S. Samuel
West Coast rapper Ab-Soul has dissected his upcoming These Days... solo album and discussed how much pressure he feels having the next big release behind Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates ScHoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar. #NoPressure
Ab said he opted out of going overly conceptual and felt a broader-sounding title would be appropriate for his LP.
“Originally, I didn’t want a super conceptual title. I didn’t want to freak anybody out. A lot of people do like that concept-driven perspective and that’s cool, but I just wanted to loosen up a bit. I wanted to make the overall concept broader. I wanted it to be like a time capsule to represent where I’ve been between my last project and this one.” (Life + Times)
Despite chart-topping success from ScHoolboy and K. Dot, Soul denied feeling pressure of delivering with These Days….
“I’m from LA, where you got to be a cool n*gga and you can’t walk around with too much fear in your heart. That’s just how I was brought up. I’ve walked this earth a long time without the media, so I don’t really see the media being an issue for me. I’m not signed to a major label. I’m signed to Top Dawg. It’s a Top Dawg party, so I’m rolling this project out in a similar fashion to how I rolled out my past projects.” (Life + Times)
A few days ago, Ab released his new “Stigmata” anthem with collaborator Action Bronson.
Ab-Soul is next up to bat in the TDE camp. The Carson, Calif. rapper will release his third album These Days… sometime this year. But first, he teams with Action Bronson and Asaad on “Stigmata.” Over the Rahki-produced track, he raps carrying the cross and thanks Steve Jobs for giving him a job. (Rap-Up)
TDE’s ScHoolboy Q recently suggested Ab-Soul’s LP could drop next week.
“”@dangerookipawaa: #TheseDays #TDE JUNE ?,2014″>>June 3rd old blood!!! And goodlookin for cHeckin n*ggaHz about dat 1st splash I’m bool lol,” ScHool tweeted May 17. (ScHoolboy Q’s Twitter)
Check out Ab-Soul’s “Stigma”:
