Erykah Badu & The Alchemist’s New Track Hits—But Fans Are Hating AI Cover Art

Erykah Badu and The Alchemist finally delivered the first taste of their forthcoming album, Abi and Alan, on Friday (June 20).

Titled “Next To You,” the whimsical track arrived courtesy of her own label, Control Freaq Records, her first independent release since splitting from Universal Motown. The song is getting oodles of love online from The D.O.C., Rapsody, DJ Spinna, De La Soul’s Posdnuos, Eligh of the Living Legends, DJ EFN and so many more.

Alchemist shared an Instagram post about the track and revealed it was dedicated to the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep. Those familiar with the Queensbridge duo’s catalog will recognize the beat comes from “The Realest,” which Alchemist produced for the 1999 track featuring Kool G Rap. He wrote, “For my brother Prodigy . Hope i’m making u proud Science!!!” The single art itself appears to be an ode to Sonic Youth’s album cover for 1990’s Goo.

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Of course the internet was right on time with its negativity, with many condemning the duo for using AI for the single and cover art as well as the accompanying animated clip.

“Seeing all these old heads in hip hop turning to AI has been sad to see,” one person wrote on Twitter (X). “Are you gonna tell me the alchemist and erykah badu could not find a single human being that wants to make them an album cover? no excuses, you grew up making art with your hands. what a waste of cover art.”

Another added, “Erykah Badu was one of the main reasons I got into making music related art, Mama’s Gun album art is hanging on my wall, seeing this AI garbage artwork makes me sick. These are two talented musicians who had the opportunity to make a classic but instead they cheaped out”

The Alchemist’s Instagram comment section wasn’t much better. “Always disappointing to see your favorites use AI,” one person said, while another added, “As a 2D traditional animator im disappointed by the dirt cheap music vid. Yet “artists” say they represent artists. Thanks a lot ‘legends.'”

It got worse from there, with comments like, “What the f### is the point of using AI. Not even gonna listen to this s###. Utter waste of talent” and “God this video is garbage surely you can pay an artist with charging $100 for records dude.”

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Despite the blowback, there were plenty of people equally as excited about the collaboration. After all, the forthcoming project marks Badu’s first official studio album since 2010’s New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). She released the mixtape But You Caint Use My Phone in 2015.

Badu and The Alchemist will hit the road on the The Abi & Alan Japan Tour featuring dates in Osaka, Tokyo and Yokohama. Badu is also scheduled to play this year’s Essence Festival in New Orleans during July 4 weekend as well.

More recently, Amazon Music and Prime Video hosted a livestream of Badu’s Juneteenth concert, “Badu Presents: Echoes 19,” live from her hometown of Dallas on Thursday (June 19). Check out “Next To You” below.