Peace

"Peace"Song by Ab-Soul featuring Lupe Fiasco and Punch
from the album Soul Burger
Released	November 7, 2024 (2024-11-07)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	5:42
Label	TDE
Songwriter(s)	Amaire Johnson Armon Stringer Derrick Hutchins Herbert Stevens IV Kevin Pennington Terrence Henderson Wasalu Jaco
Producer(s)	Amaire Johnson Python P Skhye Hutch
Soul Burger chronology
"Peace"
Media

"Peace" is a song by American rapper Ab-Soul featuring fellow American rappers Lupe Fiasco and Punch. It was released as the 13th track from the former's sixth studio album, Soul Burger (2024).

On November 5, 2024, Soulo revealed the official track listing, which also displayed the guest appearances. It marks his and Fiasco's fourth overall collaboration (following "Thorns & Horns," "World Runners," and "They.Resurrect.Over.New.").

Background

The song was emotional to create, where Ab-Soul tapped into the perspective of his deceased friend, Armon "DoeBurger" Stringer, who was murdered during a home invasion. Soulo shared to Rolling Stone, "I cry every time I hear it. I opened myself up to being the spirit medium, and it was going to be my voice." He continued, "Me and Lupe are really close. He and Doe were actually close, and back in the day, he asked Doe for a verse. He kind of doesn't know if he should rap. He's like, 'You're really the guy, actually.' You know what I mean? 'I want a verse from you.' That was a funny story. So he heard it, and he did his rap theory at MIT. His TA, I guess, was working on the AI modules at the time. And he gave me the idea and said, 'We could put it together if you want.' I was like, 'Man, let's try it.' And that was created, and I thought it would be dope to merge the songs together so he could have his verse from both. So there you go."

Critical reception

Williams of Uproxx wrote in forethought, "Of course, from a 'bars only' standpoint, the combo of Ab-Soul and Lupe Fiasco only makes sense, as very few rappers in the world can keep up with either of them when they start really digging into their wordplay bags (and/or conspiracy theories). TDE President Punch is also featured on that song, which should help balance things out (and continue to remind fans that Punch is a very, very skilled wordsmith in his own right)."

Personnel

• Amaire Johnson – writer, producer
• Andrew Boyd – mixer
• Armon "DoeBurger" Stringer – writer
• Derrick "Skhye Hutch" Hutchins – writer, producer
• Herbert "Ab-Soul" Stevens IV – lead vocals, writer
• Kayla Holland – assistant producer
• Kevin "Python P" Pennington – writer, producer
• Madzilla – background vocals
• Nicolas de Porcel – masterer
• Terrence "Punch" Henderson – featured vocals, writer
• Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – featured vocals, writer
• Zacari Pacaldo I – background vocals

Cultural references and trivia

Lupe Fiasco and DoeBurger.

• Whiplash is a 2014 American psychological drama film that centers on an aspiring jazz drummer, Andrew Neiman, who is pushed to his limit by his abusive instructor.
• Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader.
• Celebrex is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that helps treat mild to moderate pain, such as arthritis and migraines.
• Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.
• Aaron Neville is an American R&B and soul singer.
• In Greek Mythology, the River Styx is the river of the Underworld. In accordance to Dante's Inferno, the fifth circle is Wrath, where sinners battle on the Styx.
• 'Book of soul' references Soul's song, "The Book of Soul" from his 2014 album Control System.
• The Napoleon complex is a term often used derogatorily, attributed to physically short people where they act domineering and overly aggressive to overcompensate for their stature.
• Jesus is the central figure of Christianity, believed to be the Son of God who died for the sins of humanity.
• DoeBurger (April 1, 1988 – December 22, 2021) was Ab-Soul's close childhood friend, who passed away from gun violence. The album Soul Burger gives tribute to Doe, and conceptually fuses their rap identities together to create a new one. Fiasco also knew him, and gave a heartfelt tribute post when it was reported of the Carson rapper's death.
  • On September 18, 2013, Doe tweeted out: "In the Studio w @LupeFiasco goin thru all this fire ass music Yall not Ready."
  • On June 15, 2014, it was reported of DoeBurger and Ab-Soul in the studio with Fiasco, where Fiasco gave them an exclusive listening of Tetsuo & Youth.
  • On June 11, 2015, Doe posted to his Instagram account him and Fiasco photographed at The Observatory OC.

Lyrics

"Peace"

[Part I]

[Intro: Punch]
Release the fools, my brother
Ooh
Amen

[Chorus: Punch, Punch + Ab-Soul]
I just want peace (Yeah)
I just want peace (Yeah)
I just want peace (Yeah)
Baby, I been taking losses, I don't care how much it costs to stop it
I just want peace (Yeah)
I just want peace (Yeah)
I just want peace (Yeah)
Some think I just wasn't enough, I've had another [?] throw your three's up
I been sayin' I just want peace
(Yeah)

[Verse 1: Ab-Soul]
Say no, say no masochism, the pleasure and pain
What comes to mind is standing in rain
And the pebble out once again
Clean you up without the gain, did it for love, not to gain
If the climate change, that's fine by me (Fine by me)
You don't feel the same, that's fine by me (Fine by me)
Can't stay in your lane, you can fly by me (Yuh)
All I need is the vibration high by me (Yuh)
'Til my number's called, I wish this for all of y'all
Say "on delivered," that's fine by me (Ayy)

[Chorus: Punch, Punch + Ab-Soul]
I just want peace (Yeah)
I just want peace (Yeah)
I just want peace (Yeah)
Baby, I been taking losses, I don't care how much it costs to stop it
I just want peace (Yeah)
I just want peace (Yeah)
I just want peace (Yeah)
Some think I just wasn't enough, I've had another [?] throw your threes up
I been sayin' I just want peace

[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]
On this road made out of bread
Half step to these baguettes, leave concrete pieces behind for my trail
Feel like I fell, I feel like I braille
Skill is my jail, cover the bill with my bail
My wings hold water, they can't deal with my wells
I got my weight up, put stilts on my scale
Milking my grail baguette, that's get bag
Drum clip like Whiplash, that's kick crash, that's symbolic
Art Blakey with the arm lately, that's stick math
Like countdowns on the cell wall, my bandwidth is symphonic
I'll spin sonnets off the top like unpinned comments
Haram rhymes over synth sonics are my environment
With epithets of my flowin'
Celebrex can't correct the stress what I'm shoulderin'
On the epaulettes of my clothing
No autotune, but Aaron Neville make effects all on my poems
That's River Styx, I'm wrathful, but I resurrect with my rowin' (Where we goin'?)

[Outro: Punch]
I just want—

[Part II]

[Verse 1: DoeBurger]
Rollie on, fuck is you on?
You'll be cryin' enough
I you tired of losin', loosen your tie and tighten up
How many times we been through this, bro? Count it up
How many times they counted us out? You passed algebra
I know you sad and all that, trust me, I get it
But stand tall, you can't fall 'cause they caught me slip—
Yeah, I know, I was lackin', but I still got active
That bitch-ass n**** popped me out of resistance, I kept it Crippin'
They ain't take one chain off my body or one cent
Dark boy, west side forties, I kept it lit
I know you said I should calm it down with all the flaws
I had a Napoleon complex, but I was still a fuckin' boss
I'm speakin' in past tense like I ain't still here
Cussin' your blind ass out, I know you still here
Leave them fuckin' drugs alone, get on your A-game
You gettin' old, it's gettin' cold every day, gang
I'm glad yo' ass was in a cast and not in a casket
You coulda died but you survived now get yo' cash, bitch
Kiss my nieces for me, practice what you preachin', homie
'Cause, I'm in heaven racin' black sillis with Jesus on gold roads
Get your soul, don't worry 'bout me
N****, you know I'm spottie
Keep your third-eye open just like you told me
Book of soul is deep, but on hood
You know it's at least three sides to every story
If n****s knew better
They would've knew better

[Interlude: Ab-Soul]
You know n****s don't know no better
Told you n****s, time flies, love fades
So get paid
It's Burger (Doeburger)
Yeah

[Verse 2: Punch]
Don't be blind to a broken man's dreams
God's blessings don't rest, his face is unclean
That includes the heart, the seed of motivation
The windows to your thoughts
Close your eyes, you'll see better in the dark
That's what we cultivated
We elevated culture, they appropriate it
Yeah, I shed a tear hearing Doe's voice
I pray for peace in the back of the Rolls-Royce
Survivor's guilt grip my soul, I ain't have no choice
Then those tears turned to tears of joy, I rejoiced
The value of suffering is so underrated
God gave His only begotten so we could make it
Still, I got lost and indulged, my fragile soul was tainted
Well acquainted, me and Ms. Pain still hangin'
Yeah, the key is balanced, it ain't peace at all
As above, so below, let the pieces fall (Fall)
Yeah, the key is balanced, it ain't peace at all (Peace at all)
As above, so below, let the pieces fall

[Outro: Punch]
Yeah
Let the pieces fall
They say God got a sense of humor
You wanna make Him laugh?
Tell Him your plans for the future