Ab-Soul says TDE members are not co-workers. He says they are a family.

Ab-Soul, who is finalizing work on his untitled upcoming album, recently spoke about why he is upset when publications print "Kendrick Lamar and Black Hippy."

"I don't want people to think that Kendrick is like Lil Wayne or like 50 Cent," Ab-Soul said in an interview with Montreality. "It's not G-Unit. My boss is not Kendrick. Kendrick didn't sign me. Kendrick didn't add me to his group. This was a collective. Long before it was Black Hippy, we were all together. I just wanted that to be known to the world. Don't get the wrong idea. We're not band members. We don't just stand in the background and dance while Kendrick raps." 

Ab-Soul criticized publications for mislabeling the group shortly following the release of XXL's TDE cover. The cover line on the magazine reads "Kendrick Lamar & Black Hippy." In a Twitter post following the release of the cover, Soul said that if publications continue doing this, he will remove himself from the group.  

Ab-Soul Says TDE Is A Family

During his interview with Montreality, Ab-Soul also clarified that the statement was not one he made out of any malice towards Kendrick Lamar. In fact, Ab-Soul clarified that the two share a bond that is closer than one may share with a colleague when he was asked if he is bothered by constant questions about Kendrick Lamar in his interviews.

"Me and Kendrick aren't co-workers," Ab-Soul said. "That's my brother. That's my family. He deserves everything that's happening. I will answer every question about him. I'm not bothered by that at all. Kendrick's success assists my success. He's gonna be in a platform to present me to his audience one day and if I'm ready, maybe they'll accept me too. For the record, TDE, we are a family. Those are my brothers. I'll take a bullet for them. This is not work. Sure, we competitive. We all wanna be #1, but I want to see all of them be #1. If it's not me, it's gotta be one of them. For the record, I'm not bothered by Kendrick Lamar questions. Ask them all. I'll answer them all." 

Ab-Soul Says Eminem Would Be Foolish To Not Feature Kendrick Lamar

Speaking of Kendrick, Ab-Soul was also asked about his take regarding Lamar's inclusion on Eminem's upcoming The Marshall Mathers LP 2. 

"Eminem would kind of be foolish not to have him on his album at this point," Soul said. "Especially with the whole Aftermath empire, you've gotta think, that's Dr. Dre. It's very essential that Eminem include [Kendrick Lamar] in that rotation. I appreciate him for doing that. I really do. The Marshall Mathers LP is one of my favorite albums. I can't wait to hear the next part."

Soul also responded to questions about a potential Black Hippy album, a question that he's been asked several times since the group began making music together. 

"I think it'll happen when the time is right, when that check is right," Soul said. 

Ab-Soul Says He'd Like To Collaborate With Jay Z

During the interview, Soul was also asked about an artist he would like to collaborate with. 

"Jay Z," Ab-Soul said. "Hands down...If I can get a record with Jay before he checks out, mission complete. If I can bring out the Reasonable Doubt Jay, I'd be pretty fuckin' happy. But Jay is Jay. I can't really box him in to a certain sound. He really transcends every time." 

More from this interview can be viewed below.

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