Ab-Soul

Ab-Soul Lights Up “Tiny Desk Concert” On His Birthday

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We’re inching closer to the conclusion of Black History Month. To highlight exceptional artists, NPR hosted Ab-Soul for its Tiny Desk Concert. The Carson, Calif., native is an applauded lyricist in Hip Hop, and he took his talents—and musicians—to the outlet’s coveted stage. We don’t often get to see Ab in a live, stripped-down session, so this unique performance is one that fans should not miss.

The Rap icon dubbed his band the Soulersystem, and unsurprisingly, Ab-Soul included several Herbert tracks in his set. His most recent release was Ab’s first offering in six years, and it was a return that was welcomed with open arms. “We just here to restore the feeling,” he said on Tiny Desk. It seems that the rapper, too, is celebrating the culture’s milestone this year. “What you say? Fifty years of Hip Hop?”

Ab-Soul Chose To Release This Concert On His Birthday

LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 26: Rapper Ab-Soul performs onstage during day 2 of the 2015 Life is Beautiful festival on September 26, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)

Not only are we celebrating seeing Ab-Soul in concert, but today (February 23) just happens to be the emcee’s birthday. We’re sure loved ones have surrounded him as he marks the end of one lap around the sun and the beginning of another. Additionally, Ab highlighted his “guardian angel,” DoeBurger, whose photo he had printed on a custom jacket. He held up the garb during his performance, paying tribute to one of his best friends who passed away in 2021.

During the years he wasn’t pushing out new music, Ab has experienced significant changes. Last year, he sat down with Charlamagne Tha God to speak about Herbert, as well as surviving a suicide attempt. Ab detailed his story, revealing he jumped from a freeway overpass, survived, and walked home. This isn’t to say his injuries weren’t devastating, as he shared in his interview.

Ab-Soul Previously Detailed His Experience

“I ain’t even got my implants yet. My jaw’s f*cked up, I got a lot of work to do still,” he said at the time. “My foot is completely reconstructed, all the way to my pelvis. Everything but my knee. It doesn’t even make sense that my knee wasn’t affected. My femur, everything was affected except my knee.” He’s in a much better place and his story has helped others who are struggling. Check out Ab-Soul on Tiny Desk above.

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Ab-Soul Put On A Passionate Performance For His Tiny Desk Concert, Shared On His Birthday

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Last year, Ab-Soul released his new album Herbert featuring collaborations with artists like Big Sean, Russ, Joey Badass, and Jhené Aiko. He also teamed up with Zacari earlier this month for the track “Motions.” Now, he’s back with an NPR Tiny Desk.

His enthusiastic performance includes “Message In A Bottle,” “Bohemian Grove,” “It Be Like That,” “FOMF,” “Terrorist Threats,” “Fallacy,” “Do Better,” “The Book of Soul,” and “Gotta Rap.” His passionate flows are set to a mesmeric, eclectic backdrop of guitars, trumpets, and saxophones; there’s a sense of vibrant community amongst the cluster of talented musicians packed in the small space. To make it better, today is his birthday. What better way to celebrate?

A statement shared upon the announcement of the album Herbert explained the complexity of the meaning and making of it. “Herbert is a deliberately intimate portrait of the man behind Ab-Soul going back to his foundation,” the statement reads. “As noted by the name of the record, leaving the conspiracy theories, he’s known for behind while emphasizing his musicality. After suffering through a series of unspeakable tragedies, Stevens completed the album as a changed man with a new sense of purpose.”

Watch his Tiny Desk concert above.

Zacari And Ab-Soul Go Through The ‘Motions’ On Their New Single

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Zacari and Ab-Soul have another gem on their hands. On their new collaborative single, “Motions,” both artists walk us through a day in their lives, as they deal with industry protocol, adjusting to fame, and navigating friendships and relationships.

“I’m just goin’ through the motions / Liftin’ off the ground / Driftin’ like the cloud / I’m just goin’ through the motions,” the two sing on the song’s chorus.

“Motions” marks the Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates’ third total collab. Last year, the two worked together on “Do Better” from Ab-Soul’s fifth studio album, Herbert, and have previously collaborated on “RAW (Backwards)” from his 2016 album, Do What Thou Wilt.

Zacari has appeared on several TDE collaborations over the years, alongside artists like Isaiah Rashad and Kendrick Lamar. He officially signed to the label in 2019, and released his debut EP Run Wild Run Free later that year.

Last year, he also collaborated on tracks with Blxst and MIA.

Though he hasn’t released a full-length album of his own yet, fans of Zacari can expect to hear it in the near future.

Last year, he revealed in an Instagram post that he plans to drop his full-length debut in 2023.

In the meantime, you can listen to “Motions” above.

Lance Skiiiwalker’s “Audiodidactic” Album Lands With Ab-Soul & Isaiah Rashad Features

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Top Dawg Entertainment’s artists are a force to be reckoned with this New Music Friday. Previously we highlighted Zacari’s new “Motions” single in tandem with Ab-Soul. Now, we have another appearance from each of those artists on Lance Skiiiwalker’s latest project. Audiodidactic landed on DSPs at midnight, complete with 11 tracks as well as an additional guest appearance from V.C.R.

Ahead of his album’s debut, the artist dropped off “Beantown” as a single in late January. “I experienced Boston once while I was on tour, it felt like a really cool city,” he explained of that release. “Thinking about it more, I realized it was missing a love song. I haven’t heard anything about Boston in that world. The record is more about the vibes I felt there than a particular person, the girl is a metaphor.”

Image provided to HNHH by artist

While he carries most of the titles on his own, Skiiiwalker did recruit Ab-Soul to help him on “Church.” A few songs later, on “Sample Talk,” we once again hear from another TDE star, Isaiah Rashad. As mentioned earlier, V.C.R also helped his friend, specifically showing out on the eighth title, “It Was All.”

Audiodidactic marks the Chicago native’s first full-length effort since he dropped Introverted Intuition in 2016. More recently, he delivered a pair of EPs in 2021 to hold fans over until today’s album was ready. Along with that, Skiiwalker shared an accompanying visual for “Where To With You.”

Before his inevitable rise to fame, the “Lover’s Lane” artist was discovered by former TDE labelmate Kendrick Lamar. He’s previously been described as the collective’s “secret weapon” by Moosa, their president. Aside from his own releases, Lance has worked alongside names like ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul on their own tapes.

Stream Lance Skiiiwalker’s Audiodidactic album on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, tell us your top three favourite titles in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop release updates.

Audiodidactic Tracklist:

  1. Friends
  2. Where To With You
  3. Church (with Ab-Soul)
  4. IG
  5. Everybody Hurts Somebody
  6. Sample Talk (with Isaiah Rashad)
  7. I Just Want
  8. It Was All (with V.C.R)
  9. Beantown
  10. Audiodidactic
  11. (Ni) Radio Whispers

Zacari & Ab-Soul Reunite For “Motions” Single

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It’s been a major few months for the roster of artists at Top Dawg Entertainment. SZA finally delivered her sophomore effort, SOS, which has had an undeniably impressive run on the charts. Additionally, Ab-Soul’s Herbert project made an emotional debut after the rapper survived a suicide attempt in the midst of putting his work together.

Thankfully, the 35-year-old seems to be in a much better place now and even reflects on his mental health in a new collaborative track. This New Music Friday, Ab-Soul links up with Zacari for his “Motions” single, marking the duo’s fourth time working together. Previously, we’ve heard them on “Do Better” and “RAW (backwards).”

Image provided to HNHH by artist

Additionally, they came together with Kembe X and Jay Rock to create the over five-and-a-half minute long must-hear single, “Raised A Fool.” While audiences obviously loved that, it’s time to make room in your playlist for Zacari and Ab-Soul’s most recent work. Thus far, “Motions” has been in constant rotation for many TDE fans all across the nation.

“No need to check up on, I’m doin’ just fine / I’m signin’ cheque after cheque, homie, I’m alright,” the former rhymes on the first verse. “But every time I go home, I get anxious / And every time I go home, I’m impatient,” he continues over production by ESTA.

For his part, Ab-Soul comes through with noteworthy bars later in “Motions.” He begins the third verse with, “Like five towers on top each other, I’m talkin’ high power / God’s rainin’, right now, you’re bathin’ in my shower.” He later closes his impressive rhymes out with “Chillin’ in silk sheets with you? / Have some empathy, would you? / I’m a sensitive Pisces and I keep it real, baby.”

Stream Zacari and Ab-Soul’s “Motions” on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, tell us which of the duo’s past collaborations is your favourite in the comments. Finally, check back tomorrow for more recommendations on our Fire Emoji playlist.

Quotable Lyrics:

Tourin’ the globe, keepin’ poetry in motion
Full of subliminal shit I do to keep you open
It’s difficult to stay focus
When my mind sidetracked by
Dividin’ your thighs like an ocean

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Ray Vaughn Builds “Sandcastles” With Ab-Soul On New Single

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Ray Vaughn tapped TDE labelmate Ab-Soul for a new track, “Sandcastles.” Moreover, both MCs deliver impassioned, emphatic, and high-impact verses over a heavy banger beat. With a new project coming soon from the recent signee, Vaughn might just make his big splash this year.

INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Rapper Ray Vaughn performs on the Sahara Stage during Weekend 2, Day 2 of the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 23, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)

Furthermore, the last we heard from the Long Beach native was back in August of 2022 with the Isaiah Rashad-assisted “Dog House.” On that track, Vaughn matched Rashad’s often low-key but intoxicating delivery over a smooth beat. This time around, it seems he’s boasting and matching the energy of one of TDE’s premier MCs.

In fact, the California label has a lot to celebrate recently. Moreover, Ab-Soul just dropped his long-awaited album Herbert to critical acclaim last December. While Ray Vaughn isn’t featured on that project, this new single displays some strong chemistry between their performance styles. Both have their energy on high, command fast and aggressive flows with ease, and add a lot of conviction to the track.

Meanwhile, the instrumental is a mid-tempo banger with heavy bass, sharp snares, and eerie piano chords. For those enamored by this beat, producer Wallis Lane worked with the likes of Mac Miller, Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and many more. Even if it falls into an engaging bounce assisted by the MCs’ triplet flows, you could remix that melody into some creepy stuff easily. Throughout the verses, the instrumental relies on muted plucked strings and ethereal synth pad samples to switch things up.

Still, what did you think of Ray Vaughn’s newest single with Ab-Soul, “Sandcastles”? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments and peep some standout lines from the track below. Also, if you haven’t heard it yet, you can find the song on your preferred streaming service. As always, check back in with HNHH for the best new drops in hip-hop.

Quotable Lyrics

The lil’ homie got five hundred when he ran it up off EDD
A year later, he back broke, robbin’ white folks on Beverly
All F on my report card, got a list full of felonies
Better learn to choose your words better, that’s the quickest way to put your life in jeopardy

Ab-Soul Asked LeBron James To A&R His Next Album And The NBA Star Agreed

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lebron james A&R
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LeBron James is doing something no other NBA player has done in the history of the league. No, I’m not talking about scoring 40+ points against all 30 teams, although that is historical and impressive. No, he’s the first NBA player to become one of hip-hop’s go-to A&Rs, despite having little formal music business experience.

What he does have, though, is a golden ear — or at least, a big enough following to turn burgeoning viral songs into bonafide Billboard hits. Any song that makes its way into one of James’ offseason workout posts has the potential to skyrocket. For example, when he played Tee Grizzley’s “First Day Out” on his Instagram story, fans flocked, shooting what might have been a one-off from the Detroit bar smith into the upper atmosphere of rap radio bangers.

In 2019, he offered his A&R duties to trap veteran 2 Chainz, resulting in an executive producer credit on Rap Or Go To The League, and now, he’s going for a repeat with Top Dawg Entertainment rapper Ab-Soul. Despite Soulo being just a month removed from the release of his new album Herbert, he’s already looking ahead to his next, asking James at Wednesday night’s game against the Clippers (which the Clippers won, 113-104) to A&R his next project.

Ab captured the moment on video and posted it to his Instagram, calling working with James a “rite of passage.” “Top [Dawg] told me to ask you if you would A&R the next album,” he said. “Yeah, I can do that,” LeBron replied. Surely, such a project won’t be coming out anytime soon, but LeBron’s involvement will make the wait for it even harder than the six-year break between Ab’s last two albums.