Rapper Ab-Soul Opens Up About Mental Health and Sight Loss in Raw Promo Directed by Omar Jones

Releasing his first music via Top Dawg Entertainment after a six-year hiatus, Ab-Soul has enlisted director Omar Jones to visually give weight to his heavy story of mental health struggles and sight loss.

Omar Jones comments: "Moosa Tiffith from TDE initially came to me wanting the video for “Do Better” to be based on a real tragic event in Soul’s life. The fact that part of his story was being revealed in this video meant it had to be portrayed correctly and lensed using an auto-biographical approach. Moosa’s close friendship with Soul was instrumental in making sure there was an open line of communication between me and Soul.

"This was a delicate story to entrust to a stranger at the time, and his involvement made Soul comfortable. I felt a deep sense of responsibility, not only to Soul, but to all who struggle with their mental health, and deal with thoughts of suicide. In the end, the song’s message is a positive one, encouraging people to face themselves and focus on their self-improvement. Soul faces loss, regret, depression but emerges stronger on the other side.

"The video shows what one sees on their way down, the moments that lead up to it, Soul’s constant conflict with the burden of the past and alternate realities surrounding the decision to jump. What does one see in those final moments? How does the world appear from such a heavy perspective? It’s hard to even begin to imagine, but my approach uses a non-chronological edit and flow to evoke the brain frantically reaching for any memory it can (while it can), while the concept of time completely shifts.

"Shooting it was tough. Because the video is based on true events, the hardest part for me was to ask Soul to revisit the darkest moments of his past. I felt the weight of every shot and tried to share some of that emotional load as the director. During the ledge scene, I had Soul 13 stories up, looking down at the drop. He was secured with wires, yet it still felt like the longest shot of my life. I couldn’t wait to yell “cut”. Throughout the shoot, he was extremely collaborative and willing to explore every option. I am Humbled and Grateful for Soul's trust, in his words: “I’ve cried enough about it, so I’m choosing to laugh now..”