Alicia Keys Talks New Album, Recording with Madonna, and the Future of New York Hip-Hop

Alicia Keys is already one of the most accomplished R&B stars of this generation, but she's working on a new project that she calls "The best album I've ever done, period."

Two years after Girl on Fire, Keys is ready to light the world aflame again.

"I went into the studio this time with a lot more purpose and intention," she told Vibe. "I've come to the place where I recognize things about myself and the world that I didn't quite recognize before. I just want to really talk truthfully and honestly about all of those things. One of the things that spawned me for this album is the amount of stereotyping that we're faced with every day. It's like we're all forced the check a box: Are you a black woman? Are you a single, black woman? Are you a black rapper man? Are you a gay man? Are you a divorced father? And each one comes with it's own set of stereotypes, and I think it's crazy-limiting and really inaccurate to the complexity that makes us who we are. So just breaking down a lot of those stereotypes and getting to the heart of it."

Then, the proclamation:

"These songs — I promise you with all my heart — it's the best album I've ever done, period," she said. "That doesn't mean that it's the best album I'll ever do, I believe there's even greater to come, but this one, definitely. I'm crazy-excited for people to hear it."

Keys also spoke about helping Madonna with her new record on the piano ("If you hate it, you can take it off," Keys told Lady M) and discussed the future of New York hip-hop.

"You don't experience life like you do in New York anywhere else, because you can walk and take the train everywhere here," she said. "It just creates a certain visual that I think is always going to be alive. I hope more things come out of New York. Continued innovation. That's actually what [A$AP] Ferg said when I asked him, 'Why are you here?' He said, 'I'm here for innovation.' I thought that was a dope answer. I hope more innovation comes out of New York and really breaks the mold, sets new trends and evolves the conversation."

Tags

Alicia Keys, Madonna, A$AP Ferg