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.
The project furthers Top Dawg Entertainment's winning streak and marks the formal arrival of a cornerstone for this organization, an interestingly deep thinker whose determination and expanding consciousness seek to uplift and shape the world around him.
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.
Control System by Ab-Soul is fantastic. An-Soul had delivered an incredible album. The production is fantastic, and the beats are dope. IControl 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.…Expand
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 trulyThe 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.…Expand
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-soulThis 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)…Expand
Abstract, introspective, and unique are all good adjectives to describe this album, but none accurately captures the lyrical mastery thatAbstract, 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
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 fullThis 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
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, heControl 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.…Collapse
