With al of the hypes surrounding A$AP Rocky I had to get the album. Although I don't like any of his singles besides F*ckin Problems, I just had to see why the world is hyping this guy up. We all know he Rocky is a Harlem cat that is highly influenced by Houston's screwed up style. Even though his flow sounds nothing like that of a Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Lil Flip, etc., I can hear the influence from the deep slow vocal speed he gives on each track.
Now let's jump into the album.
7. F--kin' Problems feat. Drake, Kendrick Lamar & 2 Chainz
Stupid fun to the fullest: the 40-produced Top 40 hit still crackles with a particularly engaging Drake verse and one of the most boneheaded hooks in recent memory. Turn this up and forget your f--kin' problems. This will be the only Top 40 hit on the album in my opinion. With Drake on the album this will get him some major attention from the ladies but they will not buy the album only this single off iTunes.
8. Wild For The Night feat. Skrillex
The moment at which Skrillex's bleary-eyed laser blasts arrive on "Wild For the Night" is one of the strangest in an album full of unexpected pairings. Points given for such a crazily ambitious concept.
9. 1 Train feat. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson & Big K.R.I.T.
9. 1 Train feat. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson & Big K.R.I.T.
In an era of hip-hop where a new "Triumph" is nearly impossible to locate, "1 Train" presents a highly successful summit of the genre's rising stars. All seven MCs are on point, but Yelawolf and Danny Brown make for the most devastating one-two punch.
10. Fashion Killa
10. Fashion Killa
The strongest run on the album starts with Rocky nodding to style icons in his storytelling and smartly getting out of the way of the hazily chopped vocal sample that serves as a beat. Massive replay value.
11. Phoenix
11. Phoenix
Rocky's lyricism rises up on an angry manifesto that wrestles with wealth, respect and suicide. Even if some of the momentum is lost as the track winds down, the MC is finally shedding some light on himself.
12. Suddenly
12. Suddenly
Make no mistake, the 2:28 mark of "Suddenly" -- where the beat comes in and Rocky essentially blacks out over it -- is the best moment of "LongLiveA$AP," but the rest of "Suddenly" soars due to richly revealing lines like "We had cookouts and dirt bikes, and dice games, and fist fights, and fish fries, and shootouts, like one Sig with two rounds."
13. Jodye
13. Jodye
A bruising bit of boom-bap that would sound at home on a Tyler, The Creator album, "Jodye" allows A$AP to slam his syllables together and sneer without abandon. The track is one of the young MC's most breathtaking battles yet.
14. Ghetto Symphony feat. Gunplay & A$AP Ferg
14. Ghetto Symphony feat. Gunplay & A$AP Ferg
"Dinner date for 1K, shopping date for 2K, bougie-ass bitch made me wait to fuck for two days," Rocky seethes, proving that romance is indeed alive and well. After serving as an exclamation point on Kendrick Lamar's "Cartoons & Cereal," Gunplay once again showcases an unhinged vibrancy. FYI to you other rappers, keep Gunplay off your records.
15. Angels
15. Angels
The second straight song on the album to sample an Imogen Heap track, "Angels" is a distillation of the album's strengths: vocal distortion, a forward-thinking beat and Rocky's chameleonic ability to sound at home over it.
16. I Come Apart feat. Florence Welch
16. I Come Apart feat. Florence Welch
Pairing Florence Welch's big-hearted sincerity with Rocky's cool exterior may seem like an odd decision, but "I Come Apart" doesn't try to overextend itself and establishes a common ground between the artists. Don't be surprised to hear this on pop radio soon.
In conclusion, I can only give this album 3/5. A$AP and the producers chosen on the album do not vibe good. Even some of the collaborations I just don't understand. Why would you put Gunplay on your album? This is just one of those weird albums that people will by because Hot 97 and BET is overhyping this kid. I congratulate him for getting his shot but once you get that shot do more with with it. I understand you have to do what you like musically but sometimes you need to think outside the box and ask others in your corner to give you an honest opinion about your track selections. He will go gold but this album will not reach platinum status. Once the buzz get out that this album is subpar the hype will be over. Just look at last year. Nas put out a classic album and only sold 80,000 units. 2 Chainz put out an album full of club bangers and went platinum. With exception of Kendrick, club bangers sale. And I will end this blog here, take notes A$AP. If your next project sounds like this one, you will find yourself on an independent label again.
One,
IAMDJDK
www.iamdjdk.com
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