New Music with Nick: “HERBERT” by Ab-Soul

Welcome to “New Music with Nick.” On this column, I will probably be reviewing a number of the most notable new album releases throughout varied genres, specializing in hip-hop, R&B and pop music. Be a part of me in exploring the ever-shifting panorama of the streaming period. 

Ab-Soul: “HERBERT” (December 16, 2022)

Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, higher often called Ab-Soul, has gone virtually his total profession being missed. Key figures within the style perceive his greatness — and he actually understands it himself — however the mainstream audiences have by no means actually given him the credit score he deserves. Soul has all the time performed a really explicit position as an summary, misunderstood lyricist, and sadly, that’s a job that hardly results in widespread acclaim and appreciation. Ab-Soul marches to the beat of his personal drum and has supplied hip-hop with a number of nice music and innovation.

As High Dawg Leisure’s summary and oftentimes over-the-head lyricist, the Carson, California native has by no means actually been one for following what’s orthodox. Ever since his first mixtapes dropped over a decade in the past, Ab-Soul has been grappling with random conspiracy theories, conceptual wordplay and the ills of society. Usually, Ab-Soul displays deeply on the surface world, discovering a number of the most idiosyncratic features of society to evaluate and analyze.

“HERBERT” sees extra of Ab-Soul’s vitality being centered on himself as a substitute of the loopy and damaged world round him. It doesn’t matter what the subject of an Ab-Soul album, you may inform {that a} important effort went into it. It’s actually a really considerate album, as all of his work tends to be.

The album comes following a large hiatus of just about precisely six years after the discharge of “Do What Thou Wilt.” Judging from the content material and particular references inside “HERBERT,” the final six years have clearly been loads for Ab-Soul. He has been coping with trials and tribulations of non-public tragedies and psychological healthissues that even led him to an tried suicide. The music video for “Do Higher”, a profoundly shifting tune, narrates what he has been going via and his will to do higher in life. All kinds of points and emotions are addressed all through the album, and they’re accomplished with a lyrical precision that few rappers can present.

Musically, the album actually has some nice moments. The aforementioned “Do Higher” is a superb tune and one of many key foundational storytelling items of the album, with sharp bars over a ravishing pattern. The deeply sentimental temper of the monitor makes it one of many album’s highlights.

“Goodman” is perhaps the album’s greatest tune, with an intensely impassioned supply and punchline-heavy bars over a improbable soul pattern, complemented with an incredible closing characteristic from TDE govt Punch. “Gang’nem” and “Moonshooter” convey an eerie environment and uneven experimental flows with a methodical supply. “Hollandaise” and “Church On The Transfer” present lighthearted enjoyable, with excessive vitality over entertaining manufacturing. These tracks have an total feel-good vitality whereas nonetheless sustaining the sturdy lyricism. The experimental “Bucket” is charming in its sharp writing, minimalistic manufacturing and laid-back smoothness.

Nonetheless, the album jumps round at instances in high quality —  a couple of tracks vary from mediocre to downright terrible. “Optimistic Vibes Solely” is perhaps the worst tune I’ve ever heard from Ab-Soul. It’s simply horrible, from the abysmal vocal enhancing to the manufacturing that sounds prefer it wouldn’t make the lower for a low-budget 2004 Nintendo recreation. I do not know what he was considering on this one or why it made the album.

No different songs had been this terrible, however one other handful like “The Wild Aspect,” “Artwork of Seduction,” “Fallacy” and “It Be Like That” grew to become boring after a few listens. A few the meant high-energy hits additionally fell a bit flat for me. “FOMF” and “Go Off” each had one thing stopping them from actually clicking for me (comparable to Russ’s horrible verse on “Go Off”).

It completely might have been a greater album. Sure songs didn’t must be on right here, and sure songs felt both unfinished, in want of extra work or simply less than Ab-Soul’s typical normal of high quality. Nonetheless, I’m not overly disillusioned with the consequence. There are nonetheless many redeeming qualities to this album, and a few these songs will keep in a long-term rotation for me. 

The TDE rapper has had a much bigger impression on the style than many notice or wish to acknowledge. A distinguished lyricist of the trendy era, Ab-Soul has created a number of the most high quality summary hip-hop data of the final fifteen years. Initiatives like cult basic album “Management System” have impressed high lyricists, influenced the underground and supplied a glimpse into simply what Soul is able to when he’s at his greatest. The West-Coast, experimental and acutely aware sound of Ab-Soul has turn into distinctive to the trail he’s paved himself for a few years now. 

Ultimately, it’s so nice to have Ab-Soul again to releasing music. He’s actually a sensational lyrical expertise who gives a lot to hip-hop. It is going to all the time be thrilling to take heed to what’s on his thoughts, it doesn’t matter what he’s speaking about. “HERBERT” is a essential level in his arc of development as each an individual and as an artist, and it’s fantastic to see this improvement come to fruition in his work.

Favourite Songs:  “Goodman,” “Bucket,” “Do Higher,” “Hollandaise,” “Gang’nem” “Church On The Transfer,” “Moonshooter”

Album Rating: 70/100

Take a look at this Spotify Playlist and prefer it to take a look at a few of my favourite songs of 2022.

Editor’s Observe: This text is a evaluation and consists of subjective opinions, ideas and critiques.