It sounds like A$AP Rocky made a folk rap album, but it’s not the worst thing in the world.
I’m not trying to be overly facetious with the prior statement, but there were a lot of Hip Hop events that occurred this week that overshadowed A$AP Rocky’s first album in three years. This comes from a time in which A$AP Rocky has been defined as a leader, influencer and notable member of the New Skool Rap Era. His mixtape presence, and leadership with A$AP Mob has given him a certain level of influence in the New Skool. However, these past three years of his branding and “influence” have been more defined by his fashion appearances, sponsorships, controversial statements, and simply being a figurehead . But, this album was a chance for A$AP to define himself as the “Best Rapper” in the New Skool that he claims he is.
The TESTING album did not affirm A$AP as the “Best Rapper,” not even in the Top 5, not the Top 10, not the Top 15, and not even the Top 20. TESTING, with the great marketing roll out, was to test Rocky’s new sound, blending alternative rap and futuristic sounds. In terms of a blended alternative rap album, TESTING did cohesively what Life of Pablo failed to do. To an extent, TESTING was indeed all over the place, however, each and every track had a purpose of showcasing a different sound of Rocky to showcase where his artistic mind was in terms of composition and curation. Rocky did not do this album for others, but more so himself and for that he receives a B+ or an A- for the album. As a rap album to be defining of this generation and defining of his standing in the New Skool, TESTING receives a C- if we’re being extremely generous. The chopped-and-screwed styles were nice, the synthetic add-ons were nice, and the features all work for the greater good of the composition portions of the tracks.
For the ambitious sounds and features that he made, there were clear and misses and stagnant parts in Rocky’s album. The lyrical content was precise in its East Coast precision, but it did not contain revolutionary or music changing content. Rocky had a chance to do a strip club anthem and banger with Juicy J and did not utilize him in that fashion. Questionably, Rocky only used Blocboy JB for ad-libs on one song. Rocky notably featured FKA Twigs, who is growing in fame and alternative prestige. A$AP Mob members were not as featured on this album, but Skepta helped deliver the strongest track of the album followed by Frank Ocean also giving an exceptionally executed verse out of the blue that stole the show.
Tell the front desk to cut new keys
Reserved in the Mercer for two years, in two suites
Took out the bed like it’s fuck sleep
I’ll smack a bitch like it’s hot hands, fired the label like fuck brands
Comfortable low nigga, fuck Xans
Comfortable slow, who the fuck ran
Nothin’ is sweet, nothin’ in tank sweet, it’s just a tank P
Salt on a slug, soda on slugged teeth, chewing on nothing
You’re tweakin’ or somethin’, you’re reachin’ for somethin’
You’re speakin’, speak up then, you’re thinkin’, you’re overthinkin’-Frank Ocean, “Purity”
In its attempts to try to capture the new and futuristic essence of Hip Hop, the lyricism, bars and aggressiveness do not match what A$AP hoped to be as a defining moment of the “best rapper” of this generation. It was like a folk rap album. It was cool, but only if you like rap music that’s there just to be there. This album is great for those that like rap music that’s alternative and very left-field, and that’s coming from someone who frequently indulges in alternative rap. With this pocket going far left trying to re-brand himself, Rocky went too far left as to lose his audience, and fell in moments where he could have shined in proving that he was the best rapper and more than just a curating creative.
Listen to TESTING below on multiple platforms.
Comments are closed.