He begins the album with “Message in a Bottle”, a song that is immediately reflective, both from his inward perspective as well as from the way others view him – or at least how he perceives them to. On “Herbert”, Ab-Soul gives listeners an eighteen track album that comes off as sincere, purposeful and uncovered. Instead, these projects dug around said mindset to merely reveal its more outward appearance and perhaps even a mirage of what could have really been seen if Soul had taken further steps into exploring many of the more interesting aspects of these works. This approach rivals that of “Do What Thou Wilt” and its predecessor “These Days…”, both records that, while certainly possessing their own level of topical study and skillful proficiency, and both of which stand firm as strong albums (particularly in the case of “These Days…”), did not quite bring the listener into the rapper’s true mindset. More confident and exuberant-feeling tracks boost the project from one section to the next while comparatively more difficult ones such as “Do Better”, challenge the upbeat moods of the record in such a way that not only gives it balance but also shows an emotional range that is surely appropriate for all that the artist has been through. Rather, for the most part, the flow of “Herbert” feels natural. Regardless of what songs materialized when, this album does not feel like a mix of different ideas and feelings bundled together into one loose package. While many of the songs on his newest album were said to have been recorded during these difficult times, some also came during a time of relative relief for the rapper. Nevertheless, this early leg of Soul’s career by no means explains his full story, one that is remarkable and that his newest effort “Herbert” shows he is all but finished telling.Īb-Soul has stated that in the time leading up to “Herbert” he experienced heavy bouts of mental ailments such as depression and other internal struggles that brought him to his very breaking point. This time period was pivotal in the rapper’s career and has been dissected both in regards to his singularity as a musician as well as his role in TDE’s rise alongside prominent artists such as ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock and, of course, Kendrick Lamar. “The Book of Soul”, one particularly important song off Soul’s debut told the rapper’s story with both eloquence and grit while other tracks like “Pineal Gland” and “Terrorist Threats” showed him in the thick of his trademark fascination with the human conscious, experimental use of psychedelic drugs and an all-around unwillingness to conform to the status quo. The latter was Soul’s debut album, which he released via Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) around a time when the independent label was gathering some of its best early talent. These attributes have been prominently showcased on his outside the box projects such as “Long Term Mentality” and, most notably, “Control System”. Ab-Soul has long held a reputation in Hip-Hop for being an abundantly mindful and highly introspective artist.
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