Ab-Soul - Control System (Official Review)

Ab-Soul's new project, Control System is quite the hip-hop experience. Released on May 11th, it has been a good four days for myself to review the project in detail. It is indeed great. Control System starts with "Soulo Ho3" featuring Jhene Aiko, and really explains the direction of the project. "Track Two" follows in which Ab-Soul purely solidifies the fact that he is nasty as an MC. At the end of the track, he states that he took a number two on the beat. Beautifully put for the way he bodied it.



The brilliant project then continues with "Bohemian Grave" which is a true hip-hop track that Ab-Soul delivers a message on, mixed with him just dropping bars about the ladies. "Terrorist Threats" featuring  Danny Brown and Jhene Aiko follows, and is one of the deepest tracks on the project. Danny Brown and Jhene Aiko both kill their features, and the message on the track is riveting. After that, comes Soulo's single "Pineal Gland," which most may know, is a dope rap track with a traditional rap beat.

"Double Standards," "Mixed Emotions," & "Sopa" featuring Schoolboy Q all follow after that. These three tracks are very important parts of the project. "Double Standards" has the same sample background sound that Kanye West used on MBDTF, and sounds great. "Mixed Emotions" is a more traditional "get twisted track" that is needed on any good hip-hop project. "SOPA" with fellow TDE member ScHoolboy Q can easily be debated as being one of the best tracks on the project. The beat goes so damn hard, and is some real rugged rap music.

"Lust Demons" featuring Jay Rock & BJ the Chicago Kid comes next in the tracklist, and is another great collaboration track on the project. "Illuminate" featuring Ab-Soul's TDE affiliate Kendrick Lamar, is the best track on the project. No debate on this one, the beat, the flows, and the energy are incomparable to any song released this year. If we lived in a better world, this single would be #1 on every chart. After that, "A Rebellion" featuring Alori Joh comes next, and is another one of Ab-Soul's deep tracks. He speaks on how he is alone in the idea that he wants to take his yopper and blow away a police officer. Very controversial.

"Showin' Love" , "Empathy"  featuring Alori Joh & Ja Vonte’, and  "Nothing’s Something" all follow in the rotationce of the project. "Showin' Love" is Soulo just spittin', and some real hip-hop. "Empathy"  featuring Alori Joh & Ja Vonte’ is one of the better deep tracks on the album, conveying a true message to the listener. "Nothing’s Something" features Ab-Soul using Kanye's infamous "Addiction" chorus with an Ab-Soul twist. Very dope, and another deep message from Ab-Soul.

"Beautiful Death" featuring Punch & Ashtrobot, "The Book of Soul," and "Black Lip Bastard (Rmx)" featuring Black Hippy finish off the project. "Beautiful Death"  speaks on the reals of the world. Ashtrobot and Punch do a great job on the song, and the message is truly delivered. "The Book of Soul" is a jazzy-feel type of beat, with Soul still rapping about the reals of life. Lastly, "Black Lip Bastard Remix" ends the great project from Soulo. This track only solidifies the fact that Ab-Soul and the rest of Black Hippy are PROBLEMS, and truly are artists to look out for on the radio, the internet, and anywhere music can be found. The entire crew eats the beat alive, and end Control System beautifully.

To conclude, the main message being conveyed to a listener is a pure accelerated form of hip-hop. The main theme of the project is to not let us (the people) fall into the system. Control is one a hell of a drug, and Soul tries to expand that thought within our minds. The project was pure hip-hop delivered, and I can recommend it to any music fan.

Overall Grade: 9/10


Written by Baz

Previous: Ab-Soul - Control System (Album)

Artist Label: Ab-Soul