TESTING

A better showing than "AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP", but it suffers from its over ambitious attitude.

In comparison to what Rocky had put out prior to this release, it offers a lot new and interesting ideas from the artist. At points, it does sound like the West Coast creative is pushing the limit on what one may expect from a rapper like himself, deciding to try new genres. "TESTING" isn't the title for no reason, as Rocky finds himself exploring electronic, futurism, and other sounds that have become more mainstays in R&B and Pop.

In the middle section of the album, where it's primary focused on short, focused, and well thought out tracks, I find the album at its best. Not every track is a winner, but the cohesion and rhythm that Rocky has despite how different one track may sound compared to another is very well done. Yet the surrounding tracks in both the beginning and the ending few are much more bland.

Although all experimental, these intro and ending tracks found me confused and really losing interest in finishing the album. So many or nonstarters or feel very put together last minute. The track with Frank Ocean felt phoned it, like A$AP was exhausted himself for creating all this material.

There are definitely some gems, but the whole album is not.