With Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith’s proclamation that his budding record label would control the Rap game in 2014 with the release of a whopping six albums, the bar was set high for the growing number of Top Dawg Entertainment artists. But for TDE’s Ab-Soul, the focus is on longevity, not meeting a deadline. With the release of his album These Days…, which debuted this summer, Soulo played his part in securing the label’s now-prestigious reputation as one of Hip Hop’s best by using his poetic and powerful lyrics, along with a stunning features list and well-crafted beats, to increase his ever-growing fan base.
Always one to dig deeper, Rap Radar founder Elliott Wilson sat down with the Carson, California rapper at the SVA Theater in New York City for his latest #CRWN series interview, touching on Ab-Soul’s past, present and future just before the start of his These Days Tour, which kicked off September 17.
Ab-Soul Calls “These Days…” A Calculated Risk
The initial backlash from some fans was that These Days… was an abrupt departure from Ab-Soul’s Control System. Ab disagreed as he has before, but in addition to calling his latest album an unofficial sequel, he explained how These Days… fits into the larger issues at hand.
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“These Days… represents me following the control system,” Ab explained. “It’s an example of how the control system works. So you’re either going to understand that, or you might get upset with me and think I sold out…Those are the risks I like to take. No risk, no reward. It’s layered. I would call it Control System Part 2, personally. The first song is “God’s Reign,” the second song is “Tree of Life.” And the Control System cover! So I’d encourage anybody to dig a little deeper if you’re digging for the Control System in that…if that’s a problem,” he said, seemingly challenging the critics who gave his latest effort mixed reviews.
The Religion Of Hip Hop Is Real For Ab-Soul
Some could deem an album cover featuring a track named “Stigmata” and artwork inspired by the biblical crucifixion of Jesus sacrilegious. On the contrary, Ab-Soul says his brand of Hip Hop is very religious.
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“Jesus has been the most popular character these days…these days of music,” Ab said. “I’ve been hearing Jesus, the gods are back and all of these types of religious references and whatnot…Yeezus. Jesus is probably the most famous man in the world. So when I’m listening to music now, it just feels like we’re getting back to that. You’ve got to think about how Hip Hop started… black CNN. KRS-One made Hip Hop a religion. It’s intelligent movement. To be hip is to be intelligent. The hop is the movement. Intelligent movement. That’s KRS-One. That’s how it started, so I’m trying to push that issue. We’ve gotten away from that.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Prepped Ab For Memorizing His Lines
If you’ve listened to “The Book Of Soul,” then you’ve heard the trials Ab-Soul dealt with at a young age before he proclaimed himself the “Black Lipped Bastard.” To hear him tell it, his wordplay on the mic is also a byproduct of his childhood illness.
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“When I was 10 I caught a virus called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome,” Ab recounted. “My eyes were swollen shut for two or three months, and I was watching movies listening…So that could translate to what I do now…When I first started writing, I was writing on paper, and as my eyesight gradually got worse I had to find another solution, so I put the paper down. I put the Sidekick down. The idea is that when you hear a song that you like, when you hear a nice quote, you remember it. So my job is to just try and remember a million quotes that I’ll never forget. You do that for years and you’ll be a master at it. It’s all learned behavior. I don’t want anyone to think that it’s a gift or spiritual or anything. Ray [Charles] and Stevie [Wonder] had to do that because of their lack of sight.”
Ab-Soul Used To Try To Rap Fast Like Twista
By now, most know Ab-Soul’s infamous quote from the song “ILLuminate.”
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“I used to wanna rap like Jay Z, now I feel I could run laps ‘round Jay Z,” Ab rhymed. Over the years, the Carson, California native has reiterated the bar was not a diss. And ‘Hov listed Soulo as one of the emcees he checks for, so the respect is mutual. How did Marcy’s finest come to be Ab-Soul’s favorite emcee?
“I had Twista’s radio single…and I used to try and mock his flow to the best of my ability, and that was my first verse, the first verse I tried to write,” Ab explained. “I couldn’t quite do that, so I had to slow it down, and that’s when Black Planet came in. Canibus was the man in that world, the real lyricist. And then the Eminem’s come along, and I find out about Jay Z and Nas, and everything just falls into place. Reasonable Doubt is my favorite album. Why is it that I connect with [Jay Z] so well? I’m not from the projects; I’m not a dope dealer. Why is his story resonating with me so well? Those are the type of things that I take note to and what I try to give back to the culture.”
In conclusion, Ab-Soul is likely just as complicated as he was before These Days… if not more so. But as always, a conversation about his music and the themes behind it helps shine light on the material. Stay tuned for part one of Elliott Wilson’ #CRWN series interview with Ab-Soul on WatchLoud.com. You can also read a full recap at WatchLoud.com.
Photos by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Electus Digital
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