While we still don't have a Black Hippy album (though Jay Rock says 2012 is the year), the four components of the crew are three years deep in steadily dropping albums. As the accolades continue to stream in, we have to marvel at the fact Ab-Soul released a record entitled Longterm in '09, proving he was a bigger picture artist from the jump.
Schoolboy Q kicked the year off with Habits & Contradictions, which means Ab-Soul is up next. There's no word on whether his next effort will continue the Longterm legacy, but “Black Lip Bastard” sets the stage for yet another rugged release from the camp. Ab-Soul's opening verse flips “all black everything” on its head and gives new meaning to blacking out on a verse. He's always been the comical one of the group, but “Black Lip Bastard” lends a new perception to black humor as Soul seeks the uncomfortable truths of his lifestyle. His approach to the track is not unlike his appearance, an unapproachable coldness set off by his black sunglasses that is only there to knock you off balance before the wise cracks.
