Los Angeles-based rapper Ab-Soul has released a brand-new track, “Squeeze 1st 2.” The song showcases Soul’s introspective flow over a laid-back, mid-tempo beat, enriched by soulful horn arrangements. This marks his first solo offering since 2022’s critically acclaimed album Herbert, which ended his six-year hiatus.
The post Ab-Soul Drops New Single “Squeeze 1st 2,” First Release Since 2022’s ‘Herbert’ appeared first on .
Ab-Soul is ready to get back on the road. With his latest album, Herbert, hitting last year, Soul is ready to take off on his The Intelligent Movement tour.
The summer 2023 run will take Soulo through Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Washington D.C., and more. The tour will run the entire month of June, beginning on June 2 and wrapping on June 30.
Ab-Soul’s new album, Herbert, is now available. The album, six years in the making, brings in a stacked list of features in Joey Badass, Big Sean, Jhené Aiko, Russ, Fresh, Ambré, ALEMEDA, and TDE’s SiR, Punch, Zacari, and Lance Skiiiwalker. DJ Premier, Sounwave, James Blake, Hit-Boy, Boi-1da, and more contributed to the production.
In a new conversation with Charlamagne Tha God, Soulo opened up about a suicide attempt in which he would have jumped off a freeway overpass.
“I pretty much finished the album before I did what I did,” he said. “How I’m choosing to take it is — and I’m not giving it credit — but it brought me down to a place where I needed to be as vulnerable as possible, and as soon as I said everything I needed to say, I jumped.”
Soul revealed the incident caused him to lose his teeth and he is awaiting implants. He also stated his jaw is damaged and his foot is completely reconstructed.
You can hear it all below.
The post Ab-Soul Announces Dates for ‘The Intelligent Movement Tour’ appeared first on The Source.
Just as Top Dawg promised, Ab-Soul will be hitting the road in support of Herbert. The Carson, CA rapper emerged with his latest studio album in December to close out a triumphant year for TDE. Though we’re almost five months removed from the album’s release, Ab will be coming to a city near you this summer. The announcement comes after Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith confirmed tour plans for the Black Lip Pastor.
The rapper announced the Intelligent Movement tour this morning, which kicks off in Toronto on June 6th before closing things out in Boston on June 30th. Soulo hasn’t unveiled the opening acts, though we’d presume it’s someone from the TDE camp. However, the 17-date trek will bring Ab-Soul across America. Expect to see him in cities like Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and New York, among others. Though we only have two months until it launches, it seems like a promising indication that he has new music coming soon.
In the past few months, we’ve heard some promising updates from Ab-Soul. For one, he’s already plotting the release of the deluxe edition of Herbert. During an interview on Mackwop TV, Ab-Soul confirmed that the deluxe edition of the project was on the way. However, he stated it would drop on the late Doebuger’s birthday (April 1st), though it looks like it got pushed back further. However, with the tour expected to launch in a few months, we’re probably not far away from Soulo dropping that for us. Maybe then, we’ll see the rumored Jay-Z collab.
In addition to the re-release of Herbert, Soulo also is working on his follow-up album. Though we had to wait a few six years between his latest album and Do What Thou Wilt, he confirmed that he’s already cheffing up his next opus for a 2023 release. However, Top Dawg said that he aims for it to drop by December. Additionally, the TDE founder also said that a Black Hippy project could potentially see the light of day this year. All in all, there’s a lot to look forward to from Top Dawg Entertainment this year. Check out the Intelligent Movement tour dates above.
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?”
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.
“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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LeBron James will get in his A&R bag for Ab-Soul’s follow-up to Herbert.
Ab-Soul recently took to Instagram where he shared a recent link up with LeBron James at the Crypto.com Arena. Following the Lakers’ 113-104 win against the Spurs, the two chopped it up, eventually leading Ab-Soul to propose that James serves as the A&R on his next album.
“You really the right of passage,” Soulo said shortly after the Lakers’ win. “Top [Dawg] told me to ask you if you would A&R the next album.”
“Yeah, I could do that,” James replied. Ab-Soul went on to explain that Calamatic, the director of the Lebron James-starring House Party, previously shot videos for himself and Kendrick Lamar back in the day. Overall, it seems as though LeBron James could help bring Ab-Soul’s next body of work to life.
Though James was rather nonchalant about A&Ring the next Soulo album, he’s undoubtedly a big fan of Herbert. Upon the album’s release, James tweeted, “Ab-Herbert-Soul is so COLD MAN!!!!!!!!! [Fire] project G.” Ab-Soul later asked for courtside seats to a Lakers game.
LeBron James is no stranger to the A&R role. He previously served as an executive producer of 2 Chainz’s Rap Or Go To The League. However, he took on an A&R role, as well, putting together the tracklist and helping with sequencing.
“We put the unexpected together, we painted a beautiful picture together,” 2 Chainz told Vanity Fair of Lebron’s role on the album. “And that’s what we continue to do—we’re really friends. He and Maverick [Carter, LeBron’s business partner] have a wonderful blueprint of how to bring your friends up with you—share the wealth. And it was important that I brought in someone of his stature. He was a presence that I appreciated having around. I mean, let’s be real—he’s King James.”
We’ll keep you posted on the Ab-Soul’s next album.
When it comes to hip-hop music from the 2010s, Ab-Soul is one of that era’s household names. His second studio album, 2012’s Control System, was one of the most popular projects that year, thanks to tracks like “Illuminate” and “Terrorist Threats.”
After years of absence, he returned late last year to drop his latest album, HERBERT. It serves as his first project in six years, since 2016’s Do What Thou Wilt.
On Tuesday (January 10), XXL published their new interview with the “DO BETTER” rapper. The 35-year-old talks about a range of topics including his new album and his struggles with mental health.
HERBERT is arguably the TDE rapper’s most intimate and expressive album of his career thus far. “The album Herbert is about getting back to self. I just kinda feel like I was becoming Ab-Soul more than Herbert. So, this album, to say the least, is dedicated to the people that refuse to call me Ab-Soul. That still call me Herbert or Herbie or Herb. It’s about getting back to the roots. Getting back to the foundation, to the source. Getting back to self,” says the L.A. native when asked about the meaning of the project’s title.
“This album, I really removed my ego and asked for help. Nobody’s bigger than the program. I asked for help. I didn’t just go pick beats or records,” he tells XXL. Elsewhere in the interview, he addresses substance abuse and mental health in society.
Ab-Soul is evidently not holding back when it comes to the rollout of his fifth studio album. In a prior recent interview with Charlamagne Tha God, the L.A. native even opens up about a suicide attempt.
“My jaw is f*cked up. I got a lotta work to do still. I’m about 85% on my foot. My foot is completely reconstructed, all the way to my pelvis, my femur, everything, was affected except my knee. If my knee would’ve been affected, I might not be walking,” he shares to Charlamagne.
Ab-Soul speaks on attempting to take his own life while he was working on his new album ‘Herbert’
Glad he’s doing better
pic.twitter.com/15vCm4ZgF3
— Rap Favorites (@RapFavorites) December 16, 2022
Furthermore, on December 30, he took to his Twitter account to proudly declare HERBERT as a top-five album of 2022. “ALSO. My album IS top 5 of da year. F*cc all dat humble sh*t. Dead homies,” writes the 35-year-old in his tweet.
Regardless, it’s certainly great to see and hear Soulo opening up so candidly.
What are your thoughts on HERBERT and Ab-Soul’s new interview? Comment down below. Finally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest updates and releases.
As 2022 quickly comes to a close, fans and artists alike are continuing to share their favorite music of the year.
Ab-Soul’s latest offering, HERBERT, has only been out for a couple of weeks. Regardless, the L.A. native thinks it’s a top-five album of the year.
He took to his Twitter account on Friday (December 30) to share his thoughts on his own fifth studio album. “ALSO. My album IS top 5 of da year. F*cc all dat humble sh*t. Dead homies,” he writes in his remark. Evidently, being humble isn’t in the “Illuminate” rapper’s New Year’s resolutions. However, the argument is definitely a fair one, as the album has garnered a positive reception.
The project serves as the TDE rapper’s first album in six years, following 2016’s Do What Thou Wilt. Throughout HERBERT‘s 18-song tracklist, the 35-year-old explicitly addresses the state of his mental health and his battles with depression.
As part of the rollout for the album, Ab-Soul sat down with Charlamagne Tha God for an intimate interview. During the pair’s talk, which lasted for over an hour, Soulo opens up about a suicide attempt.
“I pretty much finished the album before I did what I did. I jumped off a freeway overpass, man. It was about 50 feet. I think a car broke my fall. [I] walked from my mom’s house to the bridge and jumped off on the freeway overpass. Imagine, like, you’re walking and you blink and then you’re further. You blink and then you’re further, you blink and then I’m on a fence,” he details.
“My jaw is f*cked up. I got a lotta work to do still. I’m about 85% on my foot. My foot is completely reconstructed, all the way to my pelvis, my femur, everything, was affected except my knee. If my knee would’ve been affected, I might not be walking,” he says after stating that he wasn’t in control while it was happening.
Ab-Soul speaks on attempting to take his own life while he was working on his new album ‘Herbert’
Glad he’s doing better
— Rap Favorites (@RapFavorites) December 16, 2022
HERBERT boasts features from the likes of Joey Bada$$, Jhené Aiko, Russ, Big Sean and others. Furthermore, it evidently showcases Soul getting deeply introspective.
Considering it was released so late into the year, it will certainly be interesting to see how many year-end lists it makes its way onto.
What are your thoughts on HERBERT? Is it cracking your year-end list? Comment down below. Finally, make sure to stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest updates in music and pop culture.
Ab-Soul says that Kendrick Lamar assisted him on the song “It Be Like That,” off of his new album, Herbert. Ab-Soul spoke about the making of the project during a new interview with GQ.
He began by explaining that he tried to open himself up for help from his team of TDE’s “usual suspects” this time around.
“I didn’t fight for a record this time, I didn’t want to argue, I removed my arrogance completely, I tried to strip away the ego,” he said. “It was hard for me, getting out of my comfort zone. I asked for help, I tried to utilize my resources.”
Afterward, he explained how he was assisted by Kendrick Lamar for “It Be Like That.” He says that the two are closer than people may expect.
“Kendrick sent that to me, just to let you guys know how close me and him are. He sends me records sometimes that he feels I should try,” Soul further said. “It was an exercise. I said on this one, I don’t want no punchlines, no metaphors, no double entendres, I want to be simple as possible, straight to the point. It was probably the most difficult song for me to write on the album and it’s the most simplistic song.”
The two spent years together on TDE, before Lamar’s recent departure. Ab-Soul also confirmed that Lamar’s vocals are featured on the title track to Herbert.
Elsewhere in the interview with GQ, Soul opens up about the suicide attempt he references in the song, “Gotta Rap.”
“It’s my testimony, I guess that’s what I do,” he told the outlet. He added that the support of his family and friends gave him the confidence to address the hardships.
Soul released Herbert last Friday as his first album in six years.
Check out Ab-Soul’s “It Be Like That” below.
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On the heels of his new album, Herbert, Ab-Soul has shared the video for “FOMF,” which is short for “f*ck out my face.”
On the song, Ab-Soul is affirmed in himself as he makes a grand return to the rap game after a six-year break between albums.
“I’m in a league of my own / Y’all need to leave it alone / I’ma just eat everything / I’ma just leave you the bones / Call it an even exchange / There ain’t no need to explain,” he raps on his opening verse.
In the song’s music video, Ab-Soul is seen taking over a baseball field with his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates Jay Rock, Isaiah Rashad, Zacari, Reason, and Ray Vaughn. Fans cheer the rap crew on from the seats in the baseball stadium.
Ab-Soul, along with Rashad and TDE labelmate Kendrick Lamar have all been outspoken about seeing a therapist. In a recent interview with Vulture, Ab-Soul shared how his therapist has helped him over the past few years.
“I felt like she understands,” he said. “It wasn’t the commercialized version of how therapy goes. ‘So how does that make you feel?’ She’s still my therapist to this day. That goes back to how our people are turned off with the mental-health conversation, going to therapy. It means you’re crazy, all of the stigma that we’ve been taught. But I feel it becoming more of the norm for people who don’t want to go to therapy, who want to go try to be their best self. I feel it. It’s happening.”
Check out the video for “FOMF” above.
Herbert is out now via Top Dawg Entertainment. Stream it here.
One of the most prolific voices in Hip Hop, Ab-Soul, is opening up in a new interview with Charlamagne Tha God. Today (December 16), the Top Dawg Entertainment standout delivered Herbert, his first studio album in six years. The rollout to the project’s arrival has been fierce as Ab, a quiet figure in the industry, hopped from one outlet to the next to share more of his journey.
This week, he teased his intimate interview with Charlamagne. Deservingly, Ab boasted about his skills, but it wasn’t all about his lyrical abilities. It was suggested earlier this week that he may have endured a suicide attempt, and now, Ab is sharing more about the harrowing experience.
The Carson native said he was lost during this time, but the experience did help him rid himself of unhealthy habits.
“I did not get any brain damage, I jumped off a freeway overpass, man, it was about 50 feet.” He also added, “I think a car broke my fall. No brain damage. It’s God. That was, ‘Alright bro, now sit down and shut up. Take it all in. Relax. You blessed, man.’”
“I pretty much finished the album before I did what I did,” he said elsewhere. “How I’m choosing to take it is—and I’m not giving it credit—but it brought me down to a place where I needed to be as vulnerable as possible. And as soon as I said everything I needed to say, I jumped.”
Ab-Soul also recalled waking up on the ground and thinking, “F*cking idiot.” He added, “I woke up on the floor, bro. Yanked me up, I passed back out and woke up in the hospital.”
“I literally walked from my mom’s house. It was kinda cinematic, too. [I was] on Del Amo Boulevard, my street. The subconscious me was trying to make this cinematic. ‘Oh, he died in Del Amo! He was the king of Carson, oh my god!’ It was cinematic, you know what I’m saying?”
He also shared the effects of the attempt. Ab revealed he lost his teeth and is wearing a flipper.
“I ain’t even got my implants yet. My jaw’s fucked up, I got a lot of work to do still. 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.”
Additionally, if his knee would have been injured, the rapper believes he wouldn’t be able to walk.
Herbert has already received rave reviews as fans and critics dissect the rapper’s ability to turn inward and express his truth as a wordsmith. We’re glad to see Ab is on the mend and in a better place. Stream Herbert by Ab-Soul above.
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