Fighter: A$AP Rocky
Trainer (Gym): ASAP Yams, Danger Mouse, Juicy J, Hector Delgado (A$AP Worldwide, Polo Grounds, RCA Records)
Cut Men: DJ Khalil, Frans Mernick, Klimeks, S.I.K., THC, Jim Jonsin, Finatik N Zac, Vulkan the Krusader, Plu2o Nash, Nez & Rio, Teddy Walton, Kanye West, Che Pope, Daniel Lynas,, Da Honorable C.N.O.T.E., Mike Dean, Mark Ronson. Emile Haynie, Jeff Bhasker, Thelonious Martin, DDot Omen, Tom Elmhirs, Hudson Mohawke
Weight Class: Rising Star
Notable Fire: Canal St., L$D, Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPFJ2), Everyday, M’$
Notable Trash: Better Things
Tale Of The Tape: It is often said that some of the greatest art comes from the greatest sense of loss.
Coming off the heels of the tragic death of ASAP Yams, the founder of ASAP Mob, Rakim Mayers (known to the world as A$AP Rocky) has found himself in a quite precarious position. After a two and a half year hiatus since Long.Live.ASAP, the sudden loss of his right hand man, and the omnipresent sophomore jinx looming in the air, Rocky finally returned with the appropriately titled At.Long.Last.A$AP.
At its worst, his first album had moments where the songs sounded slightly contrived as he cherry picked all of the unique flows, cadences and vernaculars of hip-hop’s elite from the past 20 years or so. A.L.L.A, as his new album has been abbreviated, seems like far less of a gimmick and more of a cohesive and fluid musical journey. For those hip-hop purists who are looking for bars and punchlines, this project may not get the most spins in your iTunes. However, for whatever it lacks in lyrical precision, this LP more than compensates for it in the overall musical experience.
Rocky was much more hands on with this album, even going so far as to learn how to make beats in order to use them himself, although the project contained a lengthy list of producers overall. The intro song “Holy Ghost” defiantly questioned man’s relationship to the most high and how we use intermediaries (Priests, Reverends, Rabbis, Shaman’s etc.) to navigate a personal relationship between us as humans and “the creator” as we perceive it to be.
Despite Flacko’s active approach, A.L.L.A.’s album credits may be some of the most eclectic we have seen in some time. Ranging from Rock god Rod Stewart, to strip club staple Juicy J, the album shows Rocky is a student of music and is inspired by a multitude of creative influences. Such widespread features would prove to be challenging for some, but the versatile Rocky is able to mesh artists from all walks of life and make great music. This variety in features led to some of the albums high points including “M’s” featuring Lil’ Wayne spittin’ like the old Lil’ Wayne and the a “father & son” banger “Back Home” with Pretty Flacko Sr. aka Yasiin Bey aka the Mighty Mos Def. In the midst of it all, Rocky’s style is accented by the timely and familiar flows and slang that we as true students of the game know and love (he’s even trying to single-handedly brig back the term “jiggy”).
One of the album’s highlights, “L$D” (Love X $ex X Dreams), straddles the lines of musical genres to provide a psychedelic ambiance that sonically embodies the feeling of being under the influence…of something…or so I’ve heard. As Rocky continues to carve his own lane into music, it will be songs like these that will separate him from the Coles, Kendricks, and Drakes.
But don’t get it twisted— this ain’t no PM Dawn album. Rocky came back with some heat for the streets too. “Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPFJ2)” has a gully keyboard-driven beat that is reminiscent of “Bout It, Bout It” by Master P. “Jukebox Joints” is a very soulful jam which features a beat change (to a glorious Smokey Robinson sample which will rap fans will recognize from Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa), backed by the forefather of fashion chic rap artists, Kanye West.
Fight Night: Fifth Round KO
The album closes out with the eerie words of ASAP Yams, speaking to the impending ASAP onslaught which he had long since put in motion. A befitting end to a story that is as much about Yams as it was about Rocky himself. Though a couple songs may have lacked direction, and the number of features and produces raises questions about Rocky’s ability to crank out music of this quality down the road, At.Long.Last.A$AP is a well-rounded project that demonstrates Rocky’s true vision. Losing someone that close can be of tremendous effect to an artist and their capacity to create. If anything, A$AP Rocky has elevated his game overall and met all adversity head on. With the movie Dope lighting up theaters this summer, the emergence of ASAP Ferg and Rocky’s stellar second album, the future of ASAP Mob looks brighter than ever in an era void of many powerhouse rap cliques. ASAP Yams and his deep connection to A.L.L.A. will keep his name alive forever.