Erykah Badu is making a long-awaited return to music! In a recent cover interview with Billboard, the neo-soul legend confirmed that she is hard at work on her first studio album in 15 years.
Acclaimed producer The Alchemist handling all production duties, Badu disclosed.
While details remain scarce, Badu expressed excitement about the project, stating that it has consumed much of her time.
“I can’t wait until it’s done,” she shared.
Fans got a taste of what’s to come when Badu teased the project, sparking an outpouring of enthusiasm from longtime supporters eager to see her inspire a new generation of artists.
Badu’s musical journey has been groundbreaking since she burst onto the scene with her 1997 debut album, Baduizm. That project, which helped define the neo-soul movement, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, earning critical acclaim for its innovative sound. Now, with a legacy spanning decades, the Dallas-born icon is ready to offer a fresh perspective to modern listeners.
Billboard reports that Badu remains deeply connected to the artistry and discipline of music-making: “
I want to focus, I want to be in the moment of the foreplay. Creating the music. The tragedy. The love. The experience of the whole thing,” she told the outlet.
Badu’s forthcoming album coincides with another major milestone—her acceptance of the ICON Award at Billboard’s Women in Music event on March 29.
Anticipation is high for how she will once again shape the sound of contemporary R&B and soul.
