Erykah Badu and The Alchemist brought the audience into their intimate creative space at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre on Sept. 26. Badu took fans on a journey through time, unraveling music from her entire discography throughout the night.
Nearly 16 years after her last album, five-time Grammy winner and neo-soul pioneer Badu returned in 2026 with “Before The World Blows.” The album, in collaboration and performance with The Alchemist, blends jazz, hip-hop, soul and African rhythms.
The concert opened with The Alchemist and Badu rising from bed and beginning the show with a phone call, addressing each other by their nicknames, Alan and Abi. The living room stage setup was similar to the studio where Badu and The Alchemist recorded the 2026 album.
Erykah Badu takes a phone call onstage at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, San Diego, Calif. (Niko Padilla)
They dove into “Echos,” the album’s opening track, hypnotizing the crowd and dissolving them into the world of the album. The drums, bongos and percussion of “Witch Doctor” sent waves of rhythm throughout the crowd, making it irresistible to dance alongside the dancers and Badu onstage. The psychedelic and funky R&B, hip-hop and neo-soul music echoed beyond the amphitheater, with fans listening from the south entrance area of Love Library.
Badu shared the creative process behind “Before The World Blows” with the audience. Badu said that while she and The Alchemist were working on the album, she was doomscrolling and seeing stories about climate change, politics and global tensions. She thought the world might really blow up soon, so she better finish the album.
Badu also spoke about staying grounded within herself and the importance of acting not just for social validation, but for the Earth, trees, rocks and water. Badu encouraged the audience to love and believe in themselves.
“She looked straight into my eyes when she said, ‘Pat yourself on the back,’” said concert photographer Ava-Marie Esser. “I originally thought she was looking at someone else, but then she said it again and patted her chest, and I knew she was speaking to me.”
Alan, or Al as Badu calls him, is The Alchemist’s first name, while Abi refers to Badu’s middle name. The combination of Abi’s jazzy, neo-soul approach to music and Al’s hip-hop production and percussion brought a new energy to their collaborative work, opening a beautiful connection between the two and creating a new sound within their discographies.
Badu’s influence stretches far beyond her music. Her fashion is grounded in African influences, from head wraps and natural hairstyles to flowy dresses, jewelry of all shapes and sizes, eccentric glasses and warm earth tones that reflect the same spirituality she expresses through her music.
The Alchemist is a respected producer within the hip-hop scene and has produced for rappers including Earl Sweatshirt, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. Badu first wanted to work with Al after listening to “The Realest” from Mobb Deep and Kool G Rap, wishing she could sing over the track. The collaborative album features artists like Earl Sweatshirt, Steve Lacy and Westside Gunn, elevating the sound with their own unique styles.
Erykah Badu performs under a crescent moon at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, San Diego, Calif. (Niko Padilla)
Love for Badu’s music transcends generations as fans sang and swayed in harmony, with drum beats controlling the rhythm of the amphitheater. She sang fan favorite “Tyrone” and performed the unreleased song, “Foreclosure,” tracks not originally on the setlist. Badu guided the crowd throughout the night, bringing back memories for those who were around in 1997 with her performance of “On & On.”
“To all the people on the left put those hands in the air, all my people on the right we can go all night, all the people on the top come on we don’t stop, all my people in the middle, wiggle just a little,” sang Badu, bringing an energy that can only be experienced when seeing her live.