The chopped up soul samples of “Goodman” and the DJ Premier-helmed brassy boom-bap of “Gotta Rap” give Soul confidence, as he booms triumphantly on the latter, “I’m still standing behind every word I speak.” On more introspective beats, like the woody percussion and lush Zacari sample on “Do Better” or the melancholy jazz piano loop and sax flourishes on “It Be Like That,” Soul takes the opportunity to reflect, express regret, grieve, and hold on to hope: “Lord knows it’s been like that/But it don’t gotta end like that.” Ab-Soul is energized, working with over 20 producers across the album’s 18 songs who guarantee that, though the record is bloated, it never falls into a homogenous stupor. It’s worth noting first that more often than not, Herbert sounds fantastic. And sometimes, as in the case of Herbert, there is less to be enthusiastic about in the finished product than in the growing process. Still, we have a cultural artifact to engage with that exists separate from these events. So when confronted with an album like Herbert- Ab-Soul’s first record in six years in which the Carson rapper outlines his mental health battles, including an attempted suicide, and comes out the other side trying to “Do Better” and embracing “Positive Vibes Only”-our first instinct is to celebrate with all enthusiasm. Perhaps it’s simply taking joy in other people’s joy, or perhaps other people’s self-improvement gives us the push we need to keep moving forward ourselves. We love to see people succeed and better themselves. There is something irresistible about the comeback story.

Ab soul album ab soul eyes