LONG.LIVE.A$AP

I have been a fan of A$AP Rocky since Goldie dropped in April last year so I have been waiting in anticipation ever since for the album that followed. Featuring collaborations with artists such as Santogold, Kendrick Lamar, Florence Welch and my new favourite Joey Bada$$ (more on that soon) it would be difficult to find a fault.

The first thing to note about Rocky's major label debut is the sheer diversity within the album. Opening with the hard hitting self-titled track Long Live A$AP, the album progresses to taking shape in all corners of musicality. Wild For The Night features the seemingly contrasting style of dubstep artist Skrillex yet manifests as a completely natural collaboration that provides an upbeat, laser filled track of which Rocky flows to, rhyming to the uncharacteristically fast tempo effortlessly. Immediately preceding this is 1Train, a reversion to classic rap without any structure of a chorus and verse but just a ceaseless beat that is decorated by a host of hot lyricists. Then there is my favourite track Suddenly. With only one mention of those bad bitches that we are familiar to in Fuckin' Problems, this is a more humble track in which Rocky recounts how things have changed from his childhood to now. He also addresses his views towards egality amongst the very good production: "I only got one vision, that’s for kids in every colour, religion...You my brother, you my kin, fuck the colour of your skin."

Yesterday, I ordered tickets for when A$AP Rocky comes to the UK in May and I cannot bloody well wait. Also, this reaction video to the album is brilliant.

Favourite Tracks: Long Live A$AP, 1Train, Suddenly, Ghetto Symphony