Ab-Soul Speaks on Being Signed To TDE Only

Through the late 2000s, and part of the early 2010s, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul were doing their thing on a small scale with TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment). Then Dr. Dre came along and snagged up Kendrick Lamar. Of cos Kendrick remained signed to TDE, but he was now also signed to Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, and Jimmy Iovine's Interscope Records. Then, ScHoolboy Q dropped his album earlier this year, and it had an Interscope logo on it, and people believed that maybe all four of the major rappers on TDE had signed an Interscope deal. But, Soulo has come to set the record straight.






During his recent interview with Complex, he was asked about his label situation, and he said...

“T.D.E. only. I was never signed to Interscope. Very important to know. If one of us are there we’re family. Kendrick went over to Aftermath / Interscope, Q went over to Interscope. So, it’s just us trying out with the larger brands. Branching off...It’s all strategy but at the same time, was Death Row an independent label? Are we calling it the right thing really? What are we doing? What are we trying to do here?"

Smart move by Top Dawg (TDE C.E.O). He signed off two of his artists to major labels, and they (Kendrick, and ScHoolboy Q) enjoyed the big budget of the major label (Insterscope). And it has equally helped the TDE brand grow. So, now, Ab-Soul who is only signed to TDE, would enjoy the buzz Kendrick and ScHoolboy Q have created. Ab-Soul might not sell as much as those two, but even if he sells about 50k first week, he would bring in more money for Top Dawg than Q and Kendrick selling over 100k first week.