Erykah Badu's working on first album in 15 years produced by The Alchemist

In a new profile with Billboard, reflecting on winning the Women In Music Icon award, Erykah Badu reflects on the current state of the hip-hop scene, noting that what she likes about it now, is the same as it was when she was first introduced to it. "Rap is the people. Hip-hop is the people. It’s the folks. It’s the tribe," she says. "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.”

Neo-soul pioneer Erykah Badu (@fatbellybella) is a true original — and remains a touchstone for artists of all kinds.

She reflects on her career + prepping her first album in 15 years in her cover story as #BBWomenInMusic's ICON honoree: https://t.co/X6Q2zhtY8t pic.twitter.com/7Li4jXFFpV

— billboard (@billboard) March 19, 2025

Badu also reveals that she is working on the follow-up to the 2015 full-length album, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), and the mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone. The album will be solely produced by The Alchemist who has worked with the likes of Mobb Deep, Eminem, Ghostface Killah, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Schoolboy Q, and Earl Sweatshirt.