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Erykah Badu Announces September LIVE Tour With The Alchemist, De La Soul and Smino
Erykah Badu is turning up the heat for a North‑American run that will stretch through September 2026, bringing her neo‑soul mastery into a collaborative arena with producer The Alchemist, hip‑hop pioneers De La Soul and guest rapper Smino. The tour, titled LIVE, opens on August 9 in Richmond, VA, and winds down on September 29 in Los Angeles, CA.
The itinerary features 14 shows across the United States and Canada. After the Richmond kickoff, Badu will head to Highland Park, IL; Detroit, MI; Toronto, ON; Cleveland, OH; Uncasville, CT; Queens, NY; Vienna, VA; Indianapolis, IN; Denver, CO; San Diego, CA; Berkeley, CA; Highland, CA; and finally Los Angeles, CA. Each venue will host a set that fuses Badu’s classic catalog with fresh hip‑hop production, promising an evolving sonic experience for each city.
The Alchemist—known for his sample‑rich work with Mobb Deep, Nas and others—joins Badu after their 2025 collaboration on the single “Next to You.” His presence is expected to inject a new sonic perspective into the live arrangements, while De La Soul’s 1988‑formed trio from Amityville, New York, will appear on several dates to showcase their eclectic sampling style and lyrical playfulness. Badu’s announcement frames the partnership as a celebration of “creativity, collaboration, and the enduring spirit of live artistry.”
Smino, the Chicago‑based rapper and singer whose 2024 album Maybe in Nirvana blends melodic hooks with socially conscious lyrics, will support Badu on select nights in San Diego, Berkeley and Los Angeles. Although the program lists no additional guests, it notes that “special guests” will appear at some shows, hinting at further surprises.
Ticketing begins with a presale on Thursday, June 25 at 10:00 AM local time, followed by general sales the next day at the same hour. Fans can secure seats through BaduWorldMarket.com, where the presale code system—used for previous Badu events—will grant early access. The public sale launches at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 26. Attendees are encouraged to consult the official website for venue details, seating charts and pricing tiers.
Badu, the “Queen of Neo‑Soul,” has earned five Grammy Awards and built a career that extends into fashion, film, wellness and community work. After opening for D’Angelo in the mid‑1990s, she signed with Kedar Entertainment and released the multi‑platinum debut Baduizm (1997) followed by the live album Live (1998). The upcoming LIVE tour is described as a “fresh chapter” that will blend classic tracks with new arrangements, offering both nostalgia and innovation.
The Alchemist’s evolution from rapper to producer in the late 1990s—highlighted by his work on Mobb Deep’s 1999 single “The Realest”—has seen him collaborate with a wide range of artists and release several instrumental projects. De La Soul, pioneers of jazz‑rap and alternative hip‑hop, debuted with the landmark 3 Feet High and Rising in 1989. Smino’s journey from 2012 mixtapes to studio albums such as blkswn (2017) and Luv 4 Rent (2022) has earned him a spot with Downtown Records and Interscope.
By uniting artists from different eras and styles, the LIVE tour positions itself as a celebration of cross‑generational collaboration. The convergence of neo‑soul, hip‑hop and contemporary rap offers a snapshot of North‑American music culture that could influence future collaborative tours and underscore the continued relevance of live performance in a streaming‑dominated landscape.
Ticket sales are set to open on June 26, with presales already underway. The final show on September 29 in Los Angeles will close a series of performances that map the breadth of the continent’s musical tapestry. Industry observers and fans alike will be watching closely to gauge the tour’s reception and its potential ripple effects across the live‑music sector.
The itinerary features 14 shows across the United States and Canada. After the Richmond kickoff, Badu will head to Highland Park, IL; Detroit, MI; Toronto, ON; Cleveland, OH; Uncasville, CT; Queens, NY; Vienna, VA; Indianapolis, IN; Denver, CO; San Diego, CA; Berkeley, CA; Highland, CA; and finally Los Angeles, CA. Each venue will host a set that fuses Badu’s classic catalog with fresh hip‑hop production, promising an evolving sonic experience for each city.
The Alchemist—known for his sample‑rich work with Mobb Deep, Nas and others—joins Badu after their 2025 collaboration on the single “Next to You.” His presence is expected to inject a new sonic perspective into the live arrangements, while De La Soul’s 1988‑formed trio from Amityville, New York, will appear on several dates to showcase their eclectic sampling style and lyrical playfulness. Badu’s announcement frames the partnership as a celebration of “creativity, collaboration, and the enduring spirit of live artistry.”
Smino, the Chicago‑based rapper and singer whose 2024 album Maybe in Nirvana blends melodic hooks with socially conscious lyrics, will support Badu on select nights in San Diego, Berkeley and Los Angeles. Although the program lists no additional guests, it notes that “special guests” will appear at some shows, hinting at further surprises.
Ticketing begins with a presale on Thursday, June 25 at 10:00 AM local time, followed by general sales the next day at the same hour. Fans can secure seats through BaduWorldMarket.com, where the presale code system—used for previous Badu events—will grant early access. The public sale launches at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 26. Attendees are encouraged to consult the official website for venue details, seating charts and pricing tiers.
Badu, the “Queen of Neo‑Soul,” has earned five Grammy Awards and built a career that extends into fashion, film, wellness and community work. After opening for D’Angelo in the mid‑1990s, she signed with Kedar Entertainment and released the multi‑platinum debut Baduizm (1997) followed by the live album Live (1998). The upcoming LIVE tour is described as a “fresh chapter” that will blend classic tracks with new arrangements, offering both nostalgia and innovation.
The Alchemist’s evolution from rapper to producer in the late 1990s—highlighted by his work on Mobb Deep’s 1999 single “The Realest”—has seen him collaborate with a wide range of artists and release several instrumental projects. De La Soul, pioneers of jazz‑rap and alternative hip‑hop, debuted with the landmark 3 Feet High and Rising in 1989. Smino’s journey from 2012 mixtapes to studio albums such as blkswn (2017) and Luv 4 Rent (2022) has earned him a spot with Downtown Records and Interscope.
By uniting artists from different eras and styles, the LIVE tour positions itself as a celebration of cross‑generational collaboration. The convergence of neo‑soul, hip‑hop and contemporary rap offers a snapshot of North‑American music culture that could influence future collaborative tours and underscore the continued relevance of live performance in a streaming‑dominated landscape.
Ticket sales are set to open on June 26, with presales already underway. The final show on September 29 in Los Angeles will close a series of performances that map the breadth of the continent’s musical tapestry. Industry observers and fans alike will be watching closely to gauge the tour’s reception and its potential ripple effects across the live‑music sector.
