Two days before the highly anticipated release of his fifth album, Herbert, Ab-Soul released a brand-new song.
The TDE rapper debuted “No Report Card,” the fifth single from his upcoming new LP, in a private performance on Vevo Ctrl. The album is scheduled to be released on Friday, December 16.
Big Sean, Russ, Joey Bada$$, Jhené Aiko, SiR Punch, Zacari, Fre$h, Ambré, ALEMEDA, and Lance Skiiiwalker all made cameos on Ab-most Soul’s recent album. On the production side of things, he collaborates with Sounwave, DJ Premier, James Blake, Hit-Boy, Boi-1da, and DJ Dahi, among others.
Below, you can see Soulo perform “No Report Card” on Vevo Ctrl.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the Top Dawg Entertainment lyricist expressed his hope that Herbert’s sensitivity will encourage others to find relief from their own anguish.
“We’re all going through things, all of us,” Ab-Soul said. “Me sharing my testimony – if it doesn’t help, it might let you know you’re not the only one going through it.” That’s what ultimately gives me the courage to put it out there.”
On Monday, December 12, Soulo visited Power 106 to watch the L.A. Leakers and performed his first freestyle on the program. He covered the beats from 2Pac’s “Hit ‘Em Up” and The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya,” shouting out his former TDE labelmate Kendrick Lamar to let everyone know that Kung Fu Kenny’s departure from the label was amicable.
“I ain’t trippin’ off of y’all Top 5, save your statements, all your documents are falsified,” Ab-Soul rapped. “We the mafia of the West, I know K.Dot left/ That’s still my partner in crime, respect the family ties!”
Ab-Soul revealed to Vulture that he re-recorded his “Gotta Rap” collaboration “five or six times” in order to match the “frequency” of the finished single to Preemo’s preferences as Herbert’s release date approaches. DJ Premier is also a collaborator on Herbert.
“I knew I needed him this time around. He definitely put me to work. I had to do it about five or six times until he found the right frequency,” Soul revealed before the interviewer questioned if the issues were lyric-related.
“No, not rewriting. He liked the verse, but I had to match the frequency of the record, because, I guess, that was one of his favorite beats. So he wanted to make sure I was correct. That was the first time anybody ever made me re-record. So that was humbling. But it’s Preemo.
