits: Adraint Khadafhi Bereal

‎After her 2015 mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone, Erykah Badu did not release any musical project. After a decade of waiting, it is unsurprising that when she announced her collaborative album, early last year, with one of  Hip Hop’s most influential producers, The Alchemist, fans were strapped to their seats before the tracklist, cover, or title was out. 

‎Before the World Blows: The Abi and Alan Experiment, is a 16-track project with star features ranging from Earl Sweatshirt,  Kamasi Washington, Westside Gunn, to Steve Lacy. The recording of this album bounced from Dallas to Los Angeles, and after many cryptic teasers Before The World Blows saw a digital release on August 28. 

Erykah Badu, known for her afrocentric expression and her big contribution to the neo-soul genre, is always an exciting act to watch out for. Her last mixtape project was a 30-minute RnB/Soul bop inspired by Drake's 2015 Hotline Bling. She made a Hotline Bling remix titled HOTLINE BLING BUT U CAINT USE MY PHONE MIX before expanding the idea into a mixtape. The mixtape was about how everyone is always connected due to the accessibility of the cellphone. After this mixtape, Erykah Badu would go on to sell out arenas for 10 years before her recent album. 

The Alchemist, Alan Maman, is one of the big names in hip-hop, having produced tracks for main hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Eminem, MF DOOM, Earl Sweatshirt, Ghostface Killah and many more. His signature sample-heavy beats made him popular to underground rap acts. His discography is a wide range of interesting genres; alternative hip-hop, jazz rap, and lo-fi. He produced Meet the Grahams by Kendrick Lamar during the 2024 feud with Drake. And was the runner-up for Producer of the Year by HipHopDX, an online magazine for hip-hop news.

Two influential people in hip-hop collaborating on a record was sure to create electric buzz before and after the album release. Erykah Badu's contribution was more than vocals and a self-directed visual to the track, Witch Doctor. 

In a video posted on Instagram, Erykah Badu spoke about her production abilities saying, "My ears are lethal. I have a gift." She has always talked about not wanting to be limited to being the queen of neo-soul. In the same Instagram upload, she continued to say, "I just want you guys to know I ain't just a singer. This is my production." The Alchemist had provided some beats for Badu and she programmed it into what is now Before The World Blows. 

About their collaboration, The Alchemist said in a conversation with Apple Music that it "enabled him to be like a motorcycle sidecar instead of riding in the cockpit." Erykah Badu also revealed in the conversation that she has written a poem with the title Before The World Blows. The now-released album had been given a placeholder title because the album title took a while to be figured out. 

A throwback to one of her appearances in Tamron Hall Show, Erykah Badu sat before the interviewer in a statement red hood (or hijab) and bold, eclectic jewellery. She said the difference between a recording artist and a performance artist is: a recording artist perfects a moment, while a performance artist creates a moment. Before The World Blows is a seamless integration of Erykah Badu being a recording and performance artist. 

In an NTS RADIO live show, Erykah Badu is seen singing passionately in a trashy blonde wig, a distinct look from the Witch Doctor video, and creating a soulful performance with The Alchemist. The producer duo/hip-hop trendsetters would embark on a North American tour with hip-hop group De La Soul that was formed in New York in 1988 and St. Louis rapper, Smino in 2026-2027. ‍

Cover Credits: Adraint Khadafhi Bereal

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