Ab-Soul is gearing up to release a new album – but it won’t be anything like what fans have heard from him in the past.
The Los Angeles native chopped it up with DJ Hed and Gina Views for Sirius XM’s Effective Immediately on Tuesday (October 22), where he gave some insight into his new LP, Soul Burger. The project is an homage to his best friend and TDE affiliate Doe Burger, who passed away in 2021.
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“The idea came to fruition after [Doe Burger]’s transition and it’s just something that was very important for me to do ‘cause I don’t even know how I’m really still doing this without him,” Soul explained. “That’s how tight-knit we were. Just to make it clear that he wasn’t no hype man or hangaround, he was really my big homie. He was really the star of it. He put the glow on it. I just been tryna channel him. I got my hair braided — that was against my religion. I got jewelry on.
“I just been trying to channel him and my best way of doing that is through the music. And hence the title, it’s the fusion of me and him. We was literally Huey and Riley from The Boondocks. To where this album is not me – it’s Soul Burger. That’s not me. It’s like a new artist. It’s not a Ab-Soul project, it’s a Soul Burger project, so I recommend everybody listen to it in terms of that.”
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He concluded: “This is my attempt at just really channeling him and making music that I feel like he would he would really like.”
The Soul Burger conversation begins at the 2:35 mark below.
In a trailer for the album released last week, Ab-Soul 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.
“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.”
Soul Burger is set to drop on November 8, less than two years after the release of Soul’s last album Herbert.
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The LP is supported by two singles so far: “Squeeze 1st 2” and “All That,” which hit streaming services on Friday (October 18).
