Ab-Soul is a rap veteran from Carson, Calif. who is signed to Los Angeles rap label, Top Dawg Entertainment. After he announced his new Intelligent Movement Tour, some may wonder who is Ab-Soul? Ab-Soul announced on his Instagram on April 5, that he will head out on his Intelligent Movement Tour, expected to start on […]
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Kendrick Lamar might have completed his Top Dawg Entertainment record deal, but TDE isn’t done yet. If anything, it looks like the Southern California-based label will be doubling down on its remaining roster and increasing its album release cadence this year. Top Dawg himself revealed as much today on Twitter during a fan Q&A that found him addressing everything from a potential Black Hippy project to which of the label’s artists have tours planned this year.
When one fan asked which albums are on the docket, Top Dawg reeled off a list including new acquisitions like Doechii, Ray Vaughn, and Reason, as well as longtime mainstays Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, and Zacari. However, he also mentioned a condition that needs to be met: “if everybody do their part,” he wrote. “when they turn them in I will release em.”
Reason , rayvaughn , doechii , Q , jay rock , zac and a compilation .. if everybody do their part … when they turn them in I will release em .. https://t.co/JBMo3KvG8J
— TOP DAWG #TDE (@dangerookipawaa) March 27, 2023
We’ve seen that process take upwards of four years — just look at Ab-Soul’s last project, as well as Isaiah Rashad’s and SZA’s — but even so, that gives TDE fans plenty to look forward to in 2023. Some of the roster’s newer additions could use the extra exposure and momentum from a potential compilation, while the veteran members’ fans have been waiting a while to hear from them (Jay Rock’s last album, Redemption, was in 2018; Q’s was 2019’s Crash Talk).
Top Dawg Entertainment has come a long way since 2012 when the above photo was taken at SXSW. Kendrick Lamar has since won a few Grammys and a Pulitzer Prize, Schoolboy Q has taken up golf, Ab-Soul has survived depression and anxiety, and Jay Rock… is still Jay Rock, I guess. He keeps to himself a lot.
But collectively, there’s one thing we never really got from Black Hippy: A full group project. That may change soon, despite their vocal reticence throughout the years, if the man who started their label has his way. Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith teased a potential project from them during a Twitter Q&A session with fans.
When one fan asked whether the group would ever do a remix of “Vice City,” Top’s favorite Black Hippy track per a previous answer, the label head went one step further. “I think they will…” he replied. “They owe y’all an album or EP.”
I think they we will….. they owe y’all an album or Ep .. https://t.co/zkRBneQc6O
— TOP DAWG #TDE (@dangerookipawaa) March 27, 2023
Now, whether such a thing will come to fruition remains to be seen. As mentioned above, it seems very much like at least two (maybe three) members of the collective are halfway retired as it is, Kendrick is busy with PgLang and his cousin Baby Keem’s career, and three-quarters of the group have kids — which can really change the calculus for album release strategies. Hopefully, they can carve out some time to get into the studio together, though, because as a group, their chemistry was always unmatched and extremely enjoyable.
It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from Schoolboy Q. His last major release came in 2019 with his fifth album Crash Talk, a project that was up to par with the quality raps he’s delivered over his career, but one that was a bit toned down from his prior work. Since then, most of Q’s work has come through guest features with the likes of Freddie Gibbs, Reason, Nez, Conway The Machine, Gorillaz, and more. Over the last few years, he’s often promised that his sixth album was set to arrive in the near future, but as of today, we’ve yet to receive it.
All of that could change soon as Schoolboy Q finally returns with a new single for his faithful fan base. The new track, titled “Soccer Dad,” finds him standing tall and strong as he prepares to return to war. Don’t be mistaken, while his days may consist of being a real-life soccer dad or showing off his skills on the golf course, Schoolboy Q will send or shot or two if the occasion calls for it.
Schoolboy Q’s upcoming album, if released this year, would join a bloated list of projects that could potentially come from the TDE camp. It includes confirmed projects from Kendrick Lamar and potential ones from SZA, Ab-Soul, and others.
You can listen to “Soccer Dad” in the video above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Schoolboy Q has been missing from the music scene but he’s been dabbling in golf. This past weekend, the TDE rapper made a playing appearance at a golf tournament and talked about how the sport has changed his life. Schoolboy Q Says “Life Is A Golf Game” It’s no secret that Schoolboy Q has been […]
