Ab-Soul says there’s a specific reason the reason of his forthcoming These Days… album has been delayed.

“We had decided to push my album back in order to let [ScHoolboy] Q’s project breathe and to also let Isaiah Rashad run, let SZA run and to keep building the anticipation for my album,” Ab-Soul says during an interview with Life+Times. “With that extra time, I went back in and added about four or five extra songs and ‘Stigmata’ was one of the last ones.”

“Stigmata” was released last week. The cut features Action Bronson and Asaad and plays off of Nas’ song “The Cross.” 

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Ab-Soul says Nas is one of his favorite rappers.

“I came up on Canibus,” the TDE rapper says. “He was like one of my first favorite rappers. Then you add Jay Z and Nas. I learned a lot from Hip Hop, so it’s only right that I try to give that back.”

Another rapper Ab-Soul admires is Common. The Chicago rapper featured Ab-Soul on his “Made In Black America” song, which was released in February. 

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“Common literally texted me out of the blue,” Ab-Soul says. “He sent this long text message showing his interest in the music. It was just so crazy. I didn’t even want to ask him where he got my number from [laughs]. He sent the track right then and I sent that motherfucker right back with my verse. If you were a fan of Resurrection and One Day It’ll All Make Sense then you’d understand. I had met Common at one of Kendrick [Lamar]’s shows before we did the record. He was real cool, but I don’t think he knew who I was.”

Ab-Soul says that the TDE roster will be featured on his album. “It’s a family affair,” he says of his soon-to-be released album. “Because These Days… is what’s been cracking with us all.”

“Stigmata” and “Made In Black America” are as follows:

RELATED:ScHoolboy Q Requests Ab-Soul’s Release Date To Be June 3