Criminally Underrated: My Case for Giving Ab Liva His Flowers by NWO Sparrow

When I talk about rappers who never quite get the spotlight they deserve, Ab Liva is one of the first names that comes to mind. The thing about hip hop is that it’s built on moments. One feature, one verse, one hook can change everything for an artist. For me, my first Ab Liva moment was back in 2014 on Pusha T’s solo album “My Name Is My Name.” The record “Suicide” had already hooked me with its dark, cold Pharell production and Pusha’s trademark precision. But when Ab Liva stepped in on his verse, it was like the temperature in the room dropped a few more degrees. His voice had this calm menace, a control that made you rewind his part just to catch the little details in the way he put words together. I remember thinking, “This guy just walked on the track like he owned it.” Even with Pusha T holding his own, Ab Liva’s verse felt like the one that stuck to your ribs after the song ended.

At the time, I didn’t dig too deep into who he was. That’s how it goes sometimes. You catch a feature, you appreciate it, but if the artist isn’t flooding the blogs or dropping back-to-back projects, life pulls your attention somewhere else. Ab Liva went off my radar for a while. I knew the name, but I wasn’t actively searching for his music. It wasn’t until The Clipse dropped their new album “Let God Sort ’Em Out” that his name popped up in my world again. The moment I saw he was on the track “Inglorious Bastards,” I knew I had to hear it. And again, he delivered. There’s something about the way he attacks a verse that’s both laid back and razor sharp at the same time. He’s not rapping to prove anything to you. He’s rapping like the proof is already on the table and you just have to catch up.

That feature made me go down the rabbit hole. I started looking up his catalog, and what I found made me realize I had been sleeping on a career with serious depth. Before the Pusha T and Clipse connections, Ab Liva was part of the Philly rap group Major Figgas, a crew that had their moment in the early 2000s and still holds a certain respect in the streets and among those who know their history. In his own work, he’s got this project called “Y.E.$” which stands for Yen, Euro, Dollar. Even the title tells you where his mind is at, global vision, money talk, big picture themes. He’s got records with Peedi Crakk, Gillie Da Kid, and other Philly heavyweights. And on every track, whether it’s his own project or someone else’s, he stands out without trying too hard. His flow is like a slow burn. It doesn’t smack you in the face on the first bar, but by the time he’s halfway through, you realize you’ve been hanging on every word.

Listening to more of his music made me start asking questions. Why isn’t this guy a bigger name in the game? Why hasn’t he been pushed to the forefront the way some other artists with half his talent have? Part of it might be the way the industry works. Being great at rapping isn’t always enough. Sometimes it’s about timing, marketing, politics, and a little bit of luck. But another part might be Liva himself. He’s got the aura of someone who doesn’t chase attention. He’s comfortable in the shadows, stepping out only when it’s worth it. Maybe that’s intentional. Maybe it’s not about being everywhere for him. Maybe it’s about quality over quantity.

The thing is, when you have a voice and pen game like Ab Liva, you deserve more recognition. He’s got that ability to fit into any setting without losing his identity. Put him on a Clipse record, and he sounds right at home with Pusha and Malice. Give him a grimy Philly street joint, and he blends in with the energy while still cutting through. There’s a confidence in his delivery that says he knows exactly how good he is, even if the rest of the world hasn’t caught on yet. And that’s the mark of a real MC. It’s not about trying to keep up with the trends. It’s about doing what you do so well that it stands up no matter what year it is.

Ab Liva’s story is a reminder of how much talent exists in hip hop that doesn’t always get the shine it should. We all know the big names. We all know the chart-toppers and the viral sensations. But there’s a whole other level of artistry happening beneath that surface. Artists like Liva might not be on your timeline every week, but when you really listen, they’re delivering verses and songs that stick with you longer than most of what’s topping the charts. His work has that replay value, that layered writing where you catch a new punchline or a slick reference on the third or fourth listen.

When I think about the track “Suicide,” I remember how it made me feel the first time I heard it. That same feeling came back on “Inglorious Bastards.” There’s something to be said for an artist who can disappear from your playlist for years and still hit you just as hard when you hear them again. That’s a rare skill. It speaks to consistency and authenticity. Ab Liva isn’t trying to reinvent himself to fit into whatever sound is trending. He’s just refining what he already does at a high level.

I think part of why I’m drawn to him now more than ever is because hip hop is in a space where a lot of it feels disposable. Songs blow up on TikTok, run the internet for a few weeks, and then fade out of memory. But Ab Liva’s verses feel built to last. You can revisit them years later and they still hit. That’s the kind of artistry that should be celebrated more. It’s the kind that reminds you why you fell in love with rap in the first place. The raw talent, the wordplay, the presence, and the ability to paint a picture without overselling it.

Ab Liva might never be the most famous rapper in the world. He might never drop an album that sells a million copies in a week. But in the space he occupies, he’s untouchable. He’s proof that being underrated doesn’t mean being underqualified. Sometimes it just means the people who know, know. And for those who don’t, once you hear him, you can’t unhear him. He leaves an imprint. For me, it started with “Suicide,” came back around with “Inglorious Bastards,” and now it’s got me digging through everything he’s done. I’m not making the same mistake twice. Ab Liva’s staying on my radar.

Check out AB Liva latest records here via Apple Music

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