In a year that has seen a plethora of major releases already, the bar has been raised on what it takes to stand out as artists have begun to focus more on whole albums then single tracks. A$AP Rocky’s sophomore effort At.Long.Last.A$AP. is an achievement that does just that.
As it begins with a sample from the Coen Brothers O Brother, Where Art Thou before dropping into a deep instrumental framed by guitar bells and a driving bass, the listener is quickly aware they are in unchartered territory. “Church bells and choir sounds tell ‘em, quiet down / Bow your head, the most high’s around” is the first time we hear Rocky and the introduction to 66 minutes and 15 seconds of his greatest art to date.
The album’s range is sometimes vast both sonically and thematically. It is a puzzle that fits due to soul-searching work by Rocky, Danger Mouse, and the newest name on the tongues of Hip Hop heads across the country, Joe Fox. Fox’s story is that of biopic foder. He literally bumped into Rocky on the streets of London while trying to get people to listen to his mixtape and found himself in the studio with the rapper later that night.
The work is aided with collaborations by a wide range of musicians who are wrangled and made fit almost seamlessly. Rod Stewart and Miguel trade hooks on the penultimate “Everyday.” Lil’ Wayne gives some of his best work in some time, and Yasiin Bey adds bars that fit into the mold of the album’s overall flavor. Kanye West contributes a soulful beat off-the-shelf and his own underwhelming verse, yet it does not de-escalate the album’s momentum. These diverse styles are carefully combined to create one psychedelic, freewheeling, strange yet beautifully complete product.
A sign of the album’s strength is a deep commitment to each individual track. Despite having 18 total records, there are stand out elements and work on each one. Consider the only interlude on the album, “Dreams,” which is no exception to the high quality of the project and features the alliteration of, “This is every heavy drug, that’s known at every level / This is assault with deadly metal bumpin’ heavy metal / Do this for myself, of course my hood and every ghetto.”
The aforementioned A$AP Yams and his recent passing was sure to figure into the album’s creation. First rumors swam upstream, and then theories finally emerged with validation when the cover art was released featuring Rocky’s face falling in his hands with Yams’ trademark tattoo and skin discoloration under his eyes. However, unlike other albums where grief and its accompanying records weigh down the vibe or cause an out of place track, Yams presence is felt throughout. With imagery dedicated to faith, life and death, Yams is ever present. When the final track “Back Home” comes on and does the most direct homage to Yams it feels organic with celebratory, mournful and artistic undertones all at once.
Throughout A.L.L.A, Rocky uses the skills we have seen in the past while flaunting his maturing abilities. His flow, tone and voice have always been strong but his lyrical ability this time around is the strongest of his career. The sound that got him here is shown on tracks like “Fine Whine” which is the classic A$AP Houston-meets-Harlem sound aided by M.I.A. and Future. New skills are abundant on “Pharsyde” with the maturity of a wordsmith, “My ears are ringing, my palms are shaking, my heart is racing / Somebody’s mama’s heart is aching, can’t take it, partly fainted / Found his body parts in awkward places, like apartments’ basements / Garbage, vacant lots, garages, spaces, Harlem’s far too spacious.”
This one has the distinction of being an album that will require time to unpack and grasp with more listens. It has such a diversity of sounds, vibes and subject matter that it sets itself apart from Rocky’s previous works. From a continued commitment to the heavy base and grandiose sound that has become synonymous with A$AP Mob, to a more melodic and psychedelic chord structure, this album moves through different paces and sounds with little to no issue.
Culture can often be a summation of things or, said another way, a kind of movement through the sludge of too many thoughts. At times A$AP’s sophomore effort feels like this, but this is not a knock against it. Such is the world we live in, where a word like “curation” has seemingly gone viral and is now an indigestible gum slathered to the side of our collective rib cages. But, its focus on breadth is also part of its charm, and although the project is 18 songs deep it does not feel rushed through, but rather lived through. And, as such, it becomes a gallery exhibition of a breadth of experiences not seen on walls all too white, but out in the streets, in the clubs, and in your dreams.
I dont think its his best album. Its good but LongLive was better. Some of the songs are kinda boring although good. Its definetly in the top 5 albums this year but not his best. Kinda expected more after 2 years. Maybe it was too hyped so it didnt live up to the expectations.
dope album, can’t understand why people give just 1 star.
4 out of 5!
The album is pretty dope but Yelawolfs Love Story still has album of the year so far
Can someone tell this dude that 5 minutes of silence and saying “Unnhhh” a few times in a deep voice IS NOT A RAP SONG
meh
That’s not what alliteration means.
L. O. L… obviously Jason Bisnoff was an English major, haha!
did you listen to the song? Asap repeats the same sound and tone at the beginning of every line…isn’t that what alliteration is?
I was gonna say the same thing. Also, if you’re going to say, “The aforementioned ASAP Yams,” you’re supposed to have mentioned Yams at least once before.
hot garbage
Wow… 4 Stars again? I wonder what you’re going to rate the next 38 albums that you review.
maybe 5 stars
Classic
Dope…Album of the summer
People hyped it up. It was all right.
Very interesting album, I think it’s very dope though
Not Album of the year so far, that goes to Lupe, but number 3 or 4 maybe, after Yelawolf & Wale
Fair rating.
vccvcv
“A$AP Rocky crafts his best album to date” – how is this relevant when he dropped only one album besides this one
You’ve gotta add Live.Love.A$AP to the mix. This was his third project of major substance.
I agree this is his best album so far, he has a good ear for beats.
Dope album.
It’s a great listen. 4.5/5 – 5/5
4/5 solid
Trash !!
Not bad
This album was intense
Dope album, 2nd best project of 2015 this far
I don’t know what people were expected, but from my POV, this was an incredible effort.
Dope as fuck, album has some incredible beats. I’d love to see him hook up with Ratking
I tried, but I still don’t get the appeal of A$AP Rocky, everytime I listen to him it just feels like I’m waiting time.
Great album, one of the best of 2015 right now.
Dope album, up there with TPAB, Tetsuo & Youth and Love Story for best of 2015.
Uh, NO! Those three are tight, but this is nowhere close. Sorry!
Of course more heads promoting this mainstream bullshit! Kendrick,Lupe & Yelawolf 2015’s most overrated!
FLAMES!!!!
i loved the combination between the rap genre and the psychedelic genre.
these beats are insane
It’s hard for me to listen to this guy any more, especially after finding out how much of bitch he is during concerts. I’m sure his album might be good, but overall dude seems ungenuine imo.
great album, poorly written review. several grammatical errors in the first damn paragraph. later in the review you couldn’t even manage to use the correct BASS. and stop ending sentences with prepositions. does anyone edit these reviews before putting them up?
Apply for a job so that you can start doing the reviews yourself.
I’d ‘edit’ your arrogance.
you’re confusing constructive criticism for arrogance, and they don’t pay their review writers, thus the poor writing/editing quality. I know we’re not talking The New Yorker here, but shit. just because you enjoy listening to hip-hop doesn’t mean you should be writing about it. or maybe that’s not the case anymore and I should just start lowering my expectations.
How does the above song LSD even qualify as hip hop?
his best work easily
This Album Needed One Travis $cott Joint To Be Perfect.
No it didn’t. $cott is overrated to begin with. I dunno why people gas him up like he’s supposed to be the next big thing.
This album was weak. Listened to it about 3 times to try get into it. Prefer his first album over this/
Are you serious right now?
Dope
The album was nothing more than OK. In my opinion it lacked a few songs that i always want too find in any A$AP album, for example like Goldie or Multiply.
The album was ok…kinda put me to sleep to be honest. I liked his last album better.
this album is just… not good. i love rocky and psychedelia but except the song ‘lsd’ i can hardly find an interesting beat or delivery. seems like he wanted a piece of everything on this one like the dead pimp c, bones’ recycled chorus, and even rod stewart. wtf?
however joe fox is a talented guy and props to rocky for the chance but the record overall is way below average. i prefer the 1st album and i think he should work with the likes of sgp, travis scott, drake and young chop cuz the whole thing sounds like he would make pop music for the charts and forgot about the dark sound he repped
rocy rapping over lana del rey instrumentals
After my first time listening to the album I wasn’t all that impressed, but I listened to it again and I was blown away. Very dope and unique rap album. A$AP is pushing the genre forward, and still has the dopest flow in the game.
Ehh, liked his first two projects better.
he experimented with sound on each track, and each one was a success
Albums dope af, fuck the haters 4.5/5
I felt half of his last album was kinda boring, but this one is fire! Many great songs, too bad Future ruins “Fine whine”. Holy Ghost, Canal st., LSD, Excuse Me, Max B, Wavybone are my favourite songs atm
cohesive body of work, even better bars than before, best sequenncing the game has seen
Some cool songs on it, yet still an average album. Expected a lot more of this pretty flacko
It was his best work yet but the boy only has one flow throughout the whole album. If he didn’t have insane production, this would have been a flop. Loved it but he does not know how to switch up flows or tag along to the beat. That’s all rap is about in the end; the flow. Too bad rocky because you could have been great but you are still a kid talking about childish things.
5…every song is a banger
Great album. Every song is worth listening to
Sonically and lyrically – A$AP came through.
An easy 4/5 rating.
cool album . one of the best albums of 2015
Took me a min to understand but after a couple listens my favorite album right now
I mean he got weezy to spit fire. Dope album
An meditative LP, ASAP’s most mature to date. Filled with some great songs, solid from start to finish.
*fire emoji*
Okay
dope songs from what I’ve heard off A.L.L.A.lemme get this straight….RCA/Polo Grounds gotASAP Rocky n Asap Mob on the east coast and RCA/50 Chips Records with 4Sight and Cartel MOB on the west coast??? #Power @4sight4life
top album! one of the best live performances ever
8.5/10
Really great album.
4/5
amazing album, layered and soulful, another modern classic…this dude is logging serious consideration as a god as soon as now maybe? 5/5