It seems like everything a member of LA-based label Top Dawg Entertainment touches turns to pure gold. With Kendrick Lamar stirring up a lot of rappers in recent times (his verse alongside Jay Electronica & Big Sean is still causing debates months later), Schoolboy Q having one of the best albums of 2014 and both Isaiah Rashad & SZA releasing very strong debut projects, it's clear to see why TDE are one of the strongest sounding collectives in hip-hop today.
With the entire Top Dawg roster reported to be dropping projects this year, including a new Kendrick album, it's time for one of, in my opinion, the most underrated rappers, to step into the spotlight; Ab-Soul. The 27 year old Cali native is set to drop his full length album These Days, on June 24th, and with the release date creeping ever closer, we've been treated to a bangin' cut from the project, entitled "Hunnid Stax". Soul goes hard, in typical Ab-Soul style, delivering a cleverly worded verse, complete with ad-libs and a real mean flow that rides the beat with ease. Also assisting on this track is fellow TDE compadre Schoolboy Q, who drops an equally firm verse that's backed with Q's signature flow that combines outlandish ad-libs with cold and composed wordplay. Pittsburgh native Mac Miller is also on hand to add a rather bored sounding hook, which works surprisingly well. The instrumental is provided by Kenny Beats, one half of LOUDPVCK, who conjours up some bangin' drums with eerie sounding synths laced on top alongside a cleverly placed vocal sample.
You can stream "Hunnid Stax" below, and be prepared for Soul's full length album These Days to drop on June 24th.
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Ab-Soul
"Hunnid Stax" (Feat. Schoolboy Q)
- Top Dawg Entertainment
- 10th June, 2014
