“Ab-Soul Talks New Album 'Soul Burger,' Drake and Kendrick Lamar Coming”.

Ab-Soul's close friend, collaborator and yin to his yang Armon “Doe Burger” Stringer passed away in 2021 and Soulo carries the tastemaker's spirit with him to this day. The 37-year-old dedicated his sixth studio album to Stringer Soul Burger – the fusion of Ab-Soul and Doe – will be released on streaming services on Friday (November 9th).

It's almost 2:00 in the afternoon on the West Coast and Ab-Soul hasn't slept yet when he speaks to him on the phone billboard. “I was the worst lyricist and the dumbest MC, which I'm proud of, but what can I do now to touch more people and make it happen?” asks the Top Dawg Entertainment rapper rhetorically.

Soulo has proven himself to be one of rap's elite wordsmiths and deadly writers more than ten times over the last decade, but his serving mission is different Soul Burger.

“This is to make the audience jump and focus more on the feeling rather than being so intellectual,” he says, before quoting Quincy Jones days before the legendary producer’s death. “I think Quincy Jones said, 'You have to give God some room to intervene.' I was banging my head against the wall and coming up with the stupidest metaphor instead of expressing myself.”

The Underground Emperor sought advice from a number of people and challenged himself in the studio while assembling an eclectic cast of guests including Ty Dolla $ign, Doechii, Vince Staples, Blxst, JID, Lupe Fiasco and more to join him on the LP begins cinematically like the opening scene Belly.

There are certain moments in a career that fans wish they could capture forever. Soulo enjoyed one of these in June when he appeared on stage with his ex-TDE brother Kendrick Lamar at the Pop Out concert, where they rapped “6:16 in LA” together. “When he pulled me onto the stage and kicked the thing at my feet, I felt like he was asking me if he still had it. As if he was looking for my approval,” he reflects. “This is our relationship.”

For much more below, Ab-Soul details how his first Billboard Hot 100 hit “Pi” ended up in the hands of J. Cole, as well as explaining his viral Drake “redemption” tweet and his Life as a rapper with Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

I heard you say that's a Soul Burger project instead of an “Ab Soul project”. Could you explain the difference between when you came to it creatively and what you wanted to achieve with it?

Essentially, it's an ode to my brother Doe Burger. If you know me, you should know him, hence the name Soul Burger. It was meant to serve as the fusion of me and him. We were yin and yang in many ways. I just wanted to channel him as best I could to keep him with me. I say this often, but I don't know how I can do it without him. My only logical explanation is that he must be with me. I feel like he wanted me to do this album. He was a true tastemaker. I valued his opinion. A real artist in his own right. I just really hope he would be proud of it.

Long live Doe Burger. I wanted to delve into a few tracks, starting with the opener “9 Mile.” I felt like I was walking into the opening scene of Belly.

Honestly, I wanted it to come in and feel like that Belly. That's exactly what I've been practicing lately. I just try not to think about it so much and follow the feeling. Just try to complement the music more than focusing so much on what I'm saying. I am a poet by nature. I've written a million rhymes a million times. I challenged myself to really capture a mood. Supplement the music with what I try to convey lyrically, with metaphors, punch lines and similes. It worked for me. I have been honest throughout my entire career. I shared my testimony. I feel like it's more important to me that people hear what I'm saying, to feel the music.

Definitely. I know you've talked to DJ Hed about wanting to make some noise here as an underground emperor. Like you want to compete on a different level to be part of this conversation. Detail the height you want to create.

I just challenge myself to take advice, collaborate and ask questions. I was the worst lyricist and the stupidest MC, which I'm proud of, but what can I do now to touch more people and spread the word? Why not try everything you can get in this art form? Compete on all levels. I'm still trying my best not to compromise the spirit that brought me here, but how can I move forward?

It's great to see this humility and willingness to challenge yourself for over a decade Control system in 2012.

I'm glad you said that. I can't beat Control system for free. Our goal is to push it further. I have to hit Control system. I need someone to point to another project of mine. Control system was a frequency, man. That was a time when it was just pure hunger. I wasn't worried about numbers or business. I just really did what I wanted to do. I made the art I wanted to make without apologizing for it, and I'm trying to get back to that.

You made your Billboard Hot 100 debut earlier this year with J. Cole's “Pi.” I know the whole backstory with how you didn't know Cole would end up getting the record [Might Delete Later]. Have you had any conversations with him since then about having to go from bar to bar soon and get your treat back?

Daylyt, he's part of the team now. He works very closely with us and especially with Punch. A greeting to the room full of mirrors. Me and him are close and we had a sparring session where we did some lyrical exercises back to back. It's called “Pi” because, ironically, the song ended at three minutes and 14 seconds. This happened long before the battle and all that. He sent it to Cole and I didn't know. It was [Daylyt’s] record. I woke up one morning and had a crazy J. Cole verse on my phone. I'm like, “Bro, what the?” You have to let me know. This is one of the best rappers in the world.”

I had a little problem with Cole because he was supposed to be on my last album Herbert. Cole is a real artist, he probably couldn't just capture the mood – and that's the proof, because this film motivated him immediately. A real rapper's rapper. I called him right away and said, “Brother, I need my help.” We’re all really cool. The whole Dreamville camp. He respected that. He was inspired to ally with the Jedi and flew us there [Atlanta]. It was great, we were all able to build and create. He had that spirit. I told him straight up, “We have to fight.” In divine timing, when the stars align.