A$AP Rocky Explores New Ground on Testing
A sample filled experimentation of sounds is described best by A$AP Rocky himself during an interview in January. "Basically, the point of this whole shit is just testing new sounds. Just new wavelengths. It’s more so the outcome of an experiment.." Testing explores new land for the Harlem rapper who decides to sing over rapping on tracks like Calldrops, which feature an incarcerated Kodak Black.
The addicting hook in F**k Sleep is made for the replay button.
"Fuck em, fuck sleep, come clean, zonin'
Can't forget that I'm golden, can't forget where I'm going
Fuck popo, police, enemies, fake homies
Can't forget that I'm a OG, better act like you know it"
Melodic and effortless, Rocky pulls off a new sound I hope to hear more of in the future.
Returning to his roots with Clams Casino on "Black Tux, White Collar", Rocky delivers his iconic pitched down voice before the final track plays. "Purity", next to "Changes", marks the most introspective side of Rocky we have seen to date. With the aid of an unforgettable Frank Ocean verse, Rocky speaks about drug addiction and his sisters death on the outro track of an album that is truly 'testing' new grounds.
Pusha T Sends Shots at Drake & Birdman on DAYTONA
Venom raps, over Kayne soul beats, has Pusha T sounding his best in years on his project DAYTONA. Within the first seconds of the album, Pusha explodes out the gates with hard hitting bar after bar. On the intro track, If You Know You Know, he asks "Where were you when Big Meech brought the tigers in?" Reminiscing on a drug dealers paradise in Atlanta, while also claiming his long time involvement in the game.
Epic drops and transitions within songs like Santeria, free Pusha to focus on the lyrical content. He addresses, Drake, Birdman, Lil Wayne, and others, while still showing homage to rap legends Jay-Z and Eazy-E.
On the outro, Infrared, Pusha states he is aware of the fakes in the industry that others are blind to. "How could you ever right these wrongs? When you don't even write your songs?" The highly anticipated response to Drake has many fans seeing Pusha as one of the kings of rap.