[Reaper16]

27.) ASAP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP


For better or worse, the internet has worked to decrease the individuality of regional sounds in hip-hop. The best example of this is the first album from blazing-hot rapper ASAP Rocky. Rocky has lived in Harlem all his life, but his musical style comes straight from Houston, Texas. This is true lean-sipping, UGK-influenced trill shit but its’ coming from a NY rapper. Rocky has a pleasant enough flow; he can ride just about any beat and he is more versatile than your average Texas rapper. Lyrically this album isn’t anything special, but the point of this album is to let Rocky ride these incredible beats. Clams Casino produces about half the album, and those tracks are some of the very best rap songs of the year. Clams (one of the freshest, best producers in hip-hop) should never work with the terrible Lil B ever again when he has someone talented like ASAP Rocky in his circle. Listen to “Demons” or “Bass” to see what I mean. I’ve linked to “Palaces,” the album opener and absolutely a top 5 rap song of the entire year for me. The beat is good enough to make me cry and Rocky rides that shit like a champ. So why is this album only #27? Because the tracks that Clams Casino didn’t produce are way less original, way less expressive, less dynamic. It’s a damn solid listen all the way through, but half the album is above-average and half the album is incredible.