Ab-Soul announces new album, shares lead single “Gang’Nem”

Ab-Soul has announced his first album in six years. Herbert, his fifth studio LP and the follow-up to 2016’s Do What Thou Wilt, draws its title from the Carson, California-raised rapper’s given name. (Ab was born Herbert Anthony Stevens IV in 1987.) It’s scheduled to arrive December 16 via Top Dog Entertainment.

Along with the news of his forthcoming project, Ab-Soul has shared its second single, “Gang’Nem,” produced by Compton beatmaker Sounwave and featuring Houston emcee Fre$h. The new track follows “Do Better,” the record’s lead single, dropped last month before the official announcement.

“All my naysayers are eatin’ crow / ’Cause we reapin’ every single thing that we can so,” Ab begins on “Gang’Nem,” turning to biblical language to express a common hip-hop theme. He goes on to proudly proclaim his affiliation to those who kept him up when he was down, even at the risk of self-incrimination. The song comes with a cinematic visual treatment directed by Omar Jones. Watch it above.