Erykah Badu and The Alchemist’s new album Before the World Blows: The Abi and Alan Experiment – which was released digitally on Aug. 28 via Control Freaq Records / Young Recordings– is a rich tapestry of sonic delights that references the past, present and future. It is surprising at every turn yet still showcases the many talents that fans have come to love from both artists.
On Sept. 10, Badu – with special guest The Alchemist and an opening set from De La Soul – kicked-off the tour in support of this spectacular new album with an unforgettable performance at Ravinia in Highland Park. The setlist heavily featured the new material, of which the crowd clearly was already in love, with a small set of old-school fan favorites smack dab in the middle.
Badu’s set began with the goddess herself resting easy on a luxe mattress before she and The Alchemist, who was seated on a couch across the stage, chatted on landline telephones. The Alchemist soon rose to ascend to the upper level of a scaffolding structure where he would oversee the magic for the rest of the set along with a crew of creatives working a variety of drum machines, mixers, sound modules, and more as a live band played below.
The entire vibe felt very “chilling in your bedroom.” Sometimes Badu occupied the space by herself, lamented the state of love and life, while other times a BFF dance-party took over like when all the DJs and producers joined Badu during “Next to You.” “Witch Doctor” emerged as a new fan favorite in the live setting as did “Breezy” which, thanks to The Alchemist’s musical wizardry, turned into a perfect mash-up with Elton John’s “Bennie & The Jets” complete with a snippet of Outkast’s “So Fresh, So Clean.” Badu’s vocals stunned more and more with each turn of the phrase on the standout single, as they did all night long.
The greatest hits portion, if you will, began with The Alchemist in the spotlight while Badu seemed to enjoy his show as much as fans. “On & On” and “Didn’t Cha Know” had everyone singing along. The Alchemist added intoxicating licks to these iconic songs but it was “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)” that featured one of the most dazzling instrumental moments and the best jam of the night.
The headlining set concluded just like the new album does, with the treatise against cellphones that is “Black Box.”
Earlier in the night, De La Soul opened the show with a set that was part party, part hip-hop history lesson. Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer and Vincent “Maseo” Mason spent much of the time honoring their late-bandmate David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, who passed away in 2023, while sharing new music from their 2025 album Cabin in the Sky, as well as their biggest hits. “Oooh” and “Me Myself and I” were among the highlights of their set.
With Before the World Blows, Badu and The Alchemist have created the type of one-of-a-kind work of art that can only come from two geniuses collaborating on something that is impossible to define. It is at once timeless and throwback, serious and full of humor, personal and fantastical. And when it was brought to the stage during last night’s tour opener, the result was one of the best concert-going experiences of the year.
Check out photos of Erykah Badu, The Alchemist, and De La Soul performing at Ravinia below and click here to pick-up tickets to future tour dates. More info on upcoming shows at Ravinia can be found at Ravinia.org.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
