Friday, Sept. 26, the Majestic Theatre will be hosting Ab-Soul, along with Bas, EarthGang, and UW student CRASHprez, for what looks to be one of the biggest hip-hop concerts this fall.
Ab-Soul is signed to southern California record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), and is a member of Black Hippy, a group formed by Ab-Soul and his label-mates Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock. Soul may be overshadowed by his more acclaimed companions, but his work is anything but inferior. Described as “an actual human dictionary” by Q and a “nerdy, wizardish genius” by Lamar, Ab-Soul is the brains behind Black Hippy. Ab-Soul’s style is lyrically the most intricate of his counterparts.
Ab-Soul’s mind isn’t just stuffed with words, it’s also full of concepts and ideas, as he raps over a plethora of issues, ranging from politics and modern affairs, to the human mind and drugs. Soul has released three studio albums (Longterm Mentality, Control System and most recently These Days) all of which have received generally positive reviews from critics. Ab-Soul represents the overlooked sibling within the TDE brotherhood. But with the confidence to write “I used to wanna rap like Jay-Z, now I feel I can run laps around Jay-Z,” it’s difficult to disregard his alpha-male characteristics.
Abbas Hamad, a.k.a. Bas, is a rapper from Queens, N.Y. His first studio album Last Winter was released in April. It’s rare to see an artist premiere with a concept album, but on Last Winter, Bas makes an attempt at his very own Illmatic (the classic album by Nas), describing his life and experiences in New York. His smooth delivery in his verses easily translates his New York lifestyle into enjoyable music.
EarthGang is an underground rap duo from Atlanta, Ga. They released new mixtape, Shallow Graves For Toys, at the beginning of September. The duo embodies the style of fellow Atlanta native group Outkast, with a rowdy, more bleakly humorous sound to color their overall themes. The duo seem to have a dedicated focus on production, as each song sports a unique and catchy beat. Whether it’s the sound or the lyrics, EarthGang is bound to catch your interest.
Lastly, we have fellow UW student Michael Penn II, under the rap alias CRASHprez. Perhaps the darkest of the performers, CRASHprez uses his music as a stage for social commentary, sharp wordplay, and dark humor. Prez rocks a uniquely twisted style with plenty of room to grow for the vigorous 20-year-old. His mixtape fear itself was released in January.
The Majestic will overflow with lyrical prowess Thursday night, as Ab-Soul and his opening acts will surely create a night full of good music and lasting impressions.
Michael Penn is a member of The Daily Cardinal editorial board.
