Herbert Tracklist
Herbert is the fifth studio album by rapper Ab-Soul. Titled after the rapper’s birth name, Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, the album marks his return to music after a 6-year absence following Do What Thou Wilt in December 2016.
In April 2022, Ab-Soul, released the album’s lead single “Hollandaise.” On September 16, the album’s second single “Moonshooter,” was released. However, both appeared as different versions on HERBERT, with the former now having a new beat switch and third verse from Soul and the latter featuring New York rapper Joey Bada$$ on the track.
The third single “Do Better,” which features vocals from Zacari, and was released on October 21. On November 18, the album’s fourth single “Gang'Nem,” was released, with the album’s title and release date officially being revealed on the same day through Twitter.
On December 5, Soul went on Joe Budden’s podcast and played two songs off album. Two days later on December 7, the album’s cover art and tracklist were both revealed through Fader.
“Herbert” Q&A
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Trailer for album:
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What has the artist said about the album?
I was just trying to restore the feeling of hip-hop in this climate. I intentionally tried not to listen to much music during this process, so I didn’t have too much external influence. I wanted it to sound like me, and what I wanted it to sound like; you could easily just get influenced by what you’re hearing, cadences and flows. I just wanted it to all come from me as naturally as possible.
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[I’ve been working on this album] since my last [one]. I took a good year and a half off. I dropped Do What Thou Wilt. in 2016. I went out on tour in 2017. I picked back up about late 2018. I had plans to drop in 2020. I thought that was tight, with my vision being impaired. Twenty-twenty vision, I thought that was cute. But the pandemic hit. We went through that, and it was a gift and a curse… I’m finally very, very confident, and I feel the energy behind it.
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This is Herbert. This album is Herbert. I’m just Herbert. When I call myself the god, I call myself the prophet, I compare myself to Jesus, I’m the savior, all of these things, Black Lip Pastor. And that’s just in the spirit of artistry of us using metaphors and similes and these things to speak of ourselves as highly as possible. You get what I’m saying? But this is a reminder that that’s Ab-Soul in the booth playing. Ab-Soul is a character, he’s a brand. Herbert is who I really am. So, when I say I’m the god, I mean we all are gods. We all are God’s children. It’s not just me. I just kind of wanted to make that clear this time.– Ab-Soul, via Vulture
