What makes These Days… by Ab-Soul notable?

The album received positive reviews, with critics praising its lyrical depth and production quality, ultimately peaking at number 11 on the Billboard 200. It solidified Ab-Soul's reputation for complex storytelling and thematic exploration, influencing a new wave of introspective hip-hop artists. These Days… is Ab-Soul's third studio album, following the critically acclaimed Control System from 2012. At this point in his career, Ab-Soul was establishing himself as a prominent voice in the TDE collective, striving to carve out his distinct identity amidst his more commercially successful peers like Kendrick Lamar.

How many songs are on These Days…?

These Days… has 15 tracks, running approximately 89 minutes.

These Days…

Ab-Soul · 2014

89 min · 15 tracks · West Coast hip-hop

A contemplative blend of introspective lyricism and jazzy West Coast beats that invites deep reflection.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Gods Reign — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its layered production and philosophical musings, showcasing Ab-Soul's introspective style right from the start.
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Kendrick Lamar’s Interlude — Featuring Kendrick Lamar, this interlude highlights the camaraderie within TDE while providing insight into the personal struggles both artists face, making it a pivotal moment on the album.
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Sapiosexual — In this track, Ab-Soul explores themes of attraction beyond physical appearance, demonstrating his ability to intertwine deep concepts with engaging narratives.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album blends introspective lyricism with jazzy beats, showcasing strong production and thematic depth.

What we noticed

The album opens with a slow, atmospheric track that sets a reflective tone, followed by a series of tracks that alternate between introspective lyrics and jazzy instrumentals.
Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies and call-and-response structures, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the collaborative feel.
The last three tracks shift towards more personal themes, with 'Closure' featuring a minimalist beat that allows the lyrics to take center stage.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Gods Reign 4:18
2 Tree of Life 5:37
3 Hunnid Stax 3:23
4 Dub Sac 5:50
5 World Runners 5:02
6 Nevermind That 4:39
7 Twact 3:48
8 Just Have Fun 5:30
9 Kendrick Lamar’s Interlude 4:59
10 Closure 3:28
11 Sapiosexual 3:36
12 Stigmata 3:48
13 Feelin Us 5:09
14 Ride Slow 7:21
15 W.R.O.H 23:00

What to play next

Listen next

DWTW

2016

Go back to

Control System

2012

Full Ab-Soul discography Artists like Ab-Soul

West Coast hip-hop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata