For weeks, fans have been buzzing about The Alchemist and Erykah Badu’s first-ever collaborative album, Abi & Alan. Whispers of an August 29 release spread like wildfire, with some outlets even claiming an official press release confirmed the date. But when the supposed drop came and went, confusion turned into disappointment—and both artists had to step in and set the record straight.
On the night of the rumored release, Badu hopped on Instagram Live to address the situation. “The Alchemist told me to tell y’all the album is not dropping at midnight,” she said, joking in the caption that fans should point their frustration at Uncle Al instead of her. The clarification crushed the hopes of many who thought they’d finally hear the duo’s long-awaited project, which would also mark Badu’s first album in nearly a decade.
The Alchemist quickly followed up with his own denial on social media. “Please show me where I said anything was coming out today,” he tweeted, after a fan posted what looked like an official graphic claiming Abi & Alan would hit streaming on August 29. The supposed press release even included a fabricated quote from Badu, adding fuel to the fire. Al quickly shut it down: “This is not from me. Show me where I ever posted this lol.”
To make things clear, he reminded fans how he usually moves. “If you follow me, you know when I got something to drop I make it very clear when it’s available and where.”
Despite the confusion, anticipation remains sky high for Abi & Alan. The project already sparked headlines earlier this year when the pair used AI-generated cover art for their single “Next To You,” a choice that stirred mixed reactions. Still, with two boundary-pushing creatives like Alchemist and Badu at the helm, expectations are through the roof.
Whenever it finally does arrive, Abi & Alan is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about releases of 2025.