Ab-Soul

Ab-Soul Has New Album Hyped By DJ Hed, Who Says It Has “Slaps”

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Ab-Soul’s next album may be coming sooner than we thought. In an interview with Elliott Wilson, DJ Hed mentioned that he heard a couple of tracks from Soulo’s latest offering, calling them “slaps.” Hed is close to the TDE camp and was one of the few sources of reliable information for Kendrick Lamar’s side of the Drake battle, so him having heard new music from Ab-Soul is not surprising.

The Carson rapper released Herbert in 2022, six years removed from his last album, Do What Thou Wilt. Soulo has been very open about his mental health struggles. He revealed in an interview with Charlamagne Tha God that he attempted to end his own life earlier that year. Fortunately, he seems to be in a much better headspace now, thanks in part to the support of his peers and family.

Ab-Soul’s New Album Gets Hyped By DJ Hed

Fans immediately found themselves drawn to Herbert for its lyricism and brutal honesty. Both are trademarks of Ab-Soul’s releases. And he did not disappoint. Head of TDE Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith first shared plans for a new Soulo release during a Twitter Q&A in March of last year. He also claimed that a deluxe edition of Herbert was on the way, which is now sitting alongside a deluxe version of SZA’s SOS as albums that TDE promised and have not yet delivered on. So far this year, the TDE crew have been more active with new music. ScHoolboy Q received the lauded Blue Lips, SiR released HEAVY, and Isaiah Rashad announced a new album for this year.

We last saw DJ Hed and Ab-Soul at Kendrick Lamar’s The Pop Out concert. Hed had a set early in the evening, before coming back out at the end of the show for the group photo that capped off Lamar’s performance. Soulo was on stage during Lamar’s set for a Black Hippy reunion alongside ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock. Black Hippy did not perform any of the songs they did together. However, Lamar flawlessly rapped the first verse of his Drake diss “6:16 In LA” with his hand on Soulo’s shoulder, a signficant moment for longtime TDE fans. We don’t know when Ab-Soul’s next album is due, but DJ Hed confirmed that he’s been working on it. That is exciting news for any hip-hop enthusiast.

[Via]

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There’s Only One Way Drake Can Redeem Himself After His Kendrick Lamar Beef, According To Ab-Soul

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At this point, it’s pretty firmly established that Drake took the L in his back-and-forth with Kendrick Lamar earlier this year. Only Aubrey himself (or his staunchest online supporters) could make the argument that Kendrick did NOT run roughshod over Drake’s reputation with his flurry of aggressive diss tracks, which included the presumptive song of the summer, “Not Like Us.”

Fortunately for Drake, there is a path to redemption — at least, according to former Kendrick Lamar labelmate, Ab-Soul. The Carson artist, who is still signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and appeared in the “Not Like Us” video alongside the other original members of the label, shared his theory on Twitter (back to not calling it “X”).

“If Drake is the MC I imagine he can be,” he wrote. “Redemption is not off the table.”

Of course, this is pretty much the crux of the divide between the two rappers, as well as being the main case against Drake from the majority of his critics over the past decade and a half. Drake spent his first two mixtapes, Room For Improvement and Comeback Season, courting the underground before blowing up seemingly overnight after the leak of a reference track of Drake’s song, “Brand New,” which he’d written for an unnamed R&B singer.

Since then, Drake has split his time on recordings between harder-edged, tough guy-style rapping (because the backpacker thing was never all that profitable) and brokenhearted crooning. In an effort to appeal to the zeitgeist, though, both his raps and his singing have taken on a manosphere-inspired, Red Pilled outlook, which has alienated a bunch of his most dedicated fans. Ab-Soul’s comments reflect a general vibe on rap discussion forums like Twitter that there’s a version of Drake that could potentially earn back his lost respect as a rapper, but he’d have to reject some of his biggest defenders, ditch the toxic attitudes, and start writing like his old rhyme heroes Phonte and Lupe Fiasco again.

It’s a bold theory, and I’m not sure it’d hold true in practice, but therein lies the rub: If skills sold, truth be told…

Here Is Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Pop Out — Ken & Friends’ Concert Setlist

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Kendrick Lamar was a man on a mission tonight (June 19). His The Pop Out — Ken & Friends concert at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum featured DJ Hed and Mustard as openers, and their sets were each stacked with guest appearances, but Lamar exceeded all expectations once his set began. The bar was set extremely high from the jump, as Lamar opened with the live debut of “Euphoria,” one of his recent Drake diss tracks, but he cleared it with ease by punctuating the night with “Not Like Us” five times in a row. Five!

Check out Lamar’s full The Pop Out setlist below.

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Pop Out — Ken & Friends’ Concert Setlist

1. “Euphoria” (Live debut)
2. “DNA.”
3. “ELEMENT.”
4. “Alright”
5. “Swimming Pools (Drank)”
6. “Money Trees” (With Jay Rock)
7. “Win” (Jay Rock cover) (With Jay Rock)
8. “King’s Dead” (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, James Blake cover) (With Jay Rock)
9. “6:16 In LA” (With Ab-Soul) (Live debut)
10. “Collard Greens (Schoolboy Q cover) (With Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock)
11. “THat Part” (Schoolboy Q cover) (with Schoolboy Q)
12. “King Kunta”
13. “m.A.A.d city”
14. “HUMBLE.”
15. “Like That” (Future and Metro Boomin cover) (Live debut)
16. “Still D.R.E.” (Dr. Dre cover) (With Dr. Dre)
17. “California Love” (2Pac cover) (With Dr. Dre)
18. “Not Like Us” (Live debut)
19. “Not Like Us”
20. “Not Like Us”
21. “Not Like Us”
22. “Not Like Us”
23. “Not Like Us” (Instrumental)

Kendrick Lamar Delivered The Long-Awaited Black Hippy Reunion At ‘The Pop Out’ Concert, Where They Performed A Medley Of Songs

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Kendrick Lamar opened his The Pop Out — Ken & Friends Juneteenth concert at LA’s Kia Forum by delivering the live debut of “Euphoria,” one of his Drake diss tracks from this spring, and adding another ruthless bar to it.

Somehow, The Pop Out got better from there.

Lamar staged a long-awaited Black Hippy reunion. One by one, he was joined on stage by Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and Schoolboy Q. They performed a medley of songs, including “Money Trees,” “Win,” “King’s Dead,” “6:16 In LA,” “Collard Greens,” “That Part,” and “King Kunta.”

Black Hippy, a Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) supergroup formed in the late 2000s, never released a full group LP, though it remained a vague possibility as of March 2023.

In February 2022, Terrance Louis “Punch” Henderson discussed Black Hippy never releasing an album during an interview with Mic.

“We definitely wanted to do a Black Hippy album,” Punch said. “But it was such a learning experience for us, everything was new. The timing never really panned out. When one guy would be recording his album, another guy would be on tour. Everybody was never in the same timeframe. So we didn’t want to hold back; we wanted to keep going and just push further into their individual careers. In hindsight, I wish I would’ve pushed the Black Hippy album more. That was always my goal, personally. You would have to ask everybody individually to see if that’s what their goal was.”

Kendrick Lamar And Ab-Soul Perform “6:16 In LA” During “Pop Up” Show

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Kendrick Lamar pulled out all the stops. The Compton rapper made his “Pop Out” concert an LA event for the ages. Part of the reason it was so memorable was because he showed love to all of the artists that he’s worked with over the years. DJ Mustard and Dr Dre showed up, but TDE fans were especially hyped to see Lamar link back up with Ab-Soul. It’s wasn’t clear which song Soulo would perform, but Kendrick Lamar decided to bring him to debut his Drake diss, “6:16 In LA.” The results were spectacular.

“6:16 In LA” is the most obscure and dense Drake diss that Lamar dropped. It’s still not on streaming platforms. This made it the perfect song to perform with TDE’s most esoteric rapper. Ab-Soul walked onstage and immediately hyped up the crowd. “I guess somebody lied,” he said. “Smells like somebody lied. I don’t see no muthaf*cking fire!” Soul and Lamar then linked up and the Al Green sample for “6:16 In LA” kicked in. The two rappers bobbed and put an arm over each other while they rapped the diss. K. Dot handled most of the bars (no surprise), but Ab-Soul served as the perfect hype man. He provided ad-libs and cheered his fellow Black Hippy member on.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Performs “Euphoria” Live For The First Time: Watch

Ab-Soul Hyped Up Kendrick Lamar’s Performance

This is the first time Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul have performed together in years. There was some confusion as to their relationship in the months leading up to the “Pop Out” show. Ab-Soul dropped a guest verse on J Cole’s Might Delete Later album, which contained a Lamar diss. Ab-Soul also went through a turbulent period behind closed doors. He attempted to end his own life in 2022, which he detailed on his most recent album, Herbert. Despite the perceived distance between him and Lamar, Soul always spoke highly of the latter.

“We’re brothers first and, you know,” the rapper told XXL. “He’s still somebody that I can call on and vice versa. I support him in whatever. He’s incredible. He’s an incredible artist. I’m behind it 100 percent.” Ab-Soul obviously made good on his word by making an appearance at the “Pop Out” show. Long live Black Hippy.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Urges Drake To Give Him Back Tupac’s Ring In “Euphoria” Lyric Remix

[via]

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Buddy Is Latest Cali Rapper To Turn Up To “Not Like Us” At A Show

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“Not Like Us” has become the anthem of the year. Kendrick Lamar’s number one single has taken over the airways and the parties, much to the chagrin of its target: Drake. Nowhere is K. Dot’s victory more apparent than the West Coast. Dozens of Los Angeles rappers have played the song at their shows, to the point where it’s become a trend. Buddy recent appeared at an L.A. festival, and the talented emcee decided to bring the house down by dancing to the diss record onstage.

Buddy’s music has a laid back, contemplative feel. This is what made his decision to switch it up such a surprise. The rapper decided to throw on “Not Like Us” in the middle of his show, and the crowd lost its collective mind. Everybody in the audience sang along to the diss, and Buddy loved every moment if it. He can be seen egging the crowd on. At one point, he abandoned rapping and starting dancing on the stage. The only time he used the mic was to join the crowd in chanting the “A minor” punchline that Lamar levels at Drake. The rapper had an absolute blast.

Read More: Buddy Flexes His Gratitude On New Track “You 2 Thank”

Buddy Sang Along To Kendrick Lamar’s Electric Diss

 
 
 
 
 
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Buddy has been a longtime admirer of Kendrick Lamar. He secured a feature from Lamar on his 2014 mixtape, Idle Time, and has repeatedly credited him as an inspiration. “I’m a big Kendrick fan and that sh*t happened so damn early in my career,” he told The Fader. “Even in Kendrick’s career. He wasn’t the Kendrick he is today when I got the feature. But I was still fully aware of the talent so I was super gung-ho. I figured out my first Backwood and I got a Kendrick feature. It was like a combo.” The rapper has remained close with the other members of Top Dawg Entertainment, as well.

Buddy met Lamar through Pharrell Williams, the artist he signed to back in 2009. Despite maintaining reverence for Pharrell, Buddy has made it clear that Lamar and the entire TDE roster has had a bigger impact on his musical style. During a 2022 interview with Billboard, the rapper revealed that he borrowed a line from Ab-Soul to make his song “Ain’t Fair.” “He said that in a rap back in the day so that was like a little homage to Ab-Soul,” he noted. “Shoutout Ab-Soul.”

Read More: Buddy Brings Effortlessly Fun Tunes On “Don’t Forget To Breathe”

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Zacari Continues To Shine On Sultry New Single “Lonewolf Still”

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Zacari is the secret weapon of Top Dawg Entertainment. He always crushes his guest verses, and sometimes he lends soulfulness to album cuts he’s not even credited on. His best known feature is still Kendrick Lamar’s “LOVE,” but the singer has shined equally bright on albums by Ab-Soul and TDE as a whole (Black Panther soundtrack). Zacari has yet to drop a solo release, though, and the desire to hear one grows increasingly higher with each new single he puts out. “Lonewolf Still” keeps this desire sky high.

“Lonewolf Still” is Zacari’s second single of 2024. He went the off-kilter acoustic route on “Ocean,” but “Lonewolf Still” sees him veer back into his sultry, R&B sweet spot. It works. The production is spacey in ways we previously haven’t heard from Zacari tracks. It’s reminiscent of blackbear, or perhaps even the weirder side of Post Malone. It’s a welcome change, given that some of Zacari’s earlier singles suffered from nondescript beat selection. “Lonewolf Still” brings all of the atmosphere one could hope for, given the evocative title and album cover.

Read More: Zacari & Ab-Soul Reunite For “Motions” Single

Zacari Embraces A Darker, More Textured Sound

The lyrics follow suit. “Thunderstorms let me know God is watching over. Ain’t afraid of death as much as I’m afraid of comfort,” Zacari croons. “Leave me ‘lone, you know I been plottin’ on a come up. And I don’t wanna see that girl unless she wanna comе f*ck.” It’s melodramatic on a certain level, but it sounds epic given the textured musical accompaniment. The hope is that “Lonewolf Still” serves as the introduction to Zacari’s debut album. He’s upped his solo game since the late 2010s, and it sounds like’s ready to step off the bench.

What are your thoughts on this new song, “Lonewolf Still” by Zacari? Is this his best single yet? Do you want to hear a solo album in 2024? Who do you want the singer to collab with? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Zacari. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.

Quotable Lyrics

Waiting at the table, now I’m serving it
Raw, all white McClaren, now I’m swerving it
Reading my suspicion, now I’m sure of that shit
No more superstition, no wondering

Read More: Zacari And Ty Dolla $ign Are Fantastic Together On “Ave Maria”

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SiR Revealed The Tracklist For ‘Heavy’ Which Features Anderson .Paak, Ab-Soul, And Ty Dolla Sign

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Inglewood singer Sir Daryl Farris — better known mononymously as SiR — has been rolling out his fourth studio album Heavy for the last few weeks, releasing the single “Karma” and even appearing in the NBA’s Celebrity Game for All-Star Weekend. Today, he revealed the cover art and tracklist, which features both his fellow TDE labelmates (Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad) and other LA soul veterans (Anderson .Paak, Ty Dolla Sign).

Like labelmate Schoolboy Q, who just dropped his album Blue Lips after a five-year hiatus, SiR is also releasing after a five-year break. His last album, Chasing Summer, came out in 2019 and reached No. 64 on the Billboard 200 chart. It featured appearances from then-labelmate Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Sabrina Claudio, and Smino, among others, and spawned two singles “Hair Down” and fan favorite “John Redcorn.” The five-year album cycle seems to be a trend for Top Dawg Entertainment, with Ab-Soul and Isaiah Rashad both also putting half a decade between their most recent releases.

Heavy is due on March 22 via TDE and RCA.

SiR’s Heavy Tracklist

1. “Intro”
2. “Ignorant” Feat. Ty Dolla Sign
3. “Karma” Feat. Isaiah Rashad
4. “Heavy”
5. “Six Whole Days”
6. “No Evil”
7. “Poetry In Motion” Feat. Anderson .Paak
8. “I’m Not Perfect” Feat. Ab-Soul
9. “You”
10. “Only Human”
11. “Satisfaction”
12. “Life Is Good” Feat. Scribz Riley
13. “Ricky’s Song”
14. “Nothing Even Matters”
15. “Tryin’ My Hardest”
16. “Brighter”

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Top Dawg Entertainment 2024 Releases: TDE Artists Dropping Albums This Year

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TDE has long held its position as the home to one of the best artist rosters in all of hip hop. Despite Kendrick Lamar departing the label in 2022, the lineup still consists of artists such as ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, SZA, Isaiah Rashad, and many others. Unfortunately, the label has also garnered a reputation in the past few years for allegedly preventing their artists from releasing music for years at a time, prompting labels like Dreamville and Quality Control to put out a much larger and more compelling body of work. However, several posts from Top Dawg signees and label heads seem to hint that 2024 will be a massive year for the label, with several announced projects already in the works.

Read More: Jay Rock Refutes Rumors Of Internal Drama At TDE Label

An Alleged Leak Indicates Over A Dozen TDE Releases In 2024

In late January, a leaked TDE release schedule began circulating the internet, with many fans unsure of the document’s validity. The document outlines a release order for over a dozen Top Dawg artists, all expected to land on streaming in 2024.

The fact that ScHoolboy Q will release his 6th studio album next week suggests some validity behind the leak, as he occupies the first position on the list. If this leak proves true, listeners can anticipate a SiR album shortly after Q releases Blue Lips, closely followed by Jay Rock’s next album. According to the leak, rapid subsequent album releases will follow by artists such as Doechii, Ray Vaughn, and Zacari, before SZA finally drops the long-awaited SOS deluxe album, Lana. Then, fans could expect new music from Ab-Soul and Isaiah Rashad.

Read More: 5 Things We Want From ScHoolboy Q’s “Blue Lips”

Will TDE Introduce New Artists In 2024?

Top Dawg and Punch at the Billboard Power 100 Event held at NeueHouse Hollywood on January 31, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

The Top Dawg 2024 roster lists several relatively new artists who have found a home on the California-based label, including Kal Banx, Devin Malik, and Lance Skiiiwalker. Most surprisingly, however, the image also suggests that the label will be dropping records from three unnamed artists, redacted in the style of a classified government form. If all goes according to plan for TDE, this would reinvigorate the label as one of the best homes for high-quality hip hop known to the music industry, rivaling historic successes from the likes of Death Row and G-Unit Records.

Read More: How TDE’s Artists Became Leaders in Hip-Hop

Jay Rock: TDE Compilation Dropping This Year, Too

Despite Kendrick’s departure from the label, Jay Rock has confirmed that a compilation project celebrating 20 years of Top Dawg Entertainment is set to release in 2024, featuring “a majority of Black Hippy on that thang.” It’s still unclear if the album will be composed of previously released music in the vein of a greatest hits LP, or if the project will have numerous brand new songs on it. However, Jay Rock has specified that he and his label-mates have been hard at work on the compilation, with the album release planned for the first quarter of 2024.

For now, we’ll still have to wait and see what TDE has planned in 2024. The only album 100 percent confirmed with a release date is ScHoolboy Q’s Blue Lips, though many other projects are currently in the works at the prolific label. If Top Dawg Entertainment releases even a fraction of the albums they’ve promised for 2024, this year will certainly go down in history as the label’s greatest achievement.

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Ab-Soul Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The Rapper

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Ab-Soul, a prominent figure in the rap industry, has made a significant mark with his lyrical prowess and unique style. Ab-Soul’s career trajectory has been remarkable, from his early mixtapes to his critically acclaimed albums. His distinct lyrical style and collaborations with artists like Kendrick Lamar have solidified his place in hip-hop. These milestones have not only increased his popularity but have also been pivotal in building his financial portfolio.

Ab-Soul’s net worth in 2024, as reported by RappersMoney, stands at an estimated $2 million. This wealth stems from various sources, including album sales, streaming royalties, and revenue from live performances, showcasing his multifaceted income streams. Additionally, Ab-Soul’s affiliation with the supergroup Black Hippy and his collaborations with other artists have played a unique role in his financial success. These partnerships have expanded his reach and contributed to his standing in the rap community.

Comparison To Peers & Industry Standards

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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 06: (L-R) Elliott Wilson and Ab-Soul attend backstage at Irving Plaza on October 6, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Ab’s discography is a beacon of intellectual rap, with albums that challenge and provoke thought. The 2012 release, Control System, is often cited as a turning point in his career, an intricate tapestry of social commentary woven with personal narratives that solidified his place in the genre. Following this, These Days… continued to push the envelope, showcasing Ab-Soul’s versatility and depth. His 2016 album, Do What Thou Wilt., further delved into esoteric themes and showcased his evolution as an artist, intertwining complex ideologies with the raw realities of his own life, cementing Ab-Soul’s reputation as a thinker’s rapper and a maestro of conscious hip-hop.

Ab-Soul’s net worth is a testament to his success in a competitive industry when placed alongside his peers. His financial achievements reflect his status as a respected artist in the rap genre. Further, beyond music, Ab-Soul’s savvy investments and business ventures have contributed to his net worth. While details of these are private, they signify his acumen and foresight in growing his wealth.

Future Outlook For Ab-Soul’s Net Worth

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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 16: Rapper Ab Soul attends the Elliott Wilson hosts CRWN with Ab-Soul for WatchLOUD.com, presented by vitaminwater after party at the Chelsea Pub on September 16, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Electus Digital)

Looking ahead, Ab-Soul’s net worth is poised for potential growth with upcoming projects and collaborations. His continued influence in the industry suggests a promising financial trajectory. Overall, Ab-Soul’s net worth of approximately $2 million in 2024 reflects his successful career in the rap industry. His journey from underground hip-hop to mainstream success illustrates the potential for growth and prosperity in the music business.

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