After a brief lull in the rampant amount of high-profile rap releases this year, A$AP Rocky has delivered his ambitious and long-awaited album At Long Last A$AP. High expectations have surrounded the Harlem native especially considering the mixed reviews of his previous effort Long Live A$AP. While the album saw mainstream success due to massive singles such as radio smash “Problems” and EDM favorite “Wild For The Night”, Rocky’s hardcore fan-base who originally fell in love with the woozy ‘cloud rap’ allure of Live Love A$AP were left somewhat unsatisfied. And after staying quiet in a state of creative seclusion for several months, Rocky and the Mob were faced with tragedy after the death of their founding father A$AP Yams. The news of Yams passing had a universal impact on the world of hip-hop, but it is clear that his spirit lives on within the unique soundscape of A.L.L.A. as he was an executive producer of the project along with Danger Mouse, Juicy J, and A$AP Rocky himself. An interesting concoction of genre-bending production results from this diverse grouping of artists and it provides A$AP Rocky with a captivating platform to showcase his charismatic artistic qualities.
Similar to his fan-favorite debut, A.L.L.A. opens up with a series of imposing records which quickly encapsulate the overarching hallucinogenic sound that presides over the project. The first track “Holy Ghost” is one of the deeper tracks when it comes to subject-matter as Rocky utilizes a slightly altered flow to discuss the shady tactics of pastors, but it is the massive synths and guitar licks (mostly unheard in Rocky’s previous music) that are particularly ear-catching. After the dark minimalistic piano-driven standout “Canal St.” (featuring a fittingly haunted hook from Bones), we are greeted with perhaps the most ingenious collaboration on the album in “Fine Wine”, a signature slowed-down moody affair which finally reveals its drums as M.I.A. and Future bring forth their distinct deliveries. And while there are a number of big-name features throughout A.L.L.A, the artist who truly takes advantage of his dreamlike opportunity to leave his talented crooning footprints all over the album is vocalist Joe Fox, a singer who Rocky randomly discovered on the streets of London. Fox plays a part in about half a dozen songs on the project and his vocal/tempo conducting contributions prove to be an invaluable piece to the puzzle.
Despite the high number of guest appearances, A$AP Rocky is without a doubt the star of this LSD-fueled musical experience. The most euphoric representation of A.L.L.A.’s psychedelic aesthetic is “L$D”, a mind-altering rap/mostly percussion-free sing-along which couldn’t be more descriptive with its acid inspired imagery (the video for this song is a must-watch). These tripped-out sonic elements cast a hazy shadow over the entire project, including the multitude of more hard-hitting bangers. Songs such as the ‘Lil Wayne is back!’ reaction inducing “M’s”, another quality collab with ScHoolboy Q in “Electric Body”, and trill-rooted Juicy J/UGK featured “Wavybone” are all guided by Rocky in a manner which proves his masterful ability to achieve cohesion as an atmospheric vibe commander.
It is clear that A$AP Rocky had a specific vision he wanted to execute with this album because there is no level of compromise when it comes to any ‘radio-friendly’ tracks. Even the soul sampling, Kanye West-featured “Jukebox Joints” and just as accessible Miguel/Mark Ronson driven “Everyday” are crafted in a method that reflects the sonic design of the project. However, not everything is perfect in this drug-filled utopia of A$AP Rocky. As an emcee who has never been mind-blowing from a lyrical perspective, the familiar subject matter may tire listeners who were hoping to see growth in that area. Rocky’s often encountered sexual boasting also takes an unnecessary turn on “Better Things” when he fires vicious shots at singer Rita Ora. While this may be an effective attention-garnering promo tactic, it negatively sticks out on an album that is otherwise void of shock value lyrics.
Overall, A.L.L.A. is an album that places A$AP Rocky in the growing category of top tier rappers who have decided to take well-executed risks with their highly anticipated bodies of work. The confidence of Rocky radiates over a fascinating palette of production filled with layered backing vocals, off-kilter melodies, filtered effects, and rap-rock fusion (thanks to Danger Mouse). A$AP Yams, the man who reminded us of his ability to talk smack with the best of them on album closer “Back Home” (featuring a rare verse from Mos Def), also deserves much credit as an architect of A.L.L.A. and ensuring Rocky’s art moved forward in the right direction. This album may not be what some fans expected from the Harlem native, but the musically unrestricted A.L.L.A. is a thought provoking sonic experience that contains some of A$AP Rocky’s boldest work to date.
Repeatable: “L$D”, “Canal St.”, “Wavybone”
Skippable: “Better Things”, “Dreams (Interlude)”