Ab-Soul Picks Eminem Over Lupe Fiasco in Sound Check Showdown

Despite calling Lupe a mentor and placing him in his Top 5, Ab-Soul gives the edge to Eminem when it comes to storytelling.

Ab-Soul is the latest guest to join Sound Check, the game-style show where artists show their musical taste.

When asked to choose between two storytelling classics — Eminem’s “Stan” or Lupe Fiasco’s “Kick, Push” — Soulo wasn’t afraid to make a bold call:

Sorry, Lu, I love you, Lu, but come on! Lupe is actually a mentor of mine, too, for the record. But, come on, “Stan”.

Then came a childhood memory:

Eminem was the first CD that I bought. That’s why it’s interesting — I grew up in a record shop, and so I had everything. But my mom would always give me the clean version. So, I can’t remember if it was “The Slim Shady LP” or “The Marshall Mathers LP” that I bought, but I know it was Eminem. It’s the first one I snuck and bought. The explicit version.

So, Lupe lost this battle to Slim, even though Ab-Soul did not include Em in his official Top 5, which he listed as Jay-Z, Nas, Kendrick, Lil Wayne, and Lupe Fiasco. “Eminem would be six, for sure”, adds Soul.

Having his contemporaries on the Top 5 list is unusual, but Ab-Soul has two. And knowing that Lupe is Soulo’s mentor, it is clear that his list is very personal.

However, when it comes to skills and storytelling, Ab-Soul gives Eminem credit and keeps him in high regard. From early years, as we know now.