Erykah Badu & The Alchemist - Before the World Blows Erykah Badu & The Alchemist
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In the eleven years since her last project, Erykah Badu has gathered not conclusions but a series of existential insights. Before the World Blows: The Abi and Alan Experiment exists within the tension between introspection and growth. Abi is Badu. Alan is The Alchemist. Recorded over 18 months in Dallas and Los Angeles, the album is the inevitable collision of two iconoclasts—hypnotic, funny, blunt, deeply personal, and impossible to categorize neatly.
Meditative and fluid, Before the World Blows finds Badu contemplating which parts of ourselves and our stories are worth protecting before the world breaks and fragments. Love, innocence, dreams, memories, womanhood. The album unfolds in four movements, charting the progression of self through the prisms of love, art, and identity, inviting us to sit with difficult feelings. Passion blurs with desire, hope with grief, each song revealing another illuminating facet of the inner Baduverse.
The Abi and Alan Experiment began more than three years ago after Badu told her longtime creative partner Cold Cris that she had always wanted to rap over Mobb Deep’s “The Realest,” a gritty, pounding Alchemist production. “I also program as well, but not like Al,” she says. “His collection of music is impeccable. His taste is brilliant. His choices are kindred to what I love. He’s very soulful.” Their conversations grew into a full-fledged collaborative project. The duo’s first studio session together in Los Angeles yielded the crackling ballad “Next to You,” which uses the same sped-up ’70s soul sample as “The Realest,” establishing the album’s creative language: Alchemist’s sample-based architecture meeting Badu’s gift for rhythmic, jazz-informed experimentation. Rather than typecasting Badu, his dream collaborator, with beats that matched her existing catalog the music was guided by Badu’s instincts & skill, and the Alchemist let the music evolve on its own terms.
Alchemist sent Badu a collection of instrumental beats, which she deconstructed and sculpted into tracks that felt uniquely hers, looping his warm, punchy samples with instruments from soft kalimba notes to immersive chords and drums. The result moves fluidly between soul, blues, funk, rock, jazz, and underground hip-hop, yet belongs entirely to none of them. From 2024 to 2025, Abi and Alan road-tested the entire album live, performing in intimate, phone-free settings with Badu’s digital collective, The Cannabinoids, and Alchemist on the MPC, fine-tuning the tracks along the way.
Badu has always seen art as an inevitable, infinite extension of the self. At any point in space and time, that means evolution is inevitable, too. Before the world blows, it’s worth it to keep exploring. To have one more kiss. One more hit of that blunt. Before the world blows, it’s worth it to get to know thyself.
Product information
Shipping
PLEASE NOTE FOR PRE-ORDER ITEMS:
SHIPPING WILL OCCUR ON OR JUST BEFORE RELEASE DATE.
Record Corner uses Royal Mail to send all deliveries. All prices are per Royal Mail set pricing structure.
NOTE: 1 LP weighs approx. 0.23 Kg and 1 Single weighs approx. 0.60kg. 5 LPs therefore, can be sent for under 2KG.
United Kingdom
- Singles/7”: £4.52, Tracked 48
- LPs and 10”: £5.50 – Tracked 48 Signed
- LPS and 10”: £12.00 for up to 2kg and over £150 – Royal Mail Special Delivery
- For Packages above 2kg (6 plus records) – £10.95 up to 5kg and 15.95 from 5k to 10k
Delivery is by Parcel Force
Returns and Cancellation Policy
At Record Corner, we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction with every purchase you make. We understand that circumstances may change, and you might need to cancel an order or return a product. Our Returns and Cancellation Policy is designed to provide you with clear guidelines and information on your rights and responsibilities when it comes to cancelling orders and returning goods under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation & Additional Charges) Regulations. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the key points outlined below.
Right to Cancel
Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, you have the right to cancel your order for goods. This right begins the moment you place your order and lasts for 14 days from the day you receive the goods.
Cancellation Deadline
To meet the cancellation deadline, kindly notify us of your decision to cancel your order before the 14-day cancellation period expires. You can contact us via email or phone to initiate the cancellation process.
Returning Goods
If you decide to cancel your order, you are responsible for taking reasonable care of the goods while they are in your possession. To complete the return process, send the goods back to our contact address at your own expense - these should be in the condition you recieved them. Exceptions apply if we delivered the item in error, or if the item is damaged or defective.
Cost of Recovery
In case the returned goods are not received within the specified conditions, we reserve the right to charge you for the direct costs incurred in recovering the goods.
Refunds
Once you have notified us of your decision to cancel the order, any payments made will be promptly refunded to you. You can expect the refund to be processed within 14 days of your cancellation.
Items Not Eligible for Cancellation or Return
Certain goods and services are exempt from the right to cancel, including prescription medicines, personalized goods, rapidly perishable items, and more. Please refer to our policy for a comprehensive list of non-cancelable and non-returnable items.
Forfeiture of Cancellation Right
Your right to cancel may be forfeited if you unseal goods that are not suitable for return due to hygiene or health reasons, unseal sealed audio/video recordings or software, or combine goods with other items to make them inseparable.
At Record Corner, we value your satisfaction and aim to make your shopping experience as smooth as possible. Our Returns and Cancellation Policy ensures transparency and fairness in all interactions. If you have any questions or concerns about cancelling an order or returning goods, our dedicated customer service team is here to assist you.
Please note that specific regulations and details may vary based on your location and the applicable laws. For a detailed understanding of our policy and your rights, we recommend reviewing our complete Returns and Cancellation Policy or contacting our customer service representatives.
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Pre-Order FAQs
What is a pre-order?
A pre-order lets you purchase an item before it's officially released. Payment is taken at the time of ordering.
When will my pre-order arrive?
If you order a new release to collect instore, we will notify you as soon as it’s ready to collect - this will usually be on a just after release day
If you have requested deliverey will will aim to dispatch it to you to arrive as close to release date as possible. You'll be notified by email when your order has dispatched.
n.b. Dates may change due to supplier or pressing delays.
Will I be charged immediately?
Yes, payment is taken at the time of placing the pre-order, not at dispatch.
What if my pre-order is delayed?
Vinyl production and shipping can be subject to delays outside our control. We'll keep you updated via email and you can contact us with any questions.
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