ALBUM REVIEW: Ab-Soul - Control System

On May 11th Ab-Soul dropped what I believe is by far the best album of 2012, Control System. Even though it's been out some time I still felt like the relaunch of my blog wouldn't be complete without me breaking down this work of art. Soul is apart of the Black Hippy crew which hails out of California. While other members Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock have had their share of publicity over the past few years, Soul has been slept on for the most part despite having three critically acclaimed projects over the past few years. The fourth time was a charm for him as this has gotten him the attention that was long overdue. Just as the title states, he discusses many control systems that are all around us. Whether it be the government, standards within society, or systems that we bind ourselves in...he covers it all. It takes a few listens to really soak up and appreciate everything he touches on, but hopefully I can make it a little easier for everyone to understand and enjoy....

1) Soulo Ho3 (Feat. Jhene Aiko)

In the intro which features the vocals of the lovely Jhene Aiko, Soul speaks on being slept on and how he went about changing that out of nowhere. Also spits a couple bars about the Control Systems around us and the death of his girlfriend Alori Joh, which is foreshadowing because those are two topics that he touches on often throughout the album.

2) Track Two

Track Two eh? Wonder why he called it that? He's all over the place on this one, pretty straight forward though. He speaks on his hometown, him being different from most, not having a lot growing up, just everything. Ill production from Tae Beast.

3) Bohemian Grove

This is where the album gets interesting. The Bohemian Grove is actually a campground in Monte Rio, California where some of the richest and most powerful men in the world meet to hang out, and also discuss world issues and plans for the future. But he actually describes some of the finer things of life, and having a good time throughout the song. Except for the chorus (which is really the only time he refers to the song title.), "Mother fuck the government, mother fuck the system, mother fuck you I'm just living how I'm living." He ends the song with a sound clip of men talking (Bohemian Grove members? Not really sure.) about about putting chips into humans that will make them abide to orders, making them chattel (slaves).


4) Terrorist Threats (Feat. Danny Brown)


Powerful song. Soul says that if everyone gets on the same page we'll be able to break the Control Systems around us, specifically all of the bullshit that the government does, in this case. Danny Brown says some ill shit on his verse. If you can deal with his voice, he's nice.


5) Pineal Gland


Switch of pace here. Your pineal gland (3rd eye) is the part of your brain that causes you to dream while you are asleep. The drug that he raps about taking in this song, DMT, activates your 3rd eye and causes you to see some of your dreams while you're still awake. Lots of double meanings throughout the whole track, portraying his usual advanced way with words.


6) Double Standards


Touches on things that we say everyday in society. Men are allowed to have hoes (yes) and it is acceptable, but if a woman were to do the same she'd be looked at as a hoe and talked down on. The story in this song is about a young dude who cheats on his girl with one of her friends after his friends and the girl peer pressured him into it. In the end she takes him back and cuts off her friend. Shit happens every day out here unfortunately.


7) Mixed Emotions


The ode to sipping lean. With promethazine, codeine, and Sprite being the mixed emotions. Nothing too deep here, or special...but still an ill song.

8) SOPA (Feat. ScHoolboy Q)

Stop Online Privacy Act is a United States bill that wants to expand U.S. law enforcement ability to watch over online trafficking on copy-written property. Basically, popular hip hop sites such as 2DopeBoyz, Nah Right, and blogs like this wouldn't be allowed to be on the internet. As he does a lot, Soul only references the title in the chorus and focuses on the better facets of life (marijuana, women, fashion) during his verses. ScHoolboy does the same, hits us with solid verses. I like how they split the last verse.

9) Lust Demons (Feat. Jay Rock & BJ The Chicago Kid)

Lust demons are women that Soul lusts over rather than loves or likes. I can feel him on that. Even though we aren't supposed to lust, shit happens. And you gotta differentiate lust and love right from the jump, why not call em lust demons? Damn sure can't be out here calling them angels. Jay Rock, the more quiet member of Black Hippy, drops an ill verse. Discusses crew lovers at the beginning, references Amber Rose...it had to be done.

10) ILLuminate (Feat. Kendrick Lamar)

"We don't just shine, we illuminate the whole show." Classic Jay-Z line from Dead Presidents II. Soul references Jay-Z a couple times in this one, he's stated that Jay is his favorite rapper but he's so confident in himself that one day maybe he could be on his level. Focuses on all of Black Hippy's bright futures, critics, confidence, the whole nine. Kendrick uses an old Dre line in his verse, so he is also speaking of his favorite rapper. 

11) A Rebellion (Feat. Alori Joh)

Definitely the deepest song on the album thus far. It only has a few drawn out lines, but they all hit extremely hard. In the three short verses he questions law enforcement, preachers, and even God. Repeating that he's prolly all alone on each issue. His late girlfriend Alori Joh provides singing vocals on the chorus, as does Soulo. I don't think he's alone on most of the issues it all, it's just that those are things that you aren't really supposed to question. Even though most of us do internally, most people are too scared to voice what they think publicly. "Who's bold enough to rebel?"

12) Showin' Love

Takes a track to shout out all of the niggas who are on the same shit that he's on. Four solid ass verses, shows off the lyrical side a little more on this one than a lot of the tracks. Uses the last verse to take shots at the biggest Control System, the government. "Mother fuck the government, democrats, republicans."

13) Empathy (Feat. Alori Joh & Javonte)

Soulo shows off the singing voice again on this one. Empathy is a person's ability to recognize feelings that are being experienced or expressed by another person. Seems that a song that features the late Alori Joh was actually about her.

14) Nothing's Something

Soul flips Kanye's Addiction and uses the same chorus. Uses a clever play on words for the songs concept. He states "I'm not worried about nothing.", which people would think means that he's not worried, but he uses the literal definition of the sentence. So not being worried about nothing really means he's always worried about something, because nothing is always something.

15) Beautiful Death (Feat. Punch & Astrobot)

"Don't be so afraid to die, cuz we'll never die." What he's getting at in this song is that you die for a good cause you will forever live on through what you did. Questions if anyone is man enough to stand on their own two to fight these control systems (the government) and the bullshit that they get away with every day. He shows that he's willing to die for what he believes in, and while many people say that they will, if it came down to it they wouldn't.

16) The Book of Soul

Man...this shit right here. I don't remember the last time I've heard such emotion in one song. He talks about what he went through as a child. Things such as Stevens Johnson's syndrome and having a rough time in school. Then goes on to talk about his relationship with his late girlfriend Alorhi Joh. A lot of crazy lines in this one. "I guess the Mayans weren't lying, 2012 my world ended." "You used to say that I could see the future, you was wrong cuz you was in it." "As much as I want to cower and bid the mic adieu, and fall off a fucking tower tryna find you." The last one really hits because she actually committed suicide by jumping off of a radio tower in California. Listening to this you can't help but feel for him. But by the way he carries himself you'd never know it, and this is the only song that he has really spoke on any of these things. It's impossible to listen to this for the first time and not run it back.

17) Black Lip Bastard (Remix) (Feat. Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and   

      Jay Rock)

The rest of Black Hippy hops on the first leaked track from this album. This one ads even more evidence to some people's opinions (such as mine) that they're the best group in rap right now.

Control System is a complete hip hop album. It takes you through the highs and lows of life, brings up a bunch of issues of the America that most citizens don't even realize are going on, while still managing to have a bunch of fun party type records. What impresses me the most about Ab-Soul is his word usage, he has a far better vocabulary than most other rappers, especially for a rapper that's only 25. Up until this release he was the one member of Black Hippy that most people hadn't listened to, he's still the only one that doesn't have a Wikipedia page. But after about a month of this being out a lot more people are becoming more familiar with him and checking his older releases that they've slept on. I think this is the clear cut best album of 2012 so far, I'm looking forward to seeing if anyone will be able to top this during the second half of the year.

BEST SONG(S): Terrorist Threats, A Rebellion, The Book of Soul.

WORST SONG(S): Mixed Emotions.

FINAL VERDICT: 5/5