Fans have been waiting for a new Erykah Badu album for over a decade. It’s a shame how long this took and it’s not even a solo project. Instead she follows the trend of sharing artistic credit with the main producer; a decision I can’t make sense of. That’s not to say The Alchemist doesn’t belong. His psychedelic soul beats are a fitting soundscape for the singer’s melodic ramblings.

That melody is what sets Erykah Badu apart from most of her diva peers. She is a true talent not just when it comes to singing but making songs. This is probably her best set yet. It’s effortlessly good. When she stops singing and starts talking is when her personality starts to annoy. Her ultimate sin is inviting Westside Gunn to degrade the experience with retarded gun noises.

my rating : 4 of 5

2026