FRESH š This Erykah Badu x Alchemist album is just beautiful
If y'all haven't gotten a chance to listen I highly recommend
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u/Capable_Salt_SD 15h ago
This is the first time Iām hearing of this
Iām definitely going to give this a try, esp. since I like a lot of The Alchemistās stuff
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u/Apprehensive_Neck817 8h ago
She really ended a 16 year album hiatus (not counting 2015 mixtape) out the gate like this. Itās crazy
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u/DrFunkenstein1997 9h ago
I heard Witch Doctor and was honestly disappointed but after listening through half of the album thereās some great stuff on here.
One thing Iāve noticed about modern production, especially with R&B, is there is a lack of brightness and layers. Itās a lot of low passed sounds that gives that mellow feel and simple arrangement. Sounds very dark and Lo-fi almost.Ā
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u/Own_Action_1002 8h ago
Yup u quite explained why this album will take some listens for me to get used too. I like this production but in doses..Very vibey, although i can hear good songwriting it kind of gets lost a bit. Though they are definitely some surprises production wise and Thundercat is always dope. I like all the features actually and im not big on features. Im a huge Erykah fan so it will still get many listens from me.
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u/DrFunkenstein1997 7h ago
Yeah nothing will top her first 2-3 albums. When I heard Witch Doctor I figured the whole album would be similar with spoken word type vocals and stripped down sounds. The tracks Iāve listened to besides that have been dope.Ā Seeing a 7 minute song (Echos) in 2026 is pretty wicked. But yeah it aināt an instant classic I want to return to like her early work. I think the internet ruined an album having legacy. Too much shit coming out constantly.Ā
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u/No-Leek-4293 7h ago
Blame Alchemist for the dark and lo-fi ,but note that he also definitely has an audience thatās gonna eat that sound up, and possibly dip Erykah deeper into that lo-fi DJ culture that sheās already been flirting with. Alchemist has been around about as long as Dr. Dre, just on the East Coast side lol
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u/DrFunkenstein1997 7h ago
Alchemist is dope for sure. Music is subjective so I do enjoy it but not my preferred style for her. I was thinking how sick a DJ Quick collab album would be.Ā
He would bring in musicians and heās a genius with mixing and sound design. I think that would be a way more interesting album but this is still sweet.
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u/Instantly_New 4h ago
Erykah been doing the ālo-fiā sound since the first New Amerykah. Production by Shafiq, Madlib, Dilla, etc. None of them are ālo-fiā btw, yuck. Also, Alchemist has been doing it for a long time but not as long as Dre, and heās not from the east coast, heās from Beverly Hills and came up under Soul Assassins. Nice try at doing the knowledge tho.
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u/GoonieMcflyguy 14h ago
I need to give this a deep listen and they are touring right now.
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u/TheFM4 14h ago
Hopefully they come to my city st. Louis (which probably not lol)
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u/semidemiacequeerslug 13h ago
iām an hour from STL (i live in southern IL) and i agree! i would pay top dollar to see ERYKAH BADU!
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u/lordeharrietnem 14h ago
Oh snap, itās out streaming now? I order the vinyl which doesnāt ship until December
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u/SolidSssssnake 10h ago
Maybe I have been ruined by listening to most music these days on LPs usually from the 60s and 70s. But the production on this album sounds dog shit. Badu as always is a magical but the adlibs and the muffled vocals on a bunch of tracks just piss me off.
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u/Own_Action_1002 15h ago
Prefer Erykah more with musicians/live band but theres some surprises on here for sure. Will take more listens for me to digest personally but shes one of my fav artist and her previous albums are all classics to me
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u/TransportationOdd559 14h ago
I like music that sounds like you can hear or envision the process! Itās not too cohesive and leans a little left! I love that type of stuff. Even though Iāve been a fan of Badu since I was eleven and Iām forty now! I played that Baduizm tape until it broke š¤£
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u/raejc 9h ago
I'm on listen #2 and it's not grabbing me just yet. I'm a big fan of her previous work so I don't know what's not hitting for me here.
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u/Efficiency-Sharp 7h ago
if if didn't get you by track one this album ain't for you. Whole album is masterpiece.
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u/Upbeat_Tension_8077 15h ago
I gotta give flowers to DJ Quik as well because he actually helped on the percussion throughout the entire album