Ab-Soul has finally announced the release of his long-awaited new album, Herbert, which is set to drop next month in the run up to Christmas.
On Friday (November 18), the Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) rapper took to Instagram to share a clip from a video for his latest single, “Gang’Nem,” which features Houston rapper Fre$H and is produced by frequent collaborator Sounwave.
AD LOADING...
“HERBERT. December 16th. #TDE,” Ab-Soul captioned the clip, alerting fans to the release date of his fifth studio album.
Sharing its title with the rapper’s government name (Herbert Anthony Stevens IV), Herbert is Ab-Soul’s first full-length project since 2016’s Do What Thou Wilt. Peaking at No.34 on the Billboard 200 chart and No.9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, it featured tracks with Schoolboy Q, SZA, Mac Miller, Rapsody and more.
In a press release from TDE, the new album is described as “a deliberately intimate portrait of the man behind Ab-Soul going back to his foundation, as noted by the name of the record, leaving the conspiracy theories he’s known for behind while emphasizing his musicality.”
It adds: “After suffering through a series of unspeakable tragedies, Stevens completed the album as a changed man with a new sense of purpose.”
AD LOADING...
As for “Gang’Nem” — which follows recent singles “Do Better” and “Moonshooter,” — Ab-Soul details the realities of Los Angeles street culture. The video, directed by Omar Jones, pays homage to the rapper’s roots in Carson, California, detailing where he’s from and the lifestyle he grew up around.
Check out the full video for “Gang’Nem” below:
In other TDE news, SZA has announced the name of her highly-anticipated new album and has zeroed in on a potential release period.
In a sprawling interview with Billboard, the singer told the outlet that the follow-up to 2017’s Ctrl would be titled S.O.S. and that it would likely arrive in December. But she said she’s “currently stressed” about meeting her deadline, and is quoted throughout the story as being unsure about her future in music.
“I feel like music, in this capacity, I don’t see longevity,” she said. “I like to create, I like to write, I like to sing, and I like to share. But I don’t know if chasing after superstardom or whatever I’m supposed to be doing right now is sustainable for me or for anybody. I’mma take a good swing at it, and I’mma give ’em my absolute best.”
She later added, “I only do what I want to do, and this makes me feel free and safe and unrestricted.”
AD LOADING...
SZA will also be the musical guest for Saturday Night Live’s December 3 episode, with Keke Palmer set to host.
