Erykah Badu and The Alchemist have officially restarted the countdown for one of music’s most intriguing collaborations. Their currently untitled joint album is scheduled to arrive on August 28, 2026, finally giving fans a firm date after months of uncertainty. The project will be Badu’s first studio album in nearly 16 years, following 2010’s New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh).
The announcement arrives alongside “Witch Doctor,” a new song credited to both Badu and The Alchemist. Released on August 13, the track runs for more than six minutes and offers a substantial preview of the musical world the pair have created together. Badu’s unmistakable presence meets The Alchemist’s production in a collaboration that feels designed for listeners who want to sit with the music instead of rushing through it.
The pairing has attracted attention because both artists are known for building distinctive atmospheres. Badu has spent decades bending soul, jazz, funk and hip-hop into her own language, while The Alchemist has become one of rap’s most trusted producers through his textured and carefully constructed sound. “Witch Doctor” brings those instincts together and strengthens the expectation that the album will be more than a routine singer-and-producer release.
The project had previously been promoted under the title Abi & Alan, a reference to Erica Abi Wright and Alchemist’s birth name, Alan Maman. Its rollout began in 2025 with “Next to You,” but a widely reported August 29 release did not happen, leading to confusion between the artists and their audience. The latest announcement does not confirm whether Abi & Alan remains the final title, but it does place the album back on the calendar with a new official date.
For Badu fans, the album represents a rare full-length return from an artist who has largely focused on touring and selective collaborations. She released the mixtape But You Caint Use My Phone in 2015, but her last traditional studio album arrived more than a decade and a half ago. With “Witch Doctor” available now and the full project set for August 28, Badu and The Alchemist have given listeners a compelling reason to circle the date.
