Ab-Soul‘s next album is one to keep an eye on, according to DJ Hed.
In the latest episode of HipHopDX‘s The Bigger Picture series, the veteran Los Angeles DJ shared some exciting insight into the TDE rapper’s upcoming project.
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“Ab-Soul? He got some slaps,” Hed said. “Ab-Soul got at least two slaps that I’ve personally have [heard].”
Co-host Elliott Wilson added: “That last album [Herbert] was criminally slept on. That was a great album,” while Jeremy Hecht noted that “slaps” aren’t what fans typically expect from the Black Lip Pastor, who is more known for his conceptual lyricism.
“Ab-Soul got a slap coming. Two of ’em,” Hed insisted.
Word of a new Ab-Soul album was first shared by TDE founder Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith during a Q&A with fans on social media in March 2023.
While laying out the label’s release plans for the year ahead, he teased a deluxe edition of Herbert (which has yet to materialize), as well as a follow-up album.
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Solo himself fueled excitement around the same time, announcing that he had recruited none other than LeBron James to A&R his next project.
In a video of him chatting with the NBA legend at a Los Angeles Lakers game, Ab told LeBron: “You really the right of passage. Top [Dawg] told me to ask you if you would A&R the next album.”
James responded without hesitation: “Yeah, I can do that.”
The four-time NBA champion praised Herbert following its release in December 2022, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “Ab-Herbert-Soul is so COLD MAN!!!!!!!!! [Fire] project G.”
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He also has prior A&R experience having helped put together 2 Chainz‘s 2019 album Rap or Go to the League.
Although Ab-Soul has kept relatively quiet about his new album since then, he did drop a new teaser this past March by sharing an edited photo of Mad Men‘s Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) in a pitch meeting stood next to an easel that reads: “Archive all your old Instagram posts one week before the first single.”
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The tongue-in-cheek post featured the headline: “Major label marketing teams pitching an idea to kick off the rollout.”
The Carson, California native followed his instructions by scrubbing his Instagram account and removing his profile photo, although he has yet to release a new single.
