Ab-Soul finds ways of intriguing and challenging the mind of his listeners through his lyrics and the content of his music. He seeks to inspire both older and younger generations into thinking of the future, opening their minds and coming to terms with life and the situations that we deal with as people today. He takes time to discuss the controversial topics and explain his way of being, so whether you know him as an artist, rapper, or just a name, he can introduce himself through his passion and artistic skill; music.
One thing that can definitely be said about Soul is that he is a visionary. He tends to look beyond what most artists do. It is very apparent that he uses himself and other social events as examples that inspire his art. He struggled with his own obstacles as a kid and growing up. Soul had contracted Steven-Johnson’s syndrome as a young boy, his high school sweetheart committed suicide, but that only motivated him more to press on and be better for himself and as he states, live to let his girlfriend “shine”. Soul’s song “The Book of Soul” explains that journey perfectly. He draws attention to his scuffles with the past and some of the downfalls that he’s been through as pathways to bigger and better things. Soul has a way of bringing light to situations people would have never thought possible. Soul’s mind has a certain depth to it and it is incredible that he was willing to share that art with the whole world.
Ab-Soul has a very noteworthy quality to his music. One song that speaks volumes is “Real Thinkers”. He speaks about how there should be more to the thought process in many individuals today. He emphasizes that people should open their minds and search through, seeing what they could possibly find. He also points out that if you think that creativity doesn’t take a high “time consumption”, then that’s “blind assumption”. He wishes for people to defy odds and grip the skies because the possibilities of what can be found and accomplished are endless. It is certainly a piece of art through music that makes one want to explore more within themselves.
Soul expresses a plethora of ideas and concepts with only just a few lines. The profundity and emotion he puts into his work relates to those of a few other artists. “The Book of Soul” tells a story of life, death, and coming of age. Chance The Rapper, a fellow comrade to Soul, has a song similar. It also speaks of losing someone close, being traumatized, dealing with pain and eventually working through it. It is easy to tell and see the similarities between the artists that have worked together and have styles that are alike but also very distinctive.
Soul takes the passion that flows inside of him and interprets that into something for all generations to hear. The way he carries himself and expresses his thoughts with such fluidity and passion through only about three to four minutes on a track is unbelievable. Soul is known as an “underground” rapper, meaning he isn’t within the mainstream artists that are constantly looked at or on the radio, but he definitely has the same amount of exposure because of fans and others who can tell about his art. The real ardor of an artist’s powerful, fervent work can be brought out in several ways. Soul’s is brought out through his music.
