Control System - Ab-Soul
  • Band Name: Ab-Soul
  • Record Label: !K7
  • Release Date: May 11, 2012
Control System Image
Metascore
83 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The rap album for the Black Hippy member is his debut full-length solo release on the Top Dawg Entertainment label.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Aug 28, 2012
    91
    He's just a gifted kid who likes his weed and his words, which he twists with palpable delight around sparse synth beats musical enough to layer on some delight of their own.
  2. Exclaim
    May 25, 2012
    80
    If Habits & Contradictions was a reinstatement of gangsta rap, then Control System is a giant leap forward in conscious rap.
  3. All Music Guide
    Jul 25, 2012
    80
    Stunning, and at 17 tracks, surprisingly solid.
  4. Sputnikmusic
    May 25, 2012
    60
    Ab-Soul performs well in this complementary role and shows how versatile he really is, almost a west-coast amalgam of Brown and Kanye West, yet still a slightly weaker and more inconsistent sum than the parts.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. geedup
    9
    I was slow on the uptake on this MC but coming from the west coast, I am glad I am on board and this album demonstrates why. On Top Dawg records, he remains under the radar, which maybe good cuz' he makes quality music. Labeled "black hippy" gives and idea of his ID but not totatlly as his mc style is very flexible. With 17 tracks, I can listen to this one all the way thru. Favs include "Terrorist threats", Illuminate", "Showin love" and the remix to "black lip bastard" with Kendrick Lamar. His label mate Kendrick Lamar recently got picked up by Dr Dre and I am sure Ab Soul will follow suit as well. If you like hip hop not about just money, girls and cars this is the artist and record for you.… Expand
  2. 1stBorn
    8
    "Ab-Soul: Abstract a line from the chorus from Track Two that perfectly describes Ab-Soul. Somehow, I feel Ab-Soul should've named his album Habits Contradictions because it seems like that would've fit him better. Soul, like Kendrick, has a lot to say. And he knows how to do it. Songs like Terrorist Threats is about taking down the establishment. And on that song he sounds so much like Danny Brown it's hard to tell them apart on the song. Other songs like Pineal Gland, Track Two, Illuminate and Black Lip Bastard Remix are more to show off Soul's lyrical capability. Double Standards is Soul talking about those double standards and talking about how it affects his life daily. And how those double standards can affect people. The Book Of Soul is a very sad song where he talks about the tragic loss of his girlfriend Alori Joh, who posthumously appears on Empathy A Rebellion. It's a haunting song that leaves shivers down my spine with lines like "I guess the Mayans wasn't lying, 2012 my world ended". If I had any issues with this album it's that sometimes songs like Mixed Emotions and Bohemian Grove don't really do anything for me. But even then, Soul still comes hard. It's definitely a refreshing album. And it's furthermore proof that Top Dawg is one of the illest rap cliques out there.… Expand
  3. blogfirstlast
    7
    I enjoyed this album! It felt like a refreshing album with great lyrics and better beats!

    Favorite Song: Terrorist Threats

    Least Favorit    e Song: SOPA… Expand

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