Artist: A$AP ROCKY
Album: Long. Live. A$AP
Released: January 15, 2013
In late 2011 a Harlem kid crept into the scene with a mixtape debut indulged in raunchy lyricism and a 6-plus head deep crew. Within only a couple months of his Live. Love. A$AP mixtape release, A$AP Rocky became a breakout phenomena receiving heavy acclaim from critics and fans for a trendsetting sound and lifestyle. The rapper’s excessively appealing drug, sex, and defiant lyricism quickly placed him as one of the most promising faces in the new phase of this rap game.
Rocky steps out of the “cookie cut” norm of what defines a New York spitter. When we think of NY we think of the Nas’ the Jay’s, and if you can even get more grimy and raw with it, your mind channels back to the Wu. And certainly the young rapper shares similar characteristics and tactics with the greats; an unapologetic attitude like Nas, a defining fashion and business sense like Hova, and a posse with the motive to conquer and set a legacy like the Clan. But A$AP Rocky is switching lanes, re-inventing, and dare I say, all in his own, polishing up NY’s hip hop stance with all it‘s due respect.
It’s been a whole year and some, of hype, promotion, touring, and anticipation for one of the most awaited albums of 2013, Long. Live. A$AP. A$AP Rocky’s Long. Live. A$AP started off the new year on a good note, bringing forth a 15-track studio debut that only served to justify what the all the hype leading up to this point was about. Since his initiation into the game, Pretty Flacko’s music has been a melting pot of that New York sound of the past decade (Dipset, 50 Cent, G-unit, etc.) with a sticky icky mixture of Southern influences ( UGK & Three-Six Mafia, Trick Daddy, etc.), working well to the liking of hip hop’s taste makers. Long. Live. A$AP is a continuation of this hot musical cooking stew.
A$AP Rocky sets off the project with a like titled single “Long Live A$AP” which possess a semi-dark, twisted, and mysterious vibe with main production by Jim Jonsin, and Rico Love. A chilling and dream-like hook with a tad-bit of a evil, and cleverness accompanies as A$AP Rocky sings
“Who said you can’t live forever, lied.
Of course, I’m living forever…I’ll
Forever, I’ll, live long
You can’t ever deny
My flaws, I’m living forever… I’ll
Forever, I’ll LIVE”
Standout cuts include the Schoolboy Q accompanied track, “PMW (All I Really Need)” , which may well be the anthem for all the gents next to the Drake, 2Chainz, and Kendrick assisted “Fuckin’Problems” single. Q gives out game as he tips “And don’t get head from hoes with overbites”- sho’ you right! Santigold lays those exotic vocals on “Hell” helping Rocky get the point across that he’s out for the riches. But the track that gets all the praise on this album is without a doubt “1 Train” in which Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson and Big K.R.I.T. hop aboard. I mean, seriously though, the “1 Train” posse cut is insane from the superb offering in verses to the stellar lineup, nothing but the crème of the crop- pinch me if I’m dreaming!
Other cuts from the album also include features from Gunplay, A$AP Ferg, Skrillex, and OverDoz.
Long. Live. A$AP is a album that I can very much give my respect to. I believe that A$AP Rocky is definitely one of the few artists that has the right vision of the direction that hip hop should be evolving in- which is a balance between having content that draws mass appeal from the mainstream and yet being a rule breaker and raw enough in action and lyricism to remain cult-like below the surface of this game.
Make sure you cop Long. Live. A$AP on itunes asap.
-Stace Fresh
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