A$AP Rocky - AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP

  After a long wait, A$AP Rocky released his appropriately-named album At Long Last Asap, stylistically named : AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP on May 26, 2015.

  The first thing we notice on the album cover is how much of a tribute this album is to the A$AP group founder, and Rocky's long-time confidant and friend, Steven 'A$AP Yams' Rodriguez, who passed away in January 2015. This is evident by Rocky's elaborate addition of Yams' two most significant facial features: the birthmark under his right eye and the tattoo of a cross under his left.

  This tribute is in its place as Yams had a major role as an executive producer of this album before his passing. Other notable production efforts were put forth by the likes of Kanye West, Juicy J and Danger Mouse.

   These efforts all come together to create an 18-track album that is interesting and varied to say the least. Highlights of this album include songs like : L$D , Electric Body feat. SchoolBoy Q, Max B and M'$ feat. Lil' Wayne.

  As all artists do as they progress in their careers , A$AP most definitely branched out of his original syrup-y vibe through his features and the style of production on some of the songs , but still kept to his roots on others.

  On the one hand we have Holy Ghost where we experience an unforeseen electric guitar influence throughout the song and Canal St with its heavy and low "Mockingbird"-esque beat. We also have L$D , where he performs his first "love song" that includes minimal rapping and some trance-y yet trippy vocals. Not to mention the classiest song on the album, West Side Highway, where he makes excellent use of James Fauntleroy's vocals to deliver that classy message. Finally, Everyday , the song with the organ-based beat that makes it easy to rap over and smoothly transition to the great vocals of Rod Stewart and Miguel.

   On the other hand, A$AP sticks to his syrup-y roots with the help of the some of the greatest names in the game at the moment. Electric Body feat. SchoolBoy Q uses the 1234-5 syllable rhyming schemes in the bars pretty consistently with a simple drum and bass beat throughout that makes for a very catchy track. Jukebox Joints feat. Kanye West has "Kanye" written all over the beat, but A$AP makes it his own by adding his mellowness and style to it. Wavybone feat. Juicy J is also very Juicy J-esque in production and delivery, but A$AP once again adds his signature low-frequency deep voice 'Uh's to make it his own with the help of the infamous Bun B from UGK. M'$ feat. Lil' Wayne definitely takes the most hard-hitting please-play-at-high-volumes award. But the two songs that really stand out the most to me are Max B and Back Home. Let me explain.

  Max B takes home the best beat on the album. Produced by Kanye West, Che Pope and MH tha Great, this beat is really heaven to the ears. With its glass-banging beats in the background, a fast-paced edgy drum and bass and a unique use of static to pause and create vocal interludes, this song feels more like a movie with scenes than a song with verses. Only criticism I have is that it definitely could have used one more verse. Back Home however takes home the best lyrics. Although short-lived, A$AP demonstrates exceptional lyricism in the first verse and then tops it off by getting the help of the one of the best lyricists in the game Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def).

  All in all, this album did not really live up to his previous work in Live.Love.A$AP and Long.Live.A$AP, but I will definitely be happy to be bumping some A$AP this summer. Make sure you check out the full album on Spotify. Stay tuned for more awesome music.