If there’s one artist known for working on her own timetable, it’s definitely Erykah Badu. It’s been 15 years since the Dallas-born singer has put out a proper album, and fans have been chomping at the bit for something new from her ever since. She let it slip that she’s working on a new joint album with The Alchemist earlier this year. Now, with the news of her going indie with her own label still fresh in the ether, Badu is finally giving us a listen to the project, which will be titled Abi & Alan, with lead single “Next To You.”
“Next To You” is a throwback of sorts for both Badu and The Alchemist. For Badu, it’s reminiscent of sounds she explored on her previous album New Amerykah Part Two (Return Of The Ankh) — particularly cuts like “Fall In Love (Your Funeral)” — which hewed closely to hip-hop while mixing some of her eclectic soul into the brew. For The Alchemist, it’s more literal as the song samples Mobb Deep’s “The Realest,” which he produced for the duo more than 25 years ago. It’s fitting, then, that this song leads us into what seems to be quite the fruitful collaboration.
Erykah takes a cue from the song’s production and leads with her vices on the introductory chorus. “I wanna smoke blunts with you / I wanna get drunk with you (I do) / I wanna be next to you (I do),” she sings. She then launches into a sing-song pattern for the verse, where she confirms that she can’t wait for him to meet her after school so that they can break some rules and bond over classic hip-hop. From there, the song is content on vibing out with Erykah as she ad-libs and vamps as the beat gets trippy before reeling itself back in for the song’s abrupt end.
“Next To You” isn’t the only newness Badu’s giving. The singer live-streamed her Badu Presents: Echos 19 concert live from Dallas last night on Juneteenth and premiered another new song “Echos 19 (mix 122).” The spacy, extended cut touched on bringing us all together under our shared reality and love while also name-checking Odd Future.
Though “Echos 19 (mix 122)” is an Amazon Music exclusive, you can peep a snippet of the concert livestream after you get into Erykah Badu and The Alchemist’s new groove when you stream “Next To You” and watch its visualizer below.
