If you were present during A$AP Rocky’s one and only listening session for A.L.L.A., you saw how passionate he was about this project. His third album may very well be his best yet, as Rocky has quickly ascended into the upper echelon of entertainment — being both a musician and arguable fashion icon. While the masterpiece was kept quite tightly under wraps, it’s finally arrived. Here are five points of note about A$AP Rocky’s latest work.
A.L.L.A. Is a Trip… Literally
In his Complex cover story, A$AP Rocky divulges that he used psychedelic drugs for his self-therapy in dealing with the death of his longtime friend and manager A$AP Yams. This is especially felt on this project, where many of the tracks have a trippy feel. The album opener Holy Ghost is on some 70s psychedelic rock tip, while other cuts like Fine Whine, Pharsyde, and the appropriately titled L$D all sound like your ears have fallen into a vat of acid. Someone certainly felt like a Golden God when he was recording.
Danger Mouse Gets The Cheese
At.Long.Last.A$AP boasts some A-list production talent, but all praises due to Danger Mouse’s production genius on Rocky’s third album. Danger Mouse helps Rocky nail that psychedelic feel he was looking to achieve (while taking LSD), as the producer provided the beats on the aforementioned Holy Ghost and Pharsyde, along with West Side Highway and a co-production credit on Electric Body. It feels like Rocky vibed with Danger Mouse the way he did with Clams Casino way back when.
He Fucks With Joe Fox
At this point, A$AP Rocky could have whoever he wants on his album, and for the most part he gets that on A.L.L.A. (more on that in a moment). But let’s focus in on UK-born Joe Fox, who shows up on five tracks off the album, including Holy Ghost, Fine Whine, Jukebox Joints, Max B, and Pharsyde. Fox has some chops too, sounding almost like a deeper-toned version of The Weeknd. Hopefully this album will secure Fox’s solo career, since he certainly has the voice to reach the next level.
An A-List Cast Of Characters
While A.L.L.A. is great project, A$AP Rocky didn’t do it all on his own. A lot of familiar faces helped out. Danger Mouse’s DNA is all over the project, but Juicy J gets in on the beatmaking, ripping up the track he’s featured on with UGK called Wavybone. Kanye drops some bars and a beat on Jukebox Joints. Future and M.I.A. both show out on Fine Whine, Lil Wayne on M$, and lest we forget that crazy Mark Ronson, Miguel and Rod Stewart track called Everyday? Even James Franco comes through for a cameo. The special track though is the closer Back Home, which feats Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey) and the late A$AP Yams. A$AP Rocky made adequate use of his rolodex this time around.
Rita Ora? Say What Now?
Lyrically, A.L.L.A. is pretty introspective, discussing elements of religion and random trains of thought woven throughout the album’s tracks. However, there are some moments where you can’t help but blink twice, particularly on the song Better Things, where Rocky comes for Rita Ora. He says: “I swear that bitch Rita Ora got a big mouth / Next time I see her might curse the bitch out / Kicked the bitch out once cause she bitched out / Spit my kids out, jizzed up all in her mouth and made the bitch bounce.” Will Rita Ora respond or consider the beef R.I.P.? Who knows. Either way, damn A$AP! Way harsh.
Credits
Text Kathy Iandoli