Control System
by Ab-Soul
  • Record Label: !K7
  • Release Date: May 11, 2012
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 105
  3. Negative: 3 out of 105

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  1. Eon2323
    Jan 6, 2014
    10
    The hook on "Track Two" says it all about this MC: This Black Hippy member gives it his all on this record without holding back; he's truly one of a kind. He can be introspective when needed but at the same time drop lines about DMT and weed. He has a bright future ahead of him.
  2. RappyMagoo
    Apr 18, 2014
    10
    This album is flawless. I'm disgusted to see other people rate this album with anything less than 10. If I need to convince you that Ab-soul is one of the greatest lyricists of our time, then you need to get your ears checked (perhaps your brain too)
  3. Connorcox1997
    Mar 17, 2019
    10
    Control System by Ab-Soul is fantastic. An-Soul had delivered an incredible album. The production is fantastic, and the beats are dope. I absolutely loved all the songs on the album especially songs like "Bohemian Grove,” “Mixed Emotions,” and “ILLuminate ft the Great Kendrick Lamar.” Control System is an album you don’t want to sleep on. I highly recommend it.
  4. geedup
    Jun 28, 2012
    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 includeI 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
  5. ben_zo77
    Jul 14, 2014
    9
    Abstract, introspective, and unique are all good adjectives to describe this album, but none accurately captures the lyrical mastery that Ab-Soul demonstrates throughout Control System. There were several misses on this album (including the laughably atrocious song "SOPA"), but the large majority of this 17-track LP was elite. Ab-Soul is often overlooked because of his more high-profileAbstract, introspective, and unique are all good adjectives to describe this album, but none accurately captures the lyrical mastery that Ab-Soul demonstrates throughout Control System. There were several misses on this album (including the laughably atrocious song "SOPA"), but the large majority of this 17-track LP was elite. Ab-Soul is often overlooked because of his more high-profile TDE label-mates like Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q which is unfortunate because, while he does not have the presence, vitality, or pure spitting ability of Kendrick, he is not-so-arguably the best lyrical artist of the three. As a fellow reviewer stated: "If you like hip hop not about just money, girls and cars this is the artist and record for you."
    ~ 8.6/10
    Best track: "The Book Of Soul": This would be the best song based simply on the background story to it (his girlfriend of seven years, Alori Joh [who is featured twice on this album], tragically committed suicide), but the lyrics and storytelling are also exceptional.
    Other notable tracks: "Terrorist Threats", "Track Two" & "Black Lip Bastard (Remix)"    … Expand
  6. 1stBorn
    Feb 16, 2013
    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"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
  7. BetterOffDead_
    May 16, 2014
    8
    Control system is ab-souls second studio album and he delivers! Very nice word play by soul on this, each track had a deferent feel to it, he covers deferent topics with this unique work play. The production on this is well done, really gives the feel to the tracks. Even the guests on this deliver like on tracks such as terrorist threats and black lip bastard which the album closes on,Control system is ab-souls second studio album and he delivers! Very nice word play by soul on this, each track had a deferent feel to it, he covers deferent topics with this unique work play. The production on this is well done, really gives the feel to the tracks. Even the guests on this deliver like on tracks such as terrorist threats and black lip bastard which the album closes on, with a gritty beat and killer verses by everyone. This album has a lot of personality to it, definitely worth checking out.… Expand
  8. Macrofficial
    May 9, 2020
    8
    This was a great listen! the first track was 'Soulo Ho3' was an ok start too the album, but it definitely doesn't reflect how good the full project is. 'Track Two' is one of the first Ab-soul songs I've ever listened to, and it's a bop. The production on 'Bohemian Grove' was very solid, but I couldn't say the same for the lyrics which were just ok. the album starts getting a lot better atThis was a great listen! the first track was 'Soulo Ho3' was an ok start too the album, but it definitely doesn't reflect how good the full project is. 'Track Two' is one of the first Ab-soul songs I've ever listened to, and it's a bop. The production on 'Bohemian Grove' was very solid, but I couldn't say the same for the lyrics which were just ok. the album starts getting a lot better at 'Terrorist Threats', with Danny Brown on the track. Both artists were great but I probably prefer Ab-souls verses. 'Pineal Gland' has one of my favourite beats on the album. 'Double Standards' has a great beat and some very good lyrics, just sounds amazing. 'Mixed Emotions' is a song that is good, LEAN! 'Sopa' is a song I have mixed feelings of, the lyrics are pretty good, but the production is kind of distracting and not that good, and when someone is saying YAH! in the song it made me cringe a little bit. 'Lust Demons' have some of the best bars on the whole album, some of them made me had too pause the song too take in several bars. 'Illuminate' is like a reflection type song if that makes any songs that I liked. 'A Rebellion' and 'Showin Love' are both good songs, but neither of them have anything that really stand out, which is perfectly fine. 'Empathy' Is the only you'll hear me say that is boring on the whole album, it just sounded like alot of songs I have already heard, quite basic. 'Nothing's Something' is another solid song. 'Beautiful Death' is a song on the album that has a beautiful chorus, beat, and lyrics. 'The Book Of Soul' is what it sounds like, it's like a small life story book compacted in 5 minutes, and those 5 minutes go by fast. the album ends on a black hippy song, 'Black Lip Bastard', like a ab-soul album normally ended with, and like always, it was a solid end. overall the album has mostly great songs, but here and there, there are a few songs that I would leave off the album. this album was strong lyrically, and especially productionaly, and featurely even though those aren't words. Favourite Tracks: Double Standards, Lust Demons, and The Book Of Soul.… Expand
  9. blogfirstlast
    May 5, 2013
    7
    I enjoyed this album! It felt like a refreshing album with great lyrics and better beats!

    Favorite Song: Terrorist Threats

    Least Favorite Song: SOPA

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Best Album of 2012
44
#44 Most Shared Album of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic 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.
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  2. AllMusic
    Jul 25, 2012
    80
    Stunning, and at 17 tracks, surprisingly solid.
    Read full review
  3. The Wire
    Jul 24, 2012
    70
    Ab-Soul music fuses street-level concerns with the sort of erudite, rhyme scheme-fixated wordplay more commonly associated with rapper who value beats and rhymes over life. [Jul 2012, p.71]
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