TESTING

scatterbrained and bit on the shallow side, TESTING is a flawed album that succeeds in spite of it's lack of focus or connective themes/ideas. definitely a bigger showcase on the artist merit of A$AP Rocky rather trying to prove his capacity as a lyrical rapper. if that shift in focus is something that doesn't interest you, this album can very easily fade into the background; especially in the second half when almost all of the responsibility falls to Rocky to create compelling songs on his own.
where this album shines however, is in it's individual ideas! each song feels like it's own complete experience (for the most part) and is explored with a clear passion from Rocky as he explores every track with a wide array of flows and melodic approaches that all come together in a perfectly stimulating sonic landscape. it gives a ton of replayability to an album that otherwise has very little going on altogether, which seems to have been the intention.
favorite song: Gunz N Butter
worst song: CALLDROPS