Erykah Badu is gearing up to release her first new album in 15 years.
The R&B star told Billboard that she’s working with producer Alchemist on her long-awaited follow-up to 2010’s “New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh).” Alchemist is best known for his work in hip-hop with rappers like Eminem, Lil Wayne, Big Sean and Earl Sweatshirt, giving fans a big hint at what kind of sound to expect.
“[The thing I like about rap right now] is the same thing I liked about rap when I first met it,” Badu told Billboard. “Rap is the people. Hip-hop is the people. It’s the folks. It’s the tribe. I have the luxury of experiencing having children who I watch grow up and love and encourage very much, and I cannot separate them when I see artists who are that age coming up. That’s how they feel. They are continuing the tradition.”
An album release date and title have not have been announced.
Badu, whose real name is Erica Wright, is a singer and actress best known for her ‘90s blend of R&B, soul and hip-hop on “Baduizm,” earning her the name “Queen of Neo Soul.” Popular songs include “Tyrone,” “On & On,” “Bag Lady,” and “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop).” Her credits also feature films and TV shows like “Blues Brothers 2000,” “The Cider House Rules,” “Black Dynamite,” “House of D” and “The Piano Lesson.”
According to Rolling Stone, Badu has stayed busy over the years, releasing a mixtape in 2015 (featuring a cover of New Edition’s “Mr. Telephone Man” and a collaboration with Outkast’s André 3000) and touring all over the world. She’s set to perform at J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival next month in North Carolina.
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