The Queen of Neo-Soul debuted her first new music in more than 10 years during a concert right here in her hometown.
DALLAS — Dallas icon Erykah Badu debuted her first new music in more than a decade during a free, livestreamed concert in her hometown.
The Queen of Neo-Soul debuted her new single “Next to You,” produced in collaboration with renowned hip-hop producer The Alchemist, and performed a never-before-heard song, “Echos 19 (mix 122)” during her Juneteenth show at The Bomb Factory. The concert, “Badu Presents: Echos 19,” was part of “Forever in Rotation,” Amazon Music’s Juneteenth celebration.
Both “Next To You” and “Echos 19 (mix 122)” are available to stream on Amazon Music.
The show also had throwbacks to the Grammy winner’s previous eras, including a performance of her hit “On and On” from her 1997 debut album “Baduizm,” and “Time’s A Wastin'” from her 2000 album “Mama’s Gun.”
Badu’s return with new music comes as she’s set to release her first new album in 15 years through her own label, Control FREAQ Records, later this summer. She’d previously been signed to Motown Records since 2007. She first revealed her plans for the album in an interview with Billboard in March.
Her new album is produced by The Alchemist, who’s worked with the likes of Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar. Badu and The Alchemist are set to hit the stage together this summer in a series of live shows in Japan.
Badu’s last album, her fifth studio album, “New Amerykah Part Two: Return of The Ankh,” was released in 2010. It was a sequel to 2008’s politically tinged “New Amerykah Part One: (4th World War).”