Erykah Badu announces first studio album in 15 years

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Erykah Badu is set to release new music this summer under her own imprint, Control FREAQ Records. The announcement marks the neo‑soul icon’s first full-length studio album in 15 years, as she embraces full artistic and business autonomy.

Badu, widely recognized for her soulful blend of R&B, jazz, hip-hop and spiritual lyricism, originally founded Control FREAQ Records in 2005. The upcoming album—her sixth studio effort—will be the first to be released completely independently, marking a departure from her past distribution partnerships with Universal and Motown.

The last studio album from Badu was New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), released in March 2010. That record was her fifth and her most recent full-length project. In November 2015, she later released a mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone, featuring experimental R&B sounds—but no full album followed.

According to a press release, the new project is in development with acclaimed hip‑hop producer The Alchemist and signals Badu’s reclamation of “her narrative, her sound and her freedom.” The lead single will debut later this spring, ahead of the full album release scheduled for Summer 2025. Badu plans to share updates, teasers and behind‑the‑scenes content via her social media channels and official website.