Ab-Soul has revealed plans for a new album called Soul Burger, named after his late friend Armon “Doe Burger” Stringer who passed away in 2021.
In the album’s reveal trailer, which was released on Thursday (October 17), the TDE rapper stands shirtless in a dark room as a voice urges him to put his grief to the side and get back to his A game.
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“You done cried enough. I know you tired of losing. Loosen your tie and tighten up,” the narrator says. “How many times we been through this, bro? Count it up! I know you sad and all that. Trust me, I get it. But stand tall, you can’t fall ’cause they caught me slipping,” he says.
The dialogue also references Solo’s suicide attempt when he jumped off a bridge: “I’m glad your ass was in the cast and not in a casket. You could’ve died but you survived. Now get your cash, bitch.”
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Soul Burger is set to drop on November 8, less than two years after the release of Soul’s last album Herbert.
Check out the album trailer and cover art below.
11.8.24 pic.twitter.com/ILZFiayTml
— Ab-Soul (@abdashsoul) October 17, 2024
Ab-Soul previously opened up about the death of Doe Burger in an interview with GQ.
He said: “I felt like half of me was gone. He was my right hand. We were Huey and Riley from The Boondocks. I’m hurt every day. I’ve taken a lot of losses in my life, [but] that one right there was a make-me-or-break-me situation… I am not broken.”
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The rapper also wrote on Instagram alongside several photos of the two of them together: “Literally my other half.. This shit is unbearable. I’ve been avoiding doing this because I know it would make it real.
“Nonetheless, I gotta show the world how much you mean to me and I will continue to! My brother, thank you for everything. Rest EZ, I got us from here. Love you. HUEY & RILEY 47EVER!!!”
Soul Burger is supported by two singles so far: “Squeeze 1st 2” and “All That,” which hit streaming services on Friday (October 18).
The former caused a bit of controversy earlier this month after it was speculated that Ab-Soul was dissing J. Cole on the song in response to the Dreamville rapper featuring him on “Pi,” which seemingly contained shots at Kendrick Lamar.
Arriving shortly after Cole’s own new track “Port Antonio,” “Squeeze 1st 2” hears Solo spit: “Metasota warned me they wanna war / But actually they forfeiting,” which some interpreted to be about Cole backing out of his brief battle with K. Dot.
However, TDE president Terrence “Punch” Henderson shut down the narrative, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “I hate to clear up rumors, I usually let them fester and see how far they go, but ALL verses on Pi were recorded long before Like That,” referencing the Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick collaboration that ignited the rap wars.
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He added: “When an emcee is in his or her ‘I’m the best’ bag, they’re usually dissing everyone and no one at the same time. It’s a part of the motif for most emcees. The lines are usually open ended and can apply to any other rapper. Unless it’s a specific reference.”
Punch then criticized the listening comprehension of rap fans: “Man, we might need a ‘how to listen to rap music’ guide book. Or App. It’s getting scary.”
