Days after teasing a new collaboration with Roc Marciano, Grammy-nominated TDE MC Ab-Soul graced the fifth and final Dreamville Fest — and Billboard caught up with him moments before he hit the stage.
“I’m a little offended because me and [J.] Cole are very good friends and I’m a very good rapper, if not the best rapper of all time,” he said in jest. “Why is this my first time on the lineup? It’s beyond me. They really saved the best for last!”
Though it is Ab’s first time performing at the North Carolina festival, it may not be his last opportunity to head down to Raleigh. During a press conference on Thursday (Apr. 3), Raleigh festival organizers surprised fans by revealing that Dreamville Fest will return in the future under a new iteration. Of course, the final (for now) Dreamville Fest is a poignant moment for Ab, who “came up in the same era” as several key Dreamville stars.
“These are really my guys, Bas was on my first headlining tour, and that’s where I met Earthgang, JID, Cozz, the whole team,” he said. “They’re undeniable. They’re true MCs, true artists. Ari [Lennox] goes crazy. I’m sure [Dreamville Fest] is a dream come true for Cole and for many others in this area. I’m honored to be here [today].”
Last year, Ab dropped his sixth studio album, Soul Burger, a record dedicated to his best friend Doeburger, who passed away in 2021. Stacked with collaborators like Doechii, Ty Dolla $ign and Lupe Fiasco, Soul Burger also features Doeburger as a posthumously credited writer across all tracks.
In the caption of an Instagram post teasing his forthcoming Roc Marciano collaboration and honoring Doeburger’s birthday (Apr. 1), Ab gave a special shoutout to Cole, thanking the “Middle Child” rapper for sharing his perspective. “Preciate the insight Cole. It was much needed,” he wrote, detailing how much the new song means to him. “It’s imperative that I let the world know the impact my brother left on me and so many others. I didn’t do this for views nor to monetize. I did this to honor someone who was undoubtedly ‘none of a kind.’”
At the very end of his caption, Ab-Soul wrote: “Soul Burger: The Odyssey… Stay tuned.” While it’s unclear what exactly he’s teasing, Ab confirms to Billboard that this new project and his 2022 LP are “two different things.”
“Soul Burger is a character, it’s the fusion of me and Doeburger,” he explains. “The Odyssey is… the odyssey. It’s one of the most special pieces I’ve ever put together, I’m very excited about it. It’s very therapeutic — liberating, if you will. It’s a continuous ode to my brother.”
With new music and a performance at Wiz Khalifa’s forthcoming 420 on the Rocks show on the horizon, Ab-Soul is showing no signs of slowing down in 2025.
