Message in a Bottle

## Song by Ab-Soul and Lance Skiiiwalker

"**Message in a Bottle**" (stylized in all caps) is a song by Ab-Soul and Lance Skiiiwalker, released as the lead track from the former's fifth studio album, *Herbert* (2022). It interpolates the following songs "Stigmata" by Ab-Soul, "Meet the Parents" by Jay-Z, and "Ignorance Is Bliss" by Kendrick Lamar. He performed the song live for NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts in February 2023.

According to *GQ*, Ab-Soul explained the reason behind incorporating a clip from *The Joe Budden Podcast*, "Joe was lowkey representing me. In the culture, ask about me. All of them know me. I'm a rapper's rapper."

## Personnel

* Andrew Boyd – mixing engineer, recording engineer
* Beach Noise, Juju the Fool, No L – producer
* Demetrius Lewis II – mastering second engineer
* Gregory Behr – composer, lyricist
* Helen Anderson, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith – background vocals
* Herbert "Ab-Soul" Stevens – main artist, lyricist
* Jake Kosich – composer, lyricist
* Johnny Kosich – composer, lyricist
* Lance "Skiiiwalker" Howard – main artist, lyricist
* Luca Starz – composer, lyricist, producer
* Matt Schaeffer – lyricist
* Miles "Super Miles" Franklin – lyricist, producer
* Nicholas de Porcel – mastering engineer
* Phillip Rodrian – composer, lyricist
* Rory Behr – producer, mixing engineer, recording engineer
* Sedrick Moore II – recording engineer

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
**[Part I]**

[Intro: Grandma, *Lance Skiiiwalker*, **Ab-Soul**]

Hey Herb, it's grandma

I found a scripture and I thought about you

It says, "For what shall it profit a man

If he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"

Mark 8:36, Herb, I'm prayin' for you, grandma loves you

*I wrote this message especially for you* (**Hey, man**)

[Chorus: Ab-Soul]

First they love me, then they hate me, then they love me again

I'm scratchin' my head, I'm rubbin' my chin

This ain't the way it was supposed to be, supposedly I'm close to an end

Don't push me, I'm close to the edge, I'm no rookie

[Verse 1: Ab-Soul, *Lance Skiiiwalker*]

What happens ahead is a leap of your faith

You need him to hear what you see and see what you say

We gearin' up for somethin' major, you should stay in your lane

Try to hydroplane in God's rain, amen

Just tryna fulfill prophecy properly

Sprinkle fronto on top of the broccoli

Gettin' high as we possibly can, I'm more than a man

That's why I left these holes in my hands

Hell yeah, I'm still quotin' myself

The soul is a spirit floatin' in the lyrics, guess I ghostwrote it myself

Getting loaded to the point I ain't controllin' myself

Couple grams and I'm on the 'Gram, trollin' myself

Like, "Get a hold of yourself," gotta get over myself

Message in a bottle ain't gon' open itself

*I wrote this message especially for*

Let me hear that one

Now everybody get your hands up high

If you don't give a fuck, get your hands up high

*I wrote this message especially for you* (Yo)

[Chorus: Ab-Soul]

First they love me, then they hate me, then they love me again

I'm scratchin' my head, I'm rubbin' my chin (Yeah)

This ain't the way it was supposed to be, supposedly, I'm close to an end (Nah)

Don't push me, I'm close to the edge, I'm no rookie (No rookie)

[Verse 2: Ab-Soul]

Ignore what you took me for (Uh-huh)

In the first place, unless it's in first place (Yeah)

Worst case scenario, this shit stereo burial

You're very venereal, I'ma set you men straight (Soul)

Crooked letter O-U-L

Real recognize real and I don't know you well

Yet and still, waters run deep, you better fill your pail (Yeah)

Your bucket'll get kicked the minute you inhale (Yeah)

And then you can admit you really live in Hell

They should sift this on digital fish scales (No)

D-O-P-E, that's slang for what I sling (No)

Life's a dice game and me and Allah finna tee lee

I'm busy rummagin' through government intel (Yeah)

Staying on top of the subject like a CC

This message in a bottle ain't gon' open itself (Nah, yeah)

[Interlude]

That's hard, n\*\*\*a, but you gotta think

You been gone like five or six years

**[Part II]**

[Intro: Ab-Soul, Joe Budden]

**Has TDE missed with signing artists?**

*Oh, no, the people that they done signed been doing great*

**What— What— What rap crew has ever done that?**

*A miss by most standards, ours, no*

*The music industry prolly wouldn't say that they hit with Ab-Soul* (Ayy, ayy, ayy)

Yeah, yeah (Mac)

[Chorus: Ab-Soul]

First they love me, then they hate me, then they love me again

I'm scratchin' my head, I'm rubbin' my chin

This ain't the way it was supposed to be, supposedly, I'm close to an end

Don't push me, I'm close to the edge, no rookie

[Verse: Ab-Soul]

Bitch, I'm a vet, show some fuckin' respect

I'm sensitive, I just lost my best friend

My ego dead, I see no threat

A million clicks ahead of your penmanship, shit

My first demo was on cassette, lil' n\*\*\*a

Product of determination

I define the word amazin' (Yeah, yeah-yeah)

Pastor Black Lip back on that shit

Don't come to altar call with an altercation

I've yet to perish, the meek can wait, uh

The Earth is Herbert's, you don't deserve her

I set the trap and you eat the bait

Who will last is a weak debate

I pray you find peace of mind, mental and physical health and wealth

Don't be deprived by nothin' or no one else

A moment with Soul sicker than taking a ghost's picture

Save a frame on your shelf

'Cause I just saw myself seein' myself how I seen myself

See for yourself

This message in a bottle ain't gon' open itself

[Outro: Joe Budden]

But, nobody else would say that

*Yeah, the music industry would say that*

*Ab is sick, his projects are sick* (Ab-Soul is eclectic)

He is sick, he makes unique, different music

He don't really give a fuck about none of that shit y'all talkin' 'bout

He just a different n\*\*\*a, and I think that's why he's there

## References

1. ↑ Ahmed, Insanul (December 19, 2022). "Ab-Soul Hit His Lowest Point. Then He Made the Most Liberating Music of His Career". *GQ*.