Asap rocky at long last asap review
The album's single, " L$D", was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2016 Grammy Awards. The album was Rocky's second consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and received mostly positive reviews from music critics. In 2015, Rocky released his second album, titled At. The album was preceded by Rocky's breakout single, " Fuckin' Problems" (featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar), which was nominated for Best Rap Song at the 2014 Grammy Awards. A$AP (2013) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and became certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The success of his mixtape led to a record deal with Polo Grounds Music, RCA Records, and Sony Music Entertainment. A$AP later that year to widespread critical acclaim. In August 2011, Rocky's single " Peso" was leaked online and within weeks received radio airplay. He is a member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker. In his absence remains one hip-hop’s more conscious-heavy albums of the year.Rakim Athelaston Mayers (born October 3, 1988), known professionally as ASAP Rocky (stylized as A$AP Rocky / ˈ eɪ s æ p/, AY-sap), is an American rapper and record producer. Not just in terms of his high, drug-induced production but as a cheery farewell to his mentor Yams. With AT.$AP, A$AP Rocky reaches for the heavens. It’s an appropriate farewell from the leader of the pack, reminding his colleagues to always strive and prosper. After a quick verse from Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) the track hits a sudden stop – before leading to a psychedelic return from A$AP Yams to finish off the album. The final track on the album in the A$AP Yams featuring “Back Home.” With a spitfire piano melody, A$AP Rocky offers a eulogy to his friend with lyrics detailing the journey home, or the after life. With help from Schoolboy Q, A$AP Rocky cranks up the rapid flow and braggadocio on the track “Electric Body” as well as on the potential club banger “Lord Pretty Flacko Joyde 2 (LPFJ2).” Those manipulated, deep baritone vocals that were fascinatingly jarring with his early single “Purple Swag Chapter 2” are present on AT.$APthrough tracks “Better Things” and “Fine Wine.” This characteristic is one A$AP Rocky’s strongest and he’s not sacrificing his style even when embracing the Lord.
Yet don’t let the highly produced choruses or velvet lounge vocals fool you – this is still the abrasive wordsmith that yanked our attention with his explosive debut 2011 mixtape and the bangers aren’t hidden for long. The same can be heard on the following track “Excuse Me” where Rocky’s rapping sits backseat to the explosive chorus, recalling the hip-hop/R&B hybrid of Kid Cudi. The chorus is tight on this one, which is a reoccurring theme for the record where many tracks reach their heights during a cathartic release in the chorus. A$AP Rocky tones down the rapping and opts for some R&B vocals that highlight his range. A$AP Rocky takes Fox under his wing, continuing the spirit of mentorship he once had with A$AP Yams and giving credit to his legacy.Įasily one of the more exciting moments on AT.$AP is the hazy, trippy single “L$D” which is carried by a smooth, electronic bass line sounding as if it had been drenched in hash oils or the synthetic drug the song’s title derives it’s inspiration. An unknown guitarist and singer who just so happened to approach the right hip-hop superstar on the streets of London and was subsequently offered a gig on the spot after a short audition. This opening track, titled “Holy Ghost,” features one of AT.$AP more fascinating collaborators: Joe Fox. “Church bells and choir sounds / Tell ‘em, ‘Quiet down’” begins A$AP Rocky, gliding on the theme of religion and spiritual redemption. Not only is the legacy of A$AP Yams present on the album cover, which shows a transparent photo of both Yams and Rocky melted into one, but you can hear the ambition and dedication Rocky applied to AT.$AP to offer a suited farewell to a fallen comrade.ĪT.$AP kicks off with short speech, sounding intentionally similar to a reverend, praising our protagonist from keeping his soul from the devil before crashing into a guitar lick-heavy beat. A$AP, he digs deeper, opting for a journey down the rabbit hole in search of solace after the passing of his collaborator and mentor A$AP Yams from earlier this year. Instead of relying on the styles and themes found on his 2013 debut Love. to remain consistent with the religious references) and the payoff has been successful. But that’s the approach to his sophomore record AT.$AP (shortened to A.L.L.A. Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky may be one of the only players in the game who refers to his spiritual influences as lit.