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Control system
Control system
Control system
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The centrifugal governor is an early proportional control mechanism.

A control system manages, commands, directs, or regulates the behavior of other devices or systems using control loops. It can range from a single home heating controller using a thermostat controlling a domestic boiler to large industrial control systems which are used for controlling processes or machines. The control systems are designed via control engineering process.

For continuously modulated control, a feedback controller is used to automatically control a process or operation. The control system compares the value or status of the process variable (PV) being controlled with the desired value or setpoint (SP), and applies the difference as a control signal to bring the process variable output of the plant to the same value as the setpoint.

For sequential and combinational logic, software logic, such as in a programmable logic controller, is used.[clarification needed]

Open-loop and closed-loop control

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Control loop § Open-loop and closed-loop.[edit]

Fundamentally, there are two types of control loop: open-loop control (feedforward), and closed-loop control (feedback).

  • In open-loop control, the control action from the controller is independent of the "process output" (or "controlled process variable"). A good example of this is a central heating boiler controlled only by a timer, so that heat is applied for a constant time, regardless of the temperature of the building. The control action is the switching on/off of the boiler, but the controlled variable should be the building temperature, but is not because this is open-loop control of the boiler, which does not give closed-loop control of the temperature.
  • In closed loop control, the control action from the controller is dependent on the process output. In the case of the boiler analogy, this would include a thermostat to monitor the building temperature, and thereby feed back a signal to ensure the controller maintains the building at the temperature set on the thermostat. A closed loop controller therefore has a feedback loop which ensures the controller exerts a control action to give a process output the same as the "reference input" or "set point". For this reason, closed loop controllers are also called feedback controllers.[1]

The definition of a closed loop control system according to the British Standards Institution is "a control system possessing monitoring feedback, the deviation signal formed as a result of this feedback being used to control the action of a final control element in such a way as to tend to reduce the deviation to zero."[2]

Likewise; "A Feedback Control System is a system which tends to maintain a prescribed relationship of one system variable to another by comparing functions of these variables and using the difference as a means of control."[3]

Feedback control systems

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Closed-loop controller.[edit]
Example of a single industrial control loop; showing continuously modulated control of process flow.
Illustration of a Closed Loop Control consisting of Set Point , Measured Output , Measured Error , Controller Output , System Input , Disturbance , and System Output

A closed-loop controller or feedback controller is a control loop which incorporates feedback, in contrast to an open-loop controller or non-feedback controller. A closed-loop controller uses feedback to control states or outputs of a dynamical system. Its name comes from the information path in the system: process inputs (e.g., voltage applied to an electric motor) have an effect on the process outputs (e.g., speed or torque of the motor), which is measured with sensors and processed by the controller; the result (the control signal) is "fed back" as input to the process, closing the loop.[4]

In the case of linear feedback systems, a control loop including sensors, control algorithms, and actuators is arranged in an attempt to regulate a variable at a setpoint (SP). An everyday example is the cruise control on a road vehicle; where external influences such as hills would cause speed changes, and the driver has the ability to alter the desired set speed. The PID algorithm in the controller restores the actual speed to the desired speed in an optimum way, with minimal delay or overshoot, by controlling the power output of the vehicle's engine. Control systems that include some sensing of the results they are trying to achieve are making use of feedback and can adapt to varying circumstances to some extent. Open-loop control systems do not make use of feedback, and run only in pre-arranged ways.

Closed-loop controllers have the following advantages over open-loop controllers:

  • disturbance rejection (such as hills in the cruise control example above)
  • guaranteed performance even with model uncertainties, when the model structure does not match perfectly the real process and the model parameters are not exact
  • unstable processes can be stabilized
  • reduced sensitivity to parameter variations
  • improved reference tracking performance
  • improved rectification of random fluctuations[5]

In some systems, closed-loop and open-loop control are used simultaneously. In such systems, the open-loop control is termed feedforward and serves to further improve reference tracking performance.

A common closed-loop controller architecture is the PID controller.

A basic feedback loop

Logic control

[edit]

Logic control systems for industrial and commercial machinery were historically implemented by interconnected electrical relays and cam timers using ladder logic. Today, most such systems are constructed with microcontrollers or more specialized programmable logic controllers (PLCs). The notation of ladder logic is still in use as a programming method for PLCs.[6]

Logic controllers may respond to switches and sensors and can cause the machinery to start and stop various operations through the use of actuators. Logic controllers are used to sequence mechanical operations in many applications. Examples include elevators, washing machines and other systems with interrelated operations. An automatic sequential control system may trigger a series of mechanical actuators in the correct sequence to perform a task. For example, various electric and pneumatic transducers may fold and glue a cardboard box, fill it with the product and then seal it in an automatic packaging machine.

PLC software can be written in many different ways – ladder diagrams, SFC (sequential function charts) or statement lists.[7]

On–off control

[edit]
Main article: Bang–bang control

On–off control uses a feedback controller that switches abruptly between two states. A simple bi-metallic domestic thermostat can be described as an on-off controller. When the temperature in the room (PV) goes below the user setting (SP), the heater is switched on. Another example is a pressure switch on an air compressor. When the pressure (PV) drops below the setpoint (SP) the compressor is powered. Refrigerators and vacuum pumps contain similar mechanisms. Simple on–off control systems like these can be cheap and effective.

Linear control

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Linear control.[edit]
Linear control are control systems and control theory based on negative feedback for producing a control signal to maintain the controlled process variable (PV) at the desired setpoint (SP). There are several types of linear control systems with different capabilities.

Fuzzy logic

[edit]
Main article: Fuzzy logic

Fuzzy logic is an attempt to apply the easy design of logic controllers to the control of complex continuously varying systems. Basically, a measurement in a fuzzy logic system can be partly true.

The rules of the system are written in natural language and translated into fuzzy logic. For example, the design for a furnace would start with: "If the temperature is too high, reduce the fuel to the furnace. If the temperature is too low, increase the fuel to the furnace."

Measurements from the real world (such as the temperature of a furnace) are fuzzified and logic is calculated arithmetic, as opposed to Boolean logic, and the outputs are de-fuzzified to control equipment.

When a robust fuzzy design is reduced to a single, quick calculation, it begins to resemble a conventional feedback loop solution and it might appear that the fuzzy design was unnecessary. However, the fuzzy logic paradigm may provide scalability for large control systems where conventional methods become unwieldy or costly to derive.[citation needed]

Fuzzy electronics is an electronic technology that uses fuzzy logic instead of the two-value logic more commonly used in digital electronics.

Physical implementation

[edit]
A DCS control room where large screens display plant information. The operators can view and control any part of the process from their computer screens, whilst retaining a plant overview on the larger screens.
A control panel of a hydraulic heat press machine

The range of control system implementation is from compact controllers often with dedicated software for a particular machine or device, to distributed control systems for industrial process control for a large physical plant.

Logic systems and feedback controllers are usually implemented with programmable logic controllers. The Broadly Reconfigurable and Expandable Automation Device (BREAD) is a recent framework that provides many open-source hardware devices which can be connected to create more complex data acquisition and control systems.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Control system

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
A control system is a configuration of interconnected components designed to manage, command, direct, or regulate the behavior of other devices or systems in order to achieve a desired output or response. These systems operate through control loops, where inputs are processed to influence outputs, often incorporating sensors for measurement, actuators for adjustment, and controllers for decision-making. Control systems underpin modern engineering across disciplines, enabling precise automation in applications ranging from and to and , where they maintain stability, optimize performance, and compensate for disturbances. They are classified primarily into open-loop systems, which execute predefined actions without feedback verification and thus lack self-correction, and closed-loop (feedback) systems, which continuously monitor outputs against setpoints to minimize errors via mechanisms like proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. Key theoretical advancements, including frequency-domain analysis by Nyquist and Bode in the 1930s-1940s, revolutionized stability assessment and design, particularly during for servomechanisms in military applications. While early precursors date to ancient devices like water clocks with float regulators over two millennia ago, systematic development accelerated in the , yielding robust frameworks for causal prediction and empirical tuning that prioritize measurable dynamics over unverified assumptions.

Background

Concept and development

Ab-Soul developed the central metaphor of as a critique of mandatory structures inherent to American society, including economic dependencies, social norms, and political apparatuses that dictate individual behavior and limit autonomy. Drawing from personal observations of these "control systems," he articulated in a May 2012 that the title encapsulates "everything that is mandatory in this country," with much of the economy, society, and politics functioning as mechanisms of imposed control. The album's planning commenced after the April 5, 2011 release of his debut , shifting Ab-Soul's approach from the freer, mixtape-derived style of prior releases toward a cohesive, concept-driven exploration of human consciousness, perceptual manipulation, and resistance to external forces. This evolution reflected his intent to produce a structured project amid personal existential reflections, aiming to dissect how systemic influences shape reality and individual agency. Initial conceptualization from late 2011 into early incorporated esoteric motifs to symbolize hidden power dynamics and inner liberation, with planned tracks alluding to as a stand-in for elite conspiracies and the as a vehicle for spiritual decalcification and awakening beyond societal programming. These elements stemmed from Ab-Soul's broader inspirations in fringe cultural critiques, positioning the album as a call to recognize and transcend manipulative frameworks.

Ab-Soul's prior work and TDE context


Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, known professionally as Ab-Soul, signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2007 after emerging from the Carson, California hip-hop scene. In 2008, he co-founded the Black Hippy collective with labelmates Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q, a group rooted in South Los Angeles' underground rap culture that emphasized lyrical prowess and mutual artistic elevation. This affiliation provided early collaborative opportunities, including shared performances and features that honed Ab-Soul's dense, introspective style amid the collective's raw, street-informed sound. Ab-Soul's pre-Control System output included the mixtape , released on April 5, 2011, via TDE, which compiled tracks from his earlier "Long Term" series and showcased his conceptual wordplay over production from label affiliates. He further gained visibility through contributions to Kendrick Lamar's (July 2, 2011), notably on "Ab-Soul's Outro," where his verse reinforced themes of generational insight and hip-hop authenticity. These projects marked a shift from local mixtape circuits to TDE's strategic amplification, bolstered by founder Anthony Tiffith's commitment to developing multifaceted artists beyond mainstream formulas. At age 10, contracted Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a severe reaction that hospitalized him, scarred his causing light sensitivity and partial vision loss, and altered his facial appearance with darkened lips and partial . Originating from Carson's working-class environment, these hardships cultivated a resilient, philosophically inclined perspective in his music, prioritizing intellectual depth and causal self-examination over narratives of grievance. TDE's infrastructure under Tiffith enabled this trajectory, supplying resources for ambitious recordings that capitalized on Black Hippy's momentum following 's independent success, setting the stage for Ab-Soul's major-label debut.

Recording and production

Studio sessions

Recording for Control System occurred primarily in Los Angeles-area facilities affiliated with (TDE), including the label's headquarters in , over several months from late 2011 into early 2012. began focused work shortly after completing his 2011 mixtape , transitioning seamlessly within TDE's collaborative environment shared among members. Ab-Soul adopted a hands-on role in the process, personally curating beats and coordinating guest appearances to foster authentic interactions, preferring live in-studio sessions over remote methods except when necessitated by geography, as with features from out-of-town artists like Murs. This approach prioritized among TDE affiliates and select collaborators, reflecting the label's emphasis on internal rather than external commercial mandates during its independent phase. The album was finalized by spring 2012, timed with TDE's accelerated rollout of projects amid rising label momentum, including concurrent efforts on Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city. Sessions benefited from the label's centralized setup, enabling frequent cross-artist input without rigid schedules.

Key collaborators and production techniques

The production of Control System was primarily handled by TDE's in-house Digi+Phonics team, consisting of producers , Tae Beast, , and , who provided the album's core beats and maintained a cohesive sound aligned with the label's aesthetic. Tae Beast contributed to multiple tracks, including "Pineal Gland" and "Mixed Emotions," utilizing soul-infused instrumentation to underpin Ab-Soul's delivery. and similarly shaped eerie, atmospheric elements on several cuts, drawing from the collective's early-2010s workflow that emphasized internal collaboration over external hires. Guest features integrated into the production included and on "Terrorist Threats," produced by , where their layered vocals complemented the track's tense, minimalist beat structure. This in-house approach by enabled precise tailoring of production to Ab-Soul's style, as the team handled the majority of TDE's output during this period, fostering artistic control and avoiding dilutions from mainstream pop-rap trends. Mixing duties fell to MixedByAli, who applied a consistent polish across TDE projects, ensuring clarity in the dense arrangements without over-commercializing the raw hip-hop foundation. This technique preserved the album's introspective edge, with beats often built around sampled loops and subtle builds rather than formulaic drops.

Composition and lyrics

Musical style and instrumentation

Control System exemplifies a fusion of conscious hip-hop with experimental sonic textures, characterized by layered sampling and dynamic beat structures that prioritize atmospheric depth over mainstream accessibility. The album's production draws on boom-bap drum patterns, evident in tracks like "Pineal Gland," which incorporates samples from Mobb Deep's "" for a gritty, head-nodding . Atmospheric synths and echoing effects further enhance a sense of unease and introspection, as heard in the shuddering, lurching beats of "SOPA," evoking mechanical dysfunction and isolation. Instrumentation leans toward organic, live-feel elements blended with minimalistic loops, distinguishing the album's sound from Ab-Soul's rawer mixtape era in . Piano loops and jazzy undertones provide melodic anchors on cuts like "The Book of Soul," while soul-infused samples add warmth without overpowering the sparse arrangements. Tracks average around 4 minutes, allowing beats to build gradually through subtle percussion shifts and sampled interludes, fostering narrative immersion rather than instant hooks. This approach marks a deliberate departure from trap-dominated contemporaries in 2012 hip-hop, favoring intellectual, boom-bap-rooted flows over bass-heavy party anthems. In contrast to the visceral aggression of TDE labelmates like , Control System's beats emphasize cerebral tension through dystopian sonic palettes—such as lonely, ping-pong-like echoes in "Terrorist Threats"—creating a more internalized, experimental vibe within the collective's shared aesthetic.

Lyrical themes and content

The album's central motif revolves around the "control system" as a pervasive mechanism of manipulation exerted by governments, media, and elite institutions over individual consciousness and society. Ab-Soul employs intricate wordplay to expose these influences, portraying them as engineered systems that suppress spiritual and personal autonomy, often drawing on conspiracy-adjacent references like —a real annual retreat for influential figures in since 1872, depicted in as a site of ritualistic elite networking and power consolidation. In tracks such as "," he raps lines critiquing governmental overreach and societal double standards, urging resistance against normalized narratives of authority. Lyrical content emphasizes self-mastery and spiritual resistance as countermeasures to conditioning, with the symbolized as a dormant "" for awakening beyond material controls—a concept rooted in historical esoteric traditions but framed here as a tool for rejecting elite-imposed illusions. admits personal vulnerabilities to industry temptations, such as fame's seductive pull, while dissecting broader societal hypocrisies like the mislabeling of domestic threats versus state-sanctioned violence in "Terrorist Threats" and "Double Standards." These themes highlight causal chains of power, where economic policies and media framing perpetuate unaccountable progress, contrasting empirical realities of inequality with aspirational myths. Wordplay often layers double entendres to convey agency amid , as in admissions of lust demons and emotional turmoil intertwined with calls for shifts away from institutionalized narratives. This approach underscores critiques of 's selective application—equating gang violence or personal with systemic "terrorism" by authorities—without endorsing but probing inconsistencies in labeling. Overall, the prioritize undiluted examination of elite influences over sanitized progress tales, attributing societal inertia to unexamined conditioning rather than inherent advancement.

Release and promotion

Marketing strategies

Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), operating independently without major label distribution for Ab-Soul's project, generated pre-release anticipation for through targeted digital premieres of promotional singles on hip-hop media sites and social channels. Tracks such as "Terrorist Threats" featuring and , "Illuminate" with , and "SOPA" with ScHoolboy Q were shared in early 2012 to showcase collaborations and lyrical depth, circulating via outlets like Complex to engage underground audiences and mixtape networks. This approach leveraged low-cost online dissemination over traditional advertising, aligning with TDE's resource-constrained yet organic model for building fan loyalty in a digital era. Cross-promotion within the collective amplified reach, capitalizing on Kendrick Lamar's momentum from his 2011 mixtape to draw listeners to 's features and vice versa, without relying on external endorsements. TDE emphasized intra-roster synergy, positioning Ab-Soul as a philosophical to the group's street-oriented narratives, which helped sustain buzz through shared performances and online mentions. The album's artwork and tracklist reveal further underscored thematic integrity, with the cover—designed by and inspired by Kabbalistic motifs—evoking enlightenment against systemic oversight, revealed alongside the 17-track lineup to intrigue fans intellectually rather than through spectacle. This focus on substantive previews avoided viral gimmicks, reflecting TDE's commitment to artist-driven content over commercial shortcuts.

Singles and music videos

The lead promotional single for Control System was "Black Lip Bastard (Electric Blue Funk)", initially released on January 17, 2012, ahead of the album's launch, with a remix featuring (Kendrick Lamar, , and ) included as a bonus track on the project. This track previewed Ab-Soul's introspective style and TDE affiliations, positioning it as an entry point for listeners familiar with the collective's output. "Terrorist Threats", featuring and , followed as a key single, with its official directed by Scott Fleishman and Fredo Tovar and released on , 2012, one week after the album's May 11 debut. The video employed stark, unpolished visuals—including dimly lit interiors and fragmented narrative elements—to underscore the track's ominous tone, prioritizing atmospheric tension over high-production effects and featuring appearances by the collaborators to highlight interpersonal dynamics within the TDE ecosystem. Additional promotional videos tied to album tracks amplified rollout efforts, such as "Pineal Gland" on April 17, 2012, and "Empathy" featuring Alori Joh and JaVonte' on May 1, 2012, both emphasizing minimalist aesthetics and direct-to-camera delivery to engage underground hip-hop audiences rather than broader commercial markets. A remix video for "Black Lip Bastard" surfaced on August 9, 2012, via Rocksmith Presents, incorporating group performance shots to reinforce solidarity. These visuals collectively served to tease thematic consistencies like and external pressures, directing focus toward dedicated fans through TDE's independent distribution channels.

Commercial performance

Chart performance

Control System achieved a peak position of number 91 on the US chart following its May 11, 2012 release. It simultaneously reached number 12 on the Top Rap Albums chart, reflecting stronger performance within the rap genre category. The album's chart entry occurred amid Top Dawg Entertainment's growing visibility, though constrained by the label's independent status and the era's exclusion of streaming metrics from tabulations.

Sales and certifications

Control System sold approximately 5,000 units in its first week of release in the United States on May 11, 2012. Total album sales remained modest thereafter, reflecting Top Dawg Entertainment's independent distribution model without major label backing for certification thresholds at the time. The project has not attained any RIAA certifications, as confirmed by the absence of records in official databases despite eligibility criteria for gold status at 500,000 units or equivalent. In comparison to TDE contemporaries, Control System's figures trailed Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city, which moved over 72,000 units in its debut week the same year, underscoring Ab-Soul's niche appeal over broader commercial peaks. Yet, fan-driven loyalty persisted beyond initial physical and digital purchases, with the album amassing over 125 million streams on by late 2025, bolstering equivalent units in the streaming era. This shift highlights a divergence from hype-dependent sales cycles, favoring long-term engagement with introspective content over mass-market volume.

Critical reception

Contemporary reviews

Pitchfork's Jayson Greene rated Control System 8.1 out of 10 in a June 5, 2012, review, commending Ab-Soul's cerebral lyricism—exemplified by introspective boasts like "I used to wanna rap like , now I feel I can run laps around "—and the album's innovative production, such as the shuddering beats on "SOPA." The review emphasized the rapper's self-possession and the cerebral-visceral tension distinguishing him within , positioning the project as an exhilarating showcase of intellectual depth in conscious rap. DJBooth's May 16, 2012, assessment praised Ab-Soul's distinctive delivery of revolutionary ideas and soul-infused production on tracks like "Lust Demons" featuring , while noting the album's personal navigation of global issues and romance in "." However, it critiqued the initial inaccessibility, stating the music "didn't overly impress me on my first listen" due to esoteric references requiring multiple plays to decipher, potentially overwhelming newcomers. RapReviews assigned an 8.5 out of 10 on July 31, 2012, highlighting Ab-Soul's lyrical presence and the dark, atmospheric production from the crew, as on the Paul Simon-sampled "A Rebellion." The outlet recognized strengths in introspective density but faulted tracks like "SOPA" and "Showin' Love" for averageness and the overall 70-minute length for occasional drag, suggesting removal of two or three songs to elevate it further. Critics generally lauded the album's advancement of hip-hop's intellectual strain through dense bars probing control, societal threats, and personal demons—evident in "Terrorist Threats" and "Illuminate"—yet noted that conspiratorially tinged, abstract motifs could limit appeal beyond dedicated listeners seeking layered conscious rap over mainstream accessibility.

Retrospective assessments

Retrospective assessments of have solidified its status as a conceptual high point in Ab-Soul's career and a standout within Top Dawg Entertainment's early output, with post-release analyses emphasizing its intellectual rigor and thematic foresight. In 2022 discussions marking the album's 10-year anniversary, hip-hop enthusiasts on forums like described it as TDE's "underrated gem," praising its superior coherence compared to contemporaries like ScHoolboy Q's , which prioritized stylistic variety over unified narrative. These views align with user sentiments highlighting tracks like "Terrorist Threats" for innovative bar exchanges that elevated the project's replay value. Aggregate review platforms report an average critic score of 83/100 on , derived from 10 professional evaluations, underscoring praise for Ab-Soul's dense lyricism and production interplay with collaborators like . Similarly, Album of the Year aggregates yield an 80/100 critic consensus from 11 sources, with retrospective nods to the album's prescient examinations of and institutional —elements that gained traction amid post-2010s rises in public distrust toward elite narratives. A 2020 analysis affirmed this evolution, noting the record's heightened relevance as its warnings about perceptual control resonated with real-world shifts in information ecosystems. While achievements in promoting alternative viewpoints—such as interrogating systemic influences on individual agency—have fostered a dedicated following, detractors maintain its esoteric references limit broader accessibility, confining appeal to niche conscious-rap audiences. Nonetheless, sustained forum activity and Ab-Soul's recent listener surges, including over 1,500 new monthly users in a single October 2025 day amid revisits, indicate expanding streams and reevaluation beyond initial sales constraints. This consensus portrays as a foundational text for Ab-Soul's oeuvre, aging effectively through its causal dissection of power dynamics rather than transient trends.

Legacy and impact

Cultural influence

Control System's thematic depth, delving into esoteric concepts like the , psychedelic consciousness, and societal control mechanisms, has cultivated a dedicated following among hip-hop subcultures attuned to metaphysical and conspiratorial narratives. Tracks such as "Pineal Gland" and "Illuminate," which reference alternate states of awareness and occult symbolism including and Terrence McKenna, positioned the album as a touchstone for listeners exploring spiritual dimensions within rap. This resonated particularly post-release amid growing public discourse on hidden power structures, aligning with revelations like Edward Snowden's June 2013 leaks on NSA programs that echoed the album's motifs of pervasive monitoring and manipulation. Within the broader hip-hop landscape, the album bolstered Top Dawg Entertainment's (TDE) early 2010s ascendancy by exemplifying substantive lyrical introspection over populist spectacle, reinforcing the label's ethos of intellectual rigor during Black Hippy's collaborative peak. Ab-Soul's cerebral approach, as highlighted in analyses of his role as TDE's "philosopher outsider," influenced perceptions of rap as a medium for philosophical inquiry rather than mere entertainment. Its enduring status as a modern classic underscores this shift, with retrospective reviews crediting it for elevating West Coast hip-hop's engagement with abstract paranoia and systemic critique. The album's impact extends to inspiring subsets of esoteric rap, where artists draw on similar critiques of "matrix"-like controls and spiritual awakening, though direct lineages remain anecdotal amid hip-hop's opaque influence networks. By prioritizing unfiltered first-principles examination of personal and societal bondage—evident in the title's invocation of engineered human constraints—it fostered a listener base prioritizing enlightenment over , contributing to rap's evolution toward hybrid intellectual-spiritual expressions in the decade following its May 11, 2012, release.

Comparisons within TDE and hip-hop

Within (TDE), Control System distinguishes itself through Ab-Soul's prioritization of abstract philosophical inquiry over the narrative cohesion that propelled Kendrick Lamar's early breakthroughs, such as (2011), which addressed broader generational struggles via structured . Ab-Soul's approach, blending dense references to societal control mechanisms—like economic and political manipulations—with personal , fostered peaks of lyrical but lacked the accessible, plot-driven arcs that enabled Lamar's wider commercial . This emphasis on first-principles dissection of power structures provided intellectual depth absent in more linear TDE outputs, yet contributed to muted crossover success relative to Lamar's sales exceeding 1.1 million for good kid, later in 2012. Compared to ScHoolboy Q's Habits & Contradictions (2012), which leaned into raw street narratives and gangsta elements for radio viability—yielding tracks like "Hands on the Wheel" with over 10 million streams—Control System's esoteric, multi-faceted bars proved less immediately palatable, trading visceral immediacy for layered explorations of illusion and reality. Ab-Soul's "weirdo" persona within Black Hippy amplified innovative conscious elements, such as psychedelic influences on tracks like "Illuminate," but sacrificed the gritty, hook-driven tales that aligned Q with prevailing West Coast trends. In the hip-hop landscape of , amid pop-rap's ascendancy via artists like Drake whose melodic, introspective singles dominated charts (e.g., "Headlines" peaking at No. 13 on ), advanced the conscious subgenre by confronting elite-driven control systems—politics, media, and illusion—without diluting into performative social messaging. Its unvarnished causal framing of systemic influences offered a to sanitized , prioritizing empirical over mainstream palatable narratives, though this niche focus limited chart penetration compared to pop-rap's dominance in over 40% of top hip-hop tracks.

Track listing

Standard edition tracks

The standard edition of Control System, released May 11, 2012, comprises 13 tracks with a total duration of 71:51. This configuration applies to both physical releases and primary digital platforms like , without deluxe variants or additional bonus tracks in the base version. The album is designated as explicit due to lyrical content involving and mature themes across all tracks.
No.TitleFeatured artist(s)Length
1"Soulo Ho3"3:57
2"Track Two"4:03
3"Bohemian Grove"Alori Joh4:23
4"Terrorist Threats", 4:24
5"Pineal Gland"4:13
6"Double Standards"4:21
7"Mixed Messages"4:15
8"Soul Overflow"3:59
9"Lust Demons", 3:39
10"Illuminate"4:48
11"A Rebellion"Alori Joh, Top Dawg3:39
12"The Book of Soul"4:02
13"Control System"5:00

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  32. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tde-world-domination_b_1416602
  33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=697db9LQavA
  34. https://genius.com/Ab-soul-black-lip-bastard-remix-lyrics
  35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_71q5lVEjc
  36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiMt_5DRpeM
  37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Y3e4OPUbM
  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9kncHM9nFk
  39. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/daylyt-ab-soul-hot-100-debut-j-cole-pi-1235657771/
  40. https://www.billboard.com/pro/g-eazy-ab-soul-claim-rap-albums-chart/
  41. https://djbooth.net/features/did-ab-souls-these-days-album-flop/
  42. https://hiphopdx.com/news/hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-5202012/
  43. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/
  44. https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/0g9vAlRPK9Gt3FKCekk4TW_albums.html
  45. https://open.spotify.com/album/26RLXRJA7aOOffZJGjUaSW
  46. https://www.reddit.com/r/hiphopheads/comments/una7dk/discussion_absoul_control_system_10_years_later/
  47. https://www.reddit.com/r/hiphopheads/comments/wm80jy/absoul_control_system_album_revisit_dehh/
  48. https://www.metacritic.com/music/control-system/ab-soul
  49. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/3775-ab-soul-control-system.php
  50. https://theculturednerd.org/2020/08/album-review-control-system-by-ab-soul/
  51. https://www.reddit.com/r/AbSoul/comments/1ftcl78/control_system_was_agreed_to_be_his_best_album/
  52. https://app.chartmetric.com/artist/48667
  53. https://djbooth.net/features/2017-05-11-ab-soul-control-system-5-years-later/
  54. https://www.vulture.com/2022/12/ab-soul-herbert-album.html
  55. http://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/100-essential-west-coast-hip-hop-albums/
  56. https://earmilk.com/album-reviews/ab-soul-control-system/
  57. https://www.rapreviews.com/2014/07/ab-soul-the-days/
  58. https://earmilk.com/2012/05/24/ab-soul-control-system-album-review/
  59. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/ab-soul/control-system/
  60. https://music.apple.com/us/album/control-system/525933456
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