Erykah Badu Shuts Down Billboard Women in Music with BBL-Inspired Bodysuit & Announces New Album with The Alchemist
Erykah Badu once again proved she’s in a league of her own at the 2025 Billboard Women In Music Ceremony, where she accepted the Icon Award — and turned every head in the room with a bold, sculptural outfit that set social media ablaze.
On March 29, Badu took the stage in a custom-made bodysuit that exaggerated curves to surreal proportions, resembling a BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) on steroids. The look instantly sparked debate and interpretation online, with fans and cultural critics suggesting it could be commentary on beauty standards, a nod to historical Black female figures like Sarah Baartman, or a homage to the ancient Venus figurines representing fertility and the feminine form.
While Badu hasn’t confirmed the full meaning behind the design, she did share a cryptic short film featuring the bodysuit on Instagram, captioned:
“A lil Hippy. Rise of the dark divine feminine. – a short film by E. Badu
Full Figure Form imagined by e. Badu. Engineered and Built by @myahhasbany.”
The outfit, designed by Maya Hasbany, is another powerful entry in Badu’s long history of performance art and provocative fashion statements — one that blurs the lines between music, identity, and visual storytelling.
A New Album After 15 Years
But it’s not just the visuals that have fans buzzing — Erykah Badu is finally releasing a new studio album, and it’s entirely produced by The Alchemist.
In a recent interview with Billboard, Badu confirmed that her long-awaited sixth album is currently in the works, calling it her biggest creative focus right now.
“The album has been taking up most of her time; she says she can’t wait until she’s done,” Billboard reported.
Badu and The Alchemist first hinted at the collaboration in December 2024, when Alc posted studio photos with the caption: “Life altering.” Since then, speculation about the project has been high.
This will mark Badu’s first official studio album since 2010’s New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. She later dropped a mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone, in 2015, but has otherwise kept fans waiting — offering only select features over the years.
Her most recent musical appearance was on Rapsody’s Grammy-winning track “3:AM” from the 2024 album Please Don’t Cry, which won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
A Moment That’s Bigger Than Music
Whether it’s through her sound, her fashion, or her cryptic spiritual symbolism, Erykah Badu continues to challenge mainstream expectations while staying true to her art. With a new project on the way, a head-turning fashion moment behind her, and one of hip-hop’s most respected producers by her side, Badu’s latest chapter looks to be just as groundbreaking as the ones that came before.
