Post-regional hip-hop gives us ASAP Rocky, a Harlem born rapper who sounds like he grew up in Houston with codeine mixed in his Sunny Delight.
Syrupy, sallow, and ethereal, ASAP immediately conjures a few comparisons, but he disposes of them on “Leaf”: “They say I sound like Andre mixed with Kanye / Little bit of Max, little bit of Wiz / Little bit of that, little bit of this / Get off my dick.” This is the young, flashy, indignation that pervades LiveLoveASAP. Songs are slow, bass-heavy, and hypnotic. He puts Clams Casino and DJ Burn One beats to better use than everyone before him. The lone wilting trumpet on “Keep It G” and the druggy stupor of “Kissin’ Pink” are highlights.
ASAP’s blog buzz has already materialized in a deal with RCA. He’s poised to do big things. I just hope that three years from now, we won’t be saying, “Man, I wish ASAP would make another like LiveLove…”
[…] out this week’s deluge of mixtapes (Cold Day In Hell, LiveLoveASAP) is L.E.P. Bogus Boys’ Now or Neva. It’s street rap by the book, but not without its […]
[…] been fiending for more Spaceghostpurrp ever since I heard him lace ASAP Rocky on LiveLoveASAP. “Don’t Give A Damn (Miami Bass)” doesn’t disappoint — throwback […]
[…] by the time I get to Penn Station. I get home at 11:00 and spare an hour of sleep to listen to LiveLoveASAP again. 2011 was rough. We lost Amy Winehouse, Gil-Scott Heron, Heavy D, and Nate Dogg. There were […]