Herbert (album) explained
| Herbert |
| Type: | Studio album |
| Artist: | Ab-Soul |
| Cover: | Herbert_Ab-Soul.jpg |
| Alt: | A photo of a Black baby sat on the floor of a living room, wearing headphones which are plugged into a record player. |
| Recorded: | 2022 |
| Length: | 66:23 |
| Label: | TDE |
| Prev Title: | Do What Thou Wilt. |
| Prev Year: | 2016 |
Herbert is the fifth studio album by American rapper Ab-Soul. It was released on December 16, 2022, by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). It features guest appearances by Ambré, Alemeda, Big Sean, Fre$h, Jhené Aiko, Joey Badass, Lance Skiiiwalker, Punch, Russ, SiR and Zacari. It includes notable productions by Boi-1da, DJ Dahi, DJ Premier, Hit-Boy, Jahaan Sweet, James Blake and Sounwave, among others. Titled after Ab-Soul's birth name, Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, the album marks his return to music after a six-year absence following Do What Thou Wilt. in December 2016.[1]
Background and release
On April 22, 2022, Ab-Soul released "Hollandaise", the lead single from his then-upcoming yet-to-be-titled album.[2]
On September 16, 2022, he released the second single from the album titled "Moonshooter", which he co-wrote with his TDE label-mate Zacari.[3] With the future release of the album, the song would eventually include a feature by fellow American rapper Joey Badass.
On October 21, 2022, he released the album's third single, "Do Better", which features a guest appearance by Zacari. A black-and-white music video directed by Omar Jones was released for the single the same day.[4]
On November 18, 2022, he announced via Twitter that his next album Herbert would be released on December 16, 2022. He also released the fourth single "Gang'Nem", which features Fresh, a frequent collaborator of Ab-Soul.[5]
On December 7, 2022, he officially unveiled the cover art and the tracklist for the album.[6]
Track listing
Notes
- signifies a co-producer.
- signifies an assistant producer.
Personnel
Musicians
- Ab-Soul – vocals
- Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith – background vocals (track 1)
- Helen Anderson – background vocals (1)
- Richard Gray – background vocals (2)
- Umi – background vocals (2, 17)
- Maurice David – background vocals (3)
- Ambré – background vocals (5, 10)
- Rich the Kid – background vocals (5)
- Schoolboy Q – background vocals (5)
- Henry Was – bass (6)
- Amaire Johnson – strings (7)
- David Young – trumpet (7)
- Gionardo Burg – background vocals (8)
- Markeith Nelson – background vocals (8)
- Russ – background vocals (9, 16)
- Danielle Rich – background vocals (10)
- Armani – background vocals (13)
- Noleac Yashin – background vocals (13, 15)
- Jasmine "Sistar Outspoken" Pitcher – background vocals (14)
- Kendrick Lamar – background vocals (14)
- Yaris Sanchez – background vocals (14)
- Kailey Galvin – background vocals (15)
- Kiera Gavin – background vocals (15)
- Jordan Brooks – bass (16)
- Phillip Whack – trumpet (16)
- Zacari – background vocals (17)
Technical
- Nicolas De Porcel – mastering
- Andrew Boyd – mixing, engineering
- Rory Behr – mixing, engineering
- James Hunt – mixing (3, 4, 7, 14, 15)
- Sedrick Moore II – engineering (1, 9, 11, 13)
- Bert Gervis – engineering (4, 7)
- Hari Bhatt – engineering (6)
- Keaton Smith – engineering (10, 11)
- Milan Beker – engineering (12)
- Tom Kahre – engineering (12)
- Arnulfo Reyes III – engineering (13)
- King of Chill – engineering (18)
- Parks & Nef – engineering (18)
- Sir Darryl Farris – engineering (16)
- Demitrius Lewis II – mastering assistance
- Ashod Oshagan – additional engineering (3)
- Devin Ragsdale – engineering assistance (8)
Notes and References
- Web site: AB-SOUL ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM HERBERT, DROPS "GANG'NEM" VIDEO. HipHopDX. 18 November 2022.
- Web site: Ab-Soul makes his return with new "Hollandaise" single. RevoltTV. 22 April 2022.
- Web site: Ab-Soul Returns With New Single "Moonshooter". Complex. 16 September 2022.
- Web site: AB-SOUL ANNOUNCES "DO BETTER" SINGLE AHEAD OF NEW ALBUM. HipHopDX. 20 October 2022.
- Web site: AB-SOUL DROPS NEW SINGLE "GANG'NEM" FEATURING FRESH. RocktheBells. 18 November 2022.
- Web site: Ab-Soul unveils Herbert cover art and tracklist. Fader. 7 December 2022.
