Erykah Badu to Release Her Next Album Independently on Her Own Label

Rapsody and Erykah Badu won Best Melodic Rap Performance for "3:AM" at this year's Grammys. Gretzky

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Erykah Badu is releasing her next album on her own label Control FREAQ Records.

Badu has been with Motown since 2007, so embarking on her newfound independence is a big deal. She started Control FREAQ Records in 2005, representing her desire to foster creativity and innovation in the music industry. At SXSW, she explained how Control FREAQ Records is more than a label while showing her commitment to community development and offering advice to aspiring artists.

“I want all my artists to be successful. It will happen,” she said. “They can be as famous or as underground as they want to be.” At the time, the first artist signed was Jay Electronica, focusing the label's efforts on letting artists be themselves, providing fair contracts and returning ownership of their music after a period of time.

A press release revealed that Badu's first single will be released in 2025, leading into the full album slated for summer.

Billboard previously reported that her first album in 15 years since 2010's New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) was produced solely by The Alchemist. While the press release didn't state that the producer behind albums by Armand Hammer, Boldy James, Larry June and Roc Marciano was collaborating with her, they are heading to Japan for tour dates at the end of June.

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Abi & Alan will be Badu and Alchemist's first time on-stage together.

alanthechemist / Instagram

Badu hasn't released new music since 2015's But You Caint Use My Phone. However, she remains a soul icon on both a local and international level. In 2024, DART buses and trains honored her by wrapping these modes of transportation with Badu's photo. She held her annual Birthday Bash in Deep Ellum, bringing out guests like Rapsody to perform their song "3:AM."

This year, she accepted the Icon Award at Billboard Women in Music, praising womanhood in her speech and drawing comments for her "full figure form" bodysuit.

Let's hope Badu and The Alchemist test out some songs they've been working on to a live crowd in Osaka or Tokyo. For more information on the album, here's everything you need to know.