Not necessarily rap, but music that kinda sounds like it. Some good examples are:
Kota the friend - Colorado
Two Door Cinema Club - Lavender
Saint Jhn - Reflex
Souly Had - Deja Vu
These songs should give you a good idea of the vibe I'm after. Calming, a little slower, lyrical, etc.

Here's the song I'm talking about, it is a mashup done by someone, Clams Casino - I'm God (feat MC Ride)
I don't usually listen to hip hop (I'm not even sure that was hip hop), but I found that song really pleasant. It's soft, kinda chill, but aggressive at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15cWVRvWLFM

1. combine his first album sounds and latest one to make a whole new sounds
2. have a larger tracklist to flesh out the sounds that he is only touching the surface because Flume can change the direction of electronic music as we know it
3. there should be 15-18 tracks and be over an hour running time
4. there should be a lot of beat switches during the songs and some sudden transitions in the tracklist
5. this album should have a constant theme of something pertaining to his early life to give the album more human feel
6. I feel like 1 or 2 skits could go a long way of explaining his new direction in music or life
7. he should touch on some new sounds in a much broader sense like house, dub techno, glitch, more electronic-based boom-bap and synthwave
8. there should be lot more producer collabs then the last few projects and he should try to get EPROM, Rustie, clams casino, disclosure, kaytranada or Jon Hopkins, Nicholas Jaar, Dylan Brandy, Sam gellrity and blank body
9. actual features should be from Vince Staples, Denzel curry, JID, Asap Rocky, Logic, Pusha T, Charlie xcx, Kucka, Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar and lastly Night Lovell
10. the last thing that I would want is thanking you to his fans at the end of the album

Artist: A$AP Rocky
Album: TESTING
Listen:
Spotify
Apple Music
Tidal
Background
On December 19, 2016, about a year and a half after his last project, Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky uploaded a snippet to his Twitter account with a single word caption; “TESTING…” The song previewed in that tweet was never released, but the hype from it set off the TESTING hype train. Unfortunately for fans, most of 2017 didn’t give us much new information when it came to the album. We got a few features and a new A$AP Mob tape, plus we heard a few snippets, but there was no new solo Rocky.
On January 23, 2018, fans finally regained hope for an album drop. A long-awaited snippet, “5IVE $TAR$”, aka “Wok”, was released on Soundcloud. The next day, “ABOVE” was released. And the next day, a freestyle over Babyfather’s “Meditation” was released. Though the singles received mixed receptions, they were a positive sign for the album. And once again, Rocky went ghost.
It took another couple months for a proper single to be released on streaming sites. “Bad Company” with BlocBoy JB was released in March. About a week later, Rocky appeared on Jimmy Fallon, where he performed two new songs, “Distorted Records” and “A$AP Forever”, the latter of which was released as the first actual single from the album a day later, accompanied by it’s music video, which stands as one of the best of the year.
And finally, FINALLY, TESTING dropped on May 25, 2018, to mixed reception from fans and critics.
Review
The album opens up with “Distorted Records”. The simple, distorted production gives Rocky enough to work with and make a banger of a track. Although the track is short, it serves its purpose as an intro. The song then transitions beautifully into a new version of the album’s first single, “A$AP Forever”, this time with an added verse from Kid Cudi. I absolutely love this song. It feels like it could have come out in 2011 when Rocky was first coming out. The beat is super airy, the drums are punchy, and Cudi and Rocky both deliver on their verses. The breakdown at the end with Moby’s vocals is a great use of the sample, and also gives the song a more uplifting vibe.
The next song on the trackless is “Tony Tone”, which was heavily anticipated by fans due to snippets. The guitar loop and drums have an old-school feel, but the distortion brings it into Rocky’s world. Lyrically, Rocky talks about fashion, his lifestyle in Harlem, and even addresses A$AP Bari’s sexual assault scandal. Next up is “Fukk Sleep”, which features British singer FKA twigs. The song continues the airy production, with Rocky and twigs’ voices both drenched in reverb.
“Praise The Lord (Da Shine)” with Skepta was the second single from the album, and for good reason. It’s the closest thing the album has to a typical club banger, with a bouncy, bass-heavy, Skepta-produced beat that could be mistaken for something Pi’erre Bourne would make. Skepta handles the hook, with him and Rocky both getting a verse, plus the final verse where they trade bars. It’s not a particularly deep song, but it’s super fun and energetic, and it’s easy to why it became one of Rocky’s biggest hits.
The following song, “CALLDROPS”, is less of a proper track and more of a short interlude. Though it’s pretty short, it actually showcases themes which come up a lot across the album. There’s the chopped and slowed sample in the beginning, the guitar sample, very airy, reverb’d out vocals, and another across-the-pond collaboration, this time with English singer-songwriter Dean Blunt, who sings the chorus along with Rocky. The song then ends with Kodak Black, then incarcerated, singing us a verse from inside jail, ending the song on somewhat of a poignant moment.
After the short interlude, “Buck Shots”, which features AWGE artists Smooky Margielaa and Playboi Carti, brings the tempo back up. The production sounds like what I’d imagine trap music will sound like in the year 3000. And while I love Rocky’s part and Carti wasn’t shabby, the real highlight is Smooky. His autotuned voice and the beat mesh perfectly and I’ll be damned if “Got them bullets aimin’ at your head top” isn’t a super hard way to start the verse.
“Gunz N Butta” again shows off Rocky’s skill at blending different musical styles together. The track is most obviously indebted to ‘90s Memphis rap with the Project Pat sample, but also sampling Dean Blunt’s Babyfather project. Next is “Brotha Man”, one of two collaborations with Frank Ocean on the album, and which also features French Montana. French comes with a wavy hook, and Rocky delivers a solid verse. Frank’s contributions are limited to a couple lines in the bridge and an outro, which is admittedly a little corny, thought I like his reference to Trump at the end.
Though “Bad Company” ended up not making the album, “OG Beeper” gave us another collaboration with BlocBoy JB, though he’s wisely relegated to adlib duty this time. Though this is one of my least favourite songs on the album, it’s still entertaining, with Rocky talking about life before fame, his time in prison, and his current modelling endeavours. The production is weird enough to where I’m still really enthralled by the song. The following song, “Kids Turned Out Fine” is another guitar-based song, The effects on the guitar and Rocky’s voice give it a psychedelic, wonky feel.
“Hun43rd”, which feature Blood Orange’s Devonté Hynes, is another highlight. Rocky’s rapping is super smooth over the beat’s G-funk esque synth works great. Dev’s hook sounds beautiful, and the chopped Thug Life sample fits in perfectly. We also hear a a classic Rocky maneuver, with his voice changing pitch. The outro with Tyler and the Mob is also a nice touch, showing Rocky’s crew.
“Changes” is a three-part epic. The first features Rocky rapping over just a guitar talking about a former lover, before the beat drops. The next part has a more ‘90s feel, and is Rocky at his more braggadocios, and the final part returns to the guitar of the first part. Honestly, there’s not much I can say about this song besides that it’s beautiful.
“Black Tux, White Collar” is a long-awaited collaboration between Rocky and producer Clams Casino. The Clams beat is exactly the type of beat I would’ve wanted from him, it’s super atmospheric and the drums work well without doing too much. It’s a throwback sound from Rocky, with a flow that’s reminiscent of his first tape.
The last song on the album is “Purity”, which features none other than Frank Ocean. The beat (also guitar-based) is initially simple, but as the track goes on, grows with new layers. The Lauryn Hill sample on the hook is great and Frank snaps on his verse. On the other hand, Rocky delivers a verse that doesn’t really adhere to the beat but still works. It’s a great closer to the album.
I’m not gonna sit here and say that TESTING is my favourite Rocky album, because it’s not. I’m not gonna say it’s perfect, because it’s not. But I will say it’s a damn good album no matter what people think. Throughout the album, Rocky blends so many different influences, samples, and styles, but still manages to make an album that gels together extremely well. Recurring themes like chopped samples, psychedelic guitar loops, and airy vocals help give the album a sense of cohesion.
A large portion of the criticism was about the album being “boring” or “one note”, but I disagree. There are quite a few slow paced songs that are somewhat light on drums, but that doesn’t make a song boring. And it certainly doesn’t make the album as a whole boring, because songs like “Tony Tone” or “Buck Shots” is anything but. There are so many unique songs and collaborations on this album. TESTING may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but to me, it sounds like the future of rap music.
Favourite Lyrics

The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Like dominos, nigga, Geronimos
When it's my time to go, adiós, vámonos
Flacko no Dominicano but eat the tostones with plátanos

• “A$AP Forever”

Pockets loaded, rocket loaded, okay, let’s rock and roll this
It’s time to go, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Locked and loaded, diamonds glowing, chart-climbing on ‘em

• “Praise The Lord (Da Shine)”

Grandma was a Catholic, and mama was a Christian
My pop returned to Muslim when he spent some time in prison
No Jehovah Witnesses where I’m from, kinda different
They don’t leave no witnesses so folks just mind they business

• “Gunz N Butta”

Two more drinks of everything before the bar closed
Face to face with my demons at a barstool
Haven’t checked on my niece in weeks
Months past and months in between since me and my sister would speak
Not a call or visit in weeks, lost, nothin' since the September last
Seen her September '16, man it feels like “I’m undone because”
Lose someone every release, it feels like the curse is in me
A$AP Press is gone and I grief, I share with you my peace

• Purity

Talking Points

• If the album had a less rocky rollout (pun intended), do you think the reception would be different?
• How do you feel Rocky’s collaborators (Dev Hynes, Frank Ocean, Dean Blunt, Playboi Carti) influenced the direction of the album?
• Where does Rocky go next? What would you like out of his next album?

Edit: This is a work in progress. I will add links and complete it at some point.

Albums

AJ Tracey (Deluxe)

Stream: Spotify/Apple Music/SoundCloud
Release Date: October 25, 2019
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. Plan B	Cadenza	3:16
2. Jackpot	Maaly Raw	3:00
3. Rina	Nyge	2:47
4. Wifey Riddim 3	Steel Banglez	2:52
5. Double C's	Ceej	4:08
6. Country Star	Kazza	3:24
7. Psych Out!	Carlie Hanson & Rex Kudo	2:56
8. Butterflies (Remix) (ft. Popcaan)	Nyge	3:44
9. Necklace (ft. Jay Critch)	Wallis Lane & 1Mind	3:47
10. Prada Me	Keith Varon & 1Mind	3:22
11. Ladbroke Grove	Conducta	3:11
12. Doing It	Swifta Beater	3:03
13. Nothing But Net (ft. Giggs)	Nyge & ADP	3:08
14. Horror Flick	Swifta Beater	2:50
15. Triple S	Malik Ninety Five	2:43
16. Halloween (ft. Young Adz)	Nyge	2:25
17. Migos	M1OnTheBeat	3:38
18. Cat Pack	Take a Daytrip	2:45
19. Floss (ft. MoStack and Not3s)	AJ Tracey & TheElements	3:02
20. Zelda (ft. SahBabii and SAFE)	CuBeatz & Maaly Raw	4:09

AJ Tracey

Stream: Spotify/Apple Music/SoundCloud
Release Date: February 8, 2019
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. Plan B	Cadenza	3:16
2. Jackpot	Maaly Raw	3:00
3. Rina	Nyge	2:47
4. Wifey Riddim 3	Steel Banglez	2:52
5. Double C's	Ceej	4:08
6. Country Star	Kazza	3:24
7. Psych Out!	Carlie Hanson & Rex Kudo	2:56
8. Butterflies (ft. Not3s)	Nyge	3:44
9. Necklace (ft. Jay Critch)	Wallis Lane & 1Mind	3:47
10. Prada Me	Keith Varon & 1Mind	3:22
11. Ladbroke Grove	Conducta	3:11
12. Doing It	Swifta Beater	3:03
13. Nothing But Net (ft. Giggs)	Nyge & ADP	3:08
14. Horror Flick	Swifta Beater	2:50
15. Triple S	Malik Ninety Five	2:43

Notes:

• Jorja Smith has uncredited vocals on Ladbroke Grove

EPs

Secure the Bag

Stream: Spotify/Apple Music
Release Date: October 6, 2017
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. Blacked Out	Sir Spyro	3:48
2. luvd u	MISOGI	2:54
3. Quarterback (Secure the Bag!)	Nyge & Keanu Beats	3:27
4. Tour Team (ft. 67)	Nyge	3:46
5. Bird Call	Nyge	3:14
6. Alakazam (ft. Jme & Denzel Curry)	Nyge	3:38
7. Shisha	Nyge	2:33
8. You Don't Know Me (ft. Craig David)	Nyge	3:28

Lil Tracey

Stream: Spotify/Apple Music
Release Date: December 2, 2016
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. They Said (ft. Bonkaz)	Faze Miyake & Mazza	3:03
2. Buster Cannon	Tre Mission	3:44
3. Capri-Sun (ft. Chip)	Baza	3:31
4. Pasta	Nyge	3:40
5. Luke Cage	Tre Mission	3:07
6. Hating on Gang (ft. Remy Banks)	Alex Epton	4:04

The Rumble (Remixes)

Release Date:
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. The Rumble - Toddla T Remix (ft. MJ Cole & Toddla T)	MJ Cole & Toddla T	2:59
2. The Rumble - DJ Hype & Annix Remix (ft. Annix, DJ Hype, & MJ Cole)	Annix, DJ Hype, & MJ Cole	3:24
3. The Rumble - Scarface Riddim (ft. MJ Cole)	MJ Cole	3:26

AJ's Stocking Filler

Stream: YouTube
Release Date: December 25, 2015
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. Swerve n Skid	Smasher	3:48
2. Wifey Riddim 2	Spooky Bizzle	3:18
3. Skepta	Rebound X	2:49
4. Trapsuit	Quietpvck & SVOnTheBeat	4:03
5. Selenki	DaVinChe	3:56

Notes:

• Not on streaming services

Alex Moran

Stream: Spotify/Apple Music/SoundCloud
Release Date: December 4, 2015
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. Spirit Bomb	Ezro	3:33
2. Nalia	Zeph Ellis	4:08
3. Bare Girls (ft. Jammz)	Jammz	3:42
4. Chalk (ft Merky ACE)	Splurt Diablo	2:30
5. AAA (ft. Big Zuu & Saint P)	Gamer	3:37

Notes:

• Nalia missing from streaming services

The Front

Stream: Spotify/Apple Music/SoundCloud
Release Date: June 12, 2015
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. The Lane	Zeph Ellis	3:54
2. Italy	Sir Pixalot	3:06
3. Wifey Riddim	Maribor	3:28
4. Hood Antics	Lolingo	2:35
5. Red Bull (ft. YGG)	J Beatz	4:11
6. Champions League	Drone	4:41

Mixtapes

Left Back

Stream: SoundCloud (Re-up)
Release Date: December 9, 2015
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. Eski Shells (ft. Mic Ty)	Wiley	3:46
2. Doughnuts & Ice Cream	Lolingo	2:54
3. Cranked (ft. D7)		3:40
4. Animal Abuse (ft. Jay Amo)		3:00
5. Hot Nigga	Jahlil Beats	2:18
6. Trapsuit	Quietpvck & SVOnTheBeat	4:03
7. Had Nothing	ToonzInTheLab	3:38

 

No More Looney

Stream: SoundCloud (Re-up)
Release Date: August 30, 2014
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. Intro		1:36
2. Be With You (ft. Santi)		4:24
3. Clarity		3:44
4. Medusa		2:28
5. What Am I Supposed To Do?		3:05
6. [Recognition (ft. Santi)]()
7. Chapter One		2:22
8. Miami Beach		1:49
9. Where I'm At		2:52
10. LMH Freestyle (ft. Big Zuu)	LawaunMakesHits	3:47
11. Girl Problems		3:18
12. Light Up (ft. Jay Amo & Wax		2:41
13. Savage Disciple (ft. Ets & Jay Amo)		3:20
14. Zombie City (ft. Sketch)		4:36
15. Control Me (Remix)		3:20
16. Like That (Freestyle)		1:48
17. In, Out (ft. Big Zuu)		4:08
18. Kun Aguero		3:42
19. Premier League (Freestyle)		1:33
20. Skin Fade (ft. Big Zuu)		3:10
21. My Streets (Freestyle)		1:38
22. The Catch	ToonzInTheLab	3:39
23. Dollar 8 Bar (ft. Ets, Jay Amo, & Sketch)		3:04
24. Staying Safe		3:36
25. Skipper (Freestyle)		2:24
26. 0 to 100 (ft. Big Zuu & YS)		4:26
27. Care Package (ft. Big Zuu)		3:52
28. [Pound Cake Recipe]()
29. Started (Freestyle)		3:10
30. Clap-a-Nigga (ft. Jay Amo)		4:04
31. Late Nights (ft. Big Zuu)	LawaunMakesHits	3:44
32. Welcome Home	DizzDisarster	2:42
33. Outro		0:57

 

Didn't Make the Cut

Stream: SoundCloud (Re-up)
Release Date: September 13, 2012
Track List:

Song Name	Producer	Length
1. 2008		2:22
2. Animal Freestyle (ft. Devstar)		2:50
3. BMF 2 (ft. Santi)	Era	3:01
4. Looney Freestyle		5:10
5. Candy Man (ft. Muddles)	Dego Brown	3:12
6. Catch 'em 16		1:10
7. Disturbed Freestyle (ft. Santi)	Versechild	2:05
8. Donald Trump [BONUS]		1:18
9. Extraordinary [BONUS]		1:34
10. Gunpowder [Grime Freestyle]		1:31
11. One Day		1:38
12. All Star (ft. Devinkz, Jay Amo, Mark Ellison, Muddles & Shino B)		3:04
13. Remedy		3:00
14. Rose Clique [Remix]		2:30
15. Shook Ones Freestyle		2:55
16. Soka Freestyle		3:14
17. Speak to Em		2:58
18. Struggling (ft. Mark Ellison)		2:56
19. The Motto [Remix]		2:14
20. Young, Wild, and Free (ft. Santi)		3:29
21. Zen Flow		4:32

Singles

AJ Tracey & Mabel West Ten Dinner Guest (ft. MoStack) Rain (ft. Aitch & Tay Keith) | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Kiss and Tell (ft. Skepta) | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Elastic | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Ladbroke Grove (Remix) (ft. General Levy & Novelist) | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Lo(v/s)er | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube 3AM (ft. Baauer & Jae Stephens) | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Mimi | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube False 9 | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube LA4AWeek (ft. Swoosh and Sloan Evans) | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube The Rumble (ft. M. J. Cole) | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Leave Me Alone | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Nalia - Murlo Remix (ft. Murlo) | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Thiago Silva (ft. Dave) | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Packages | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Spirit Bomb - Remix (ft. Cadell, Capo Lee, Central Cee, Dave, Drifter, Merky Ace, PK, Skits (UK), & Trims) | Spotify | iTunes | YouTube https://genius.com/Aj-tracey-swerve-n-skid-2-lyrics

Features

Headie One ft AJ Tracey & Stormzy - Ain't It Different 2020 KSI Tides ft AJ Tracey & Trendsetter Nyge featuring AJ Tracey & Kranium We're Doin This Remtrex featuring AJ Tracey No Limits Big Zuu & D7 featuring AJ Tracey Leave Dat Trap Unknown T featuring AJ Tracey Choose Sides M.O featuring AJ Tracey Fashion Week Steel Banglez featuring AJ Tracey & MoStack Other Man D33J featuring AJ Tracey & Sloan Evans London's Calling GRM Daily featuring Skrapz, Avelino, Asco, Loski & AJ Tracey Have U Seen MISOGI featuring AJ Tracey Apologies Sloan Evans featuring AJ Tracey & Swoosh Popstar Nessly featuring AJ Tracey & blackbear "Clouded Skies" 2013 Big Zuu, Sketch, Riks, Jay Amo My Team Paid "It's Going Down" Santi N/A "Everybody" (Remix) Devinkz, Enkay, Big Zuu "Stormy Days" (Remix) 2014 Santi "Man Wanna Talk" 2015 Capo Lee, Big Zuu "Ride Out" Big Zuu, Marger Big Who? "Owe You Nothing" GHSTLY XXVII, Lyrical Strally, Big Zuu Recon "Opp Anthem" (Remix) Jay Amo, Big Zuu, PK, Capo Lee Ammi "Tekkk Freestyle" Sir Spyro, JLSXND7RS N/A "Hoe" AJ Tracey Complex presents #GrimeTimeWarp Vol. 1 "Slap Yourself" (Remix) GHSTLY XXVII, Jammz N/A "Bucktown" Kahn & Neek, P Money, Jammer, Rocks FOE, Saint P, Nico Lindsay FabricLive.83 "West London" Teeza, Mez, Kyeza, Snowy, J Dot "Kestra" DaVinChe, Jammz, Novelist, PK, Capo Lee "War" 2016 Wax N/A "Bowser" Filthy Gears, PK Filthy Features "10/10" (Remix) P Money, Blacks, Mez, Capo Lee, PK, SafOne, Coco, Jammz, Discarda N/A "Str8 Riddim" AJ Tracey Trapstar x Logan Sama Mixtape "Like That" Reeko Squeeze Str8 Authentic "All Four Walls" (Zdot Remix) Gorgon City, Vaults N/A "Leg Day" (Remix) Tinchy Stryder, Capo Lee, Frisco "Big n Serious" (Remix) Coco, Nadia Rose "Arrogant Stance (Eski Thug)" Darkness, YGG, Big Zuu, Darkos Strife, Kwam, Nico Lindsay, Elf Kid, Hilts, GHSTLY XXVII "London vs. Midlands Cypher" Eyez, Mez, Kamakaze, Dave, Jammz Red Bull Studios presents Mind the Gap "Ascend" Last Japan N/A "Don't Talk Like That" (Remix) YGG, Spitz, Jay Amo, Big Zuu, Mic Ty "Rudeboy" (Remix) Fusion, PK "AJ Tracey Intro" Mez, DaVinChe The M1 EP "Shoulda Known Better" Mez, DaVinChe, Harvey Oops" (Remix) Haile, Akelle Charles, Yung Fume, Tremz, Louis Rei N/A Thinking of You" (Cadenza Remix) Mabel Domme Jongens" (Remix) Mula B & Louis 23" Reekz MB, Youngs Teflon Right & Wrong Fighting" Maniac BrOTHERHOOD (Original Soundtrack) Be Somebody" (Remix) Clams Casino, ASAP Rocky, Lil B N/A Knotty Head" (UK Remix) Denzel Curry, Rick Ross My Ways" 2017 New Gen, J Warner New Gen Wild Goat"[41] Lancey Foux, Nyge, Kojey Radical, Jevon First Day at Nursery None of That"[42] Faze Miyake, Merky ACE N.O.T. – EP REDMERCEDES" (Remix)[43] Aminé, Missy Elliott Non-album remix Look What I Did"[44] Yung Fume Noughts & Crosses 3 Tell Man Twice"[45] Big Zuu Big Zuu – EP Bully"[46] Sloan Evans mia Don't Get Me Mad" (Remix)[47] Fusion, Big Zuu READY Somebody Like Me"[48] 2018 Craig David The Time Is Now A List"[49] D7, Big Zuu No Discussion - Smoke Dawg Trekked Like Me - Not3s

Loosies

Sneakin Remix
Final Flash "Afternoon in Madrid" (Looney featuring Rico, Sketch and Jay Amo) - Slime City "Lord of the Hypes" (as Looney) - The Dungeon "Winter Freestyle" (as Looney) - The Dungeon "Skeng'd Out" (as Looney) - The Dungeon "Crud Tip (Bricks Freestyle)" (as Looney) - should be on didnt make the cut "Spring Freestyle" (as Looney) The Dungeon "Touch a Button" (as Looney) "MegaTron" (as Looney) "Banger" (as Looney) "Curry Chips Freestyle" (as Looney)

Freestyles

Unreleased

AJ Tracey - 4 Real (Prod. Working On Dying) AJ Tracey - NO Chucks (Prod. Working On Dying) Die For - AJ Tracey x Krept x i have no idea Octavian Lit (feat. AJ Tracey & Ramriddlz) Octavian Lit (feat. AJ Tracey & M.I.A)

An interview with Nicolas Pellion aka Pure Baking Soda, most likely to be the best french-speaking rap storyteller and part of this story that went everywhere on the web: the quite spontaneous boom of young harlemite A$AP Rocky, his machiavellian manager and a series of dirty tricks. Kind of an insight amongst cannibal piranhas and food for thought regarding the illusion of Internet as a development tool for music artists.
First time you hear about A$AP Rocky ?
First time I hear a song from A$AP Rocky, I believe it was January, 2011, Been Around The World. To be honest, I don’t remember what I thought about it back then at all. Today I think it’s a good tune but at that time I didn’t especially dig it. It came to me as a guy named Eastsidestevie had posted it on his blog Realniggatumblr.
Loading video That Tumblr is a true monument of Internet-Rap history. This guy used to scan his old Rap magazines, like XXL and more, brightening it up with stories you couldn’t read anywhere else. This concept was already really dope, but in addition to that, he had a great taste, made no compromise and had a strong sense of humor… It was thrilling, funny, harsh… Now the blog has been deleted and I hope that someone comes out someday saying he printed it all, as I believe it’s one of the best rap blog ever, if not THE best.
4 months later, between some Max B & Cam’Ron’s stories, some rare Prodigy’s freestyles and vintage footages of Puff Daddy, EastSideStevie brings out a new A$AP Rocky joint: Purple Swag. It sounds like an MP3 rip, the song being uploaded on YouTube, with the guy’s picture as scenery.
Today everyone knows it… But at that time, hearing this out of nowhere, I was kind of stucked. Maybe it’d be good to re-establish the context: right now, in 2013, 90% of weak rappers with a lack of personality look after those stuff and try to do that kind of music. Yet back then it wasn’t « cool » again to rap as they do in Houston… and Houston was honestly kind of lifeless. People hadn’t heard neither of Lex Luger yet, nor those stuff that were going to be everywhere for the next 2 years, so running into Purple Swag was like being 2 years in the future of rap music… even though this track could totally be an unreleased from 2005 or 2006…
So it motivated me to dig into A$AP Rocky… I see he has nothing on datpiff, nothing on livemixtapes, in short he’s a no name. So I look into the hidden depths of the Internet… I eventually find some verses of him here and there and even a video. I rip the whole thing and make a little compilation out of it. For the record, I didn’t know how to rip audio from YouTube… and the one who helped me is « a_nos_mousse »… who’d be known as Soufien 3000 a few weeks later…
I ended up making a cover with Paint, uploading the compilation on the Internet and putting it on my blog.
So when is this compilation getting out of control ?
Once I put it online, the compilation spreads a bit… But it gets wider when Andrew Noz posts it on his Tumblr. He actually had run into Purple Swag on YouTube too, did the same thing I did, except he came across my compilation. At that time, it’s not that it gets « out of control » – as it doesn’t spread that much yet – something like 3 or 4 000 downloads, maybe less… But we’re now 2 or 3 talking about A$AP Rocky on the web, including Noz, a journalist who’s writing kind of everywhere… Enough to bring the attention of the artist himself, who probably begins to wonder « Damn, nobody knows me, I haven’t officially released anything yet but they’re talking about me on the web »… And that’s when EastSideStevie, with whom I had chatted sometimes in the past – sends me an email « to clarify the whole story around ASAP » he says.
What is it saying ? Are you the only one he talks about it with?
In this moment yeah, I believe I’m the only one he talks about it with. Roughly, he starts by telling me that Rocky is really touched by this compilation coming out of nowhere, punctuating every sentence like « no homo ». Even though there are some tracks he hates and he’d rather forget, like the one with Seth Narley. Then he tells me A$AP is a crew, him and Rocky kind of driving the whole thing. I remember he compared the both of ’em with Jim Jones & Cam’Ron in order to make me get it right.
Then, still in that same email, April, 2011, he tells me Rocky’s currently working on his album. That he’s been signed (a management deal I guess) on the company which manages Big KRIT and which is also in charge of Curren$y’s booking. He goes on saying they hope to drop the mixtape by summer, coming along with many videos, and that so far the project is being produced by The Olympicks, Big KRIT and their in-house producer… He says it will come out via clothing brand Supreme, which was about to sponsor them.
He eventually encloses a 11-track full A$AP Rocky project entitled « Mouth Full Of Gold », kind of a preview of what his 1st release would have been like. With some DJ Burn One, Olympicks & Ty Beats produced joints.
Then begins a long series of emails in which he explains to me the kind of strategy he has in mind.
A strategy consisting in what ?
Consisting in making Rocky blow up thanks to blog support, but not just any random blogs. In big letters, their manager is trying to model them to fit in with 2Dopeboyz/Nahright… The Get High video with Ferg, to me it was about that… And him, Stevie, he’s not into that, I mean not at all. So he tries to connect some other rappers and producers to reach a different audience. He starts namedropping all the folks with whom he plans to collaborate; it sounds like an All Star Game of what was critically acclaimed by all the « specialised » rap blogs at that time: Young L, Droop-E, Clams Casino producing… Main Attrakionz as well.
No more than a few days later, he manages to get Squadda B on a beat from a Norwegian, Cash Flow I think. This is the track which will become Underground King, a tribute to Pimp C in which he says he fucks the majors. I think it eventually came out on no project.
May/Jun 2011, except for the compilation I uploaded and which is still not spreading that much, you can’t find any of the songs online… But already some majors look for signing him. Such as Atlantic Records… These guys already offer them a fine contract – which I don’t know no detail about – but they refuse it. They won’t go in as Rocky’s album would have been directed by Wiz Kalifah’s A&R (Rolling Paper period) who wants to make them a pop product with an « overdose of wild homo guitars ».
Still aiming at seducing a certain audience, which I personally would consider as Realniggatumblr’s audience after all, Stevie tells me he wants to shoot a Purple Swag video… kind of a remake of Prodigy’s Mack 10 Handle.
In the meantime, he sends me over two new Clams Casino produced tracks: Palace & Wassup. As I begin to have a few tracks at hand, he says I can spread some of ’em, even make another compilation if I want to. So I put one or two more on my blog… And the rest of it I ask some Internet guys to listen to, some folks from the Music Industry as well, so I know how they feel about it.
Loading video So what do Internet and Industry people say ?
I bring the attention of something like 10 guys around those tracks, French and Belgian people only… All of ’em are really into it at first. ‘Must say the guy blows in with productions from all the current freshmen, period; it was gold at that time. Amongst them are some « behind the scenes » guys like Amaury Feron or Guillaume Berg, convinced that he has a bright future. Guillaume even reaches out Stevie and starts getting along with them, working a bit with them… On organising a European tour in particular, to make them come to Paris. I think early July, 2011, while the Purple Swag video hadn’t dropped yet and nobody had heard about them except for 15 Parisians and 2 Belgians, it’s already decided that Main Attrakionz & A$AP Rocky would do a gig in Paris in October.
So do they and you meet ’em for real this time ?
Not really… Even though everything had been planned, or nearly planned, with such things as Young Jeezy opening in Scandinavia if I remember well, this tour would actually never be. Because a lot of things happened between this early July and October.
Let me just go back, to Jun, 2011. First of all, Soufien enters the loop. One morning I receive a message from Stevie saying that I must listen to this beat from a French producer that Rocky will probably use… When I find out this French producer is… Soufien, whom I already knew, I’m laughing my ass off, as he hadn’t tell anyone. I think everybody knows how it happened, he sent over some beats on Facebook, etc, etc.
As they didn’t have that much contact with Soufien anymore, that’s me who recovers Acid Drip for him and I send it over via Twitter. If I remember well, we didn’t have Get Lit at that time and we weren’t sure whether those tracks would be on the tape or not, so we kept our mouths shut.
Then we meet SpaceGhostPurpp… The rest of Green Ova, etc… which leads the mixtape to be delayed again and again, ending up not looking at all like the original project (Mouth Full Of Gold).
End of May/early Jun, the Purple Swag video is already shot and they start making a new one for each track of the tape. Their idea is to do like Lil B in a way, having a new video each week during summer. And then, I don’t know what happens, they give up the video. Stevie asks me to remove all the songs I put online (Wassup, Peso, Diamonds), to delete quite a few other stuff and not to communicate anymore. I understand that things are happening faster for them. They go back and shoot another video for Purple Swag… they launch it early July on Realniggatumblr, my blog and a couple of more such as Yayodancing.
From now on, everybody knows what’s up, as they are « officially » out. First vid works very well but the one that will really be a hit is Peso. And as Deep Purple – the small compilation made of YouTube rips – is still the only Rocky project available out there, it’s being more and more downloaded, easily going over 100 000.
So now the majors start to quiver I guess…
I guess they do… As they were already in touch with labels before, plus the way things happened, I think their record deal with Sony was almost signed even before the new Purple Swag video came out. And that they just didn’t tell anyone. There were probably some details to be fixed, and the viral success those vids encountered probably helped in exaggerating some figures in the end… but to me it was already almost done before they went really « famous ».
About that, the so-called $3-million deal is not exactly the one that has been given to the general public, do you have some details ?
No I don’t. What I know, or what I believe I know, is that it was about 1,5M$ for A$AP Rocky as a solo artist, and 1,5M$ for A$AP Mob. Without even knowing what it exactly means. But I really don’t think they currently have 3M$ in their wallet…. Once again I don’t know the details as I never had to see this contract, but regarding this deal so many talked about… I’m not convinced that’s the best idea they had.
If their success is indeed « viral », which everything seems to demonstrate – hold by social networks, Tumblr, YouTube, etc. Roughly if they were as supported as indie artists as they seemed to be… It meant they already had a large audience and so they didn’t need that deal. By remaining independent, they would have got 100% of everything their music generates, from MP3 sales to YouTube ads, live tours or clothing brands in their case… When you have millions of views, in less than a month, on several of your videos… If you’re smart and if you’re able to handle it, a lot more money can go INTO YOUR POCKET rather than signing such a deal… Furthermore… your masters still belong to you. Now I’d bet everything you want that the music those guys are dropping, legally doesn’t belong to them no more.
Go ask Mac Miller or Macklemore what kind of money comes into their pocket at the end of the year. I’m 300% sure it’s ten times what the whole A$AP Mob crew is making all together. And they remain owners of their masters.
I think what made them sign is the promise of a relative « artistic freedom », roughly your albums will be just as you want it to be… Yeah, just the same as being indie right ?!
We get to this theory according which ain’t no such thing as a spontaneous boom in this new worldwide musical industry driven by the Internet, is that it ?
I personally hardly believe in some spontaneous boom happening on the web, yeah. Some folks – with just a video on YouTube, without having approached anyone first, without having a manager, etc… who’d sign a contract for several millions with a major label 5 weeks afterward, I believe that’s part of the stories that feed into marketing, also allowing musical journalists enabled to speak a word about music to have something to say.
But that’s not exactly what I wanted to highlight here. Thing is, for the US market, when you have a thrilled audience already existing, I doubt signing with a major is the best option. I believe Macklemore is now a role model in this field.
A$AP Rocky had everything under control so he could handle his career the same way, I’m sure he would have sold the same amount of albums and would have make more money… But that’s true they couldn’t have fronted like « Yo, we got a $3-million deal »… When it’s actually « Yo, I’m paying that percentage of what I earn to Mr. so-and so and my masters don’t belong to me no more »
By the way the guy who built that A$AP Rocky buzz – Stevie/Yams – has now been put aside, hasn’t he ?
Stevie became A$AP Yams indeed. He’s credited on both the album and mixtape as executive producer, so I think he’s still involved in the artistic choices. I guess he will also on the next A$AP Ferg album to be released.
I don’t know if he plays another role but this one today. He’s still with them, touring and shit. But for a few months he seems to be busier with some West Coast rappers. He manages them, advises them and helps them; thanks to the connections he developed during the A$AP Mob adventures. Like Joey Fatts for instance. But I don’t know more precisely.
Nowadays the few interactions I got with him go through a Facebook group we have, involving a bunch of guys who’ve been part of this story or close enough for the last 2/3 years.
From your point of view – as an industry insider – what is your feeling on this ? Bitterness ? Amusement ? Proud ? The three combined/none of that ?
No bitterness, I got no reason to feel this way. It was amusing on many aspects for sure. Especially when people here in France said I had « discovered » A$AP Rocky, based on some newspaper articles and these kinds of stupid stuff, when it was absolutely not true. Me being part of the equation or not wouldn’t change anything to the story I think. I used to receive dozens of emails as people thought I was their manager or something… It was funny.
In addition, the fact that I was there allowed me to meet people and connect. And this is always cool.
Do you believe that « Influential blogs » in rap music are necessarily manipulated by Stevielike guys?
Sometimes it’s not completely conscious or as well thought out as Stevie did, so I don’t know if we can talk about manipulation, but there are definitely some artists that are being helped by some blogs. It can be explained by friendliness. As artists eventually get closer with bloggers/journalists for instance. There is this one blog of a skating clothing brand, talking a lot about rap music; this is exactly what I’m saying… Rappers they highlight always have a small success thanks to their support… And after chatting here and there, I realised that it’s just a huge friendliness network. Neither the rappers nor the bloggers are completely aware of it.
And there’s also some quite vicious stuff. Here’s a funny one. I’m part of a Facebook group gathering almost all the American bloggers, something like 10 rappers and a bunch of producers… One day we asked ourselves, if we all started to praise somebody at the same time on our different websites, wrapping up the whole thing well, like taking a beat from that well-known producer, a featuring with this hot cat and shit… Would we succeed in making believe he’s dope ?
We took someone from the group who didn’t know how to rap, someone ghostwrited his lyrics and we made him rap on some beat from a producer everyone would know… One after the other, every blogger from the group wrote some stuff to explain why it was dope… It worked. But even more than everything we could have imagined. As this artist went highly praised by all the « tastemaker » blogs, for real. We found him in some year-end blog lists from bone-headed hipsters websites nearly interested in rap, some articles saying it was revolutionary, including some big players like Complex, Fader, Spin, Pitchfork… And now… well this artist has a career. Not amongst the rap audience, but amongst kind of retarded hipsters who love to believe that they listen to rap music, it’s a hit. This artist is touring now, hanging around with stars and shit… I think I won’t reveal his identity for now, but someday someone will, for sure.
Anyway, I don’t know if it’s a proof that these kinds of practices do exist, but it’s a proof it definitely works.
More on a RNT model, there are the Baller’s Eve guys, responsible for launching Yelawof, Trinidad James and a few other careers. The boss of this radio/blog seems to hang out and find new talents pretty much everywhere, then manages them a bit undercover before pretending he discovers them when posting on his blog.
It’s been really nice of you to take some time and energy to tell us the hidden agenda of this story, one last word to add ?
Only that as far as I’m concerned, I don’t write articles on « the next big thing » no more, or new talents, in fact I don’t do really fresh news topics… Not to fall into that kind of stuff, even without noticing.
Because I don’t want to hand on no plates to people no more.
I’ve always been writing what I think, but when you start doing this too much, you become this snooper website, running after the last news and the next thing to blow up… maybe for lack of a real high quality content.

I think I did a pretty good job at mixing ambient music with elements of hip hop and lofi. I feel like Clams Casino played a big part in making it known that this is possible, especially through the production of “LiveLoveA$AP” with ASAP Rocky back in 2011.
Fwdslxsh, an ambient & electronic producer from London, also had a huge impact on the mix - his tape “The Fall” is angelic from front to back.
The mix can be found here: https://youtu.be/YveUCgLmNdA. I’m proud of this one, good for those late night relaxations.

Hey, everyone!
If there’s any genre that’s benefited from the age of streaming, it’s been hip hop. Both 2016 and 2017 have seen huge success for rappers even if they weren’t getting radio play, and have shown the power of cultivating a young, mostly online fanbase in the current music climate. It’s only gaining traction: six hip hop songs (Bad and Boujee by Migos, Black Beatles by Rae Sremmurd, HUMBLE. by Kendrick Lamar, I’m the One by DJ Khaled, Bodak Yellow by Cardi B, and Rockstar by Post Malone) claimed the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017, compared to two in 2016. Post Malone held the number one spot for nearly three times as long as Taylor Swift, that’s the power of hip hop right now.
Given this popularity, it seems like as good a time as ever to do a follow-up to the 2016 Hip Hop Rate and Drake Drag by looking at four rap albums from 2017 that attracted acclaim and success while also showcasing the variety of the genre. These four albums cover four distinct approaches and styles to hip hop: jazzy and personal, brash and political, trappy and melodic, chaotic and experimental. They’re four of the most interesting artists in the game right now, but for this rate they’ll be pitted against each other.

HERE is the pre-prepared link if you just want to start rating!

The albums we'll be rating are:

KENDRICK LAMAR - DAMN.

Nobody has made quite as big an impact on the hip hop scene over the last several years as Kendrick Lamar. Growing up in section 8 housing in Compton, California, Kendrick translated the experiences of his childhood into some of the most compelling and acclaimed music of the entire decade. Kendrick put out his first mixtape at the age of 16 in 2004, but it would be years before the hip hop world would take notice. His debut album Section.80 helped put him on the map, but 2012's widely acclaimed concept album good kid, m.A.A.d city helped break Kendrick fully into the mainstream. In 2015, he released his even more widely acclaimed third album To Pimp a Butterfly, which spawned the successful single "Alright", a song that would become somewhat of a protest anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. Pressure and anticipation was high on Kendrick for his follow-up to the huge commercial and critical success of To Pimp a Butterfly, but many people were caught off guard when he released a promotional single, "The Heart Part 4", in early 2017. The song ended with a warning to other rappers with the deadline of April 7th, sending the internet into a frenzy on what appeared to be the promise of a new album. While DAMN. would actually be released on the 14th, it still was a shock to the senses of many rap fans, and a near-perfect rollout to Kendrick's new chapter.
DAMN. itself is an album that begs for deep analysis. The internet almost immediately was flooded with theories and speculation on the album's themes and content. A widely circulated but eventually incorrect theory believed Kendrick was gearing up to drop a second album called NATION. the following week, and a second theory about the album being meant to be played backwards and forwards would be acknowledged with the release of the DAMN. Collectors Edition, the same album but with the tracklist reversed. Sonically, it goes all over the place, from modern trap to jazzy, TPAB esque hip hop to even R&B. It's Kendrick's most mainstream release, but DAMN. is anything but straightforward. It's a challenging listen with themes of race, religion, politics, fame, love, and death. Gaining critical acclaim, numerous Grammy nominations, and going double platinum, DAMN. is Kendrick's statement of purpose on the throne of hip hop. - ThereIsNoSantaClaus
Spotify
Apple Music

1. BLOOD.
   
2. DNA.
   
3. YAH.
   
4. ELEMENT.
   
5. FEEL.
   
6. LOYALTY. (feat. Rihanna)
   
7. PRIDE.
   
8. HUMBLE.
   
9. LUST.
   
10. LOVE. (feat. Zacari)
    
11. XXX. (feat. U2)
    
12. FEAR.
    
13. GOD.
    
14. DUCKWORTH.
    

TYLER, THE CREATOR - FLOWER BOY

Tyler, in my opinion, has the most interesting career progression of the four artists in this rate. Born Tyler Gregory Okonma in 1991, he grew up in California with his single mother, having never met his estranged father. By age fourteen, Tyler had taught himself how to play the piano, and by age seventeen he had formed the notorious and influential Odd Future hip hop collective. In 2009, the now eighteen year old Tyler released his debut mixtape Bastard, which featured simple lo-fi production and exaggerated rhymes about violence, murder, and rape.
Two years later, the success of his breakout single “Yonkers” and its instantly memorable music video (in which Tyler eats a cockroach and hangs himself) got Tyler some mainstream attention, winning him the VMA for Best New Artist and a whole new legion of fans. This increased attention also brought increased controversy, with Tyler coming under heat for his violent lyrics, use of slurs, and generally edgy personality. However, things seemed to be taking a turn with the release of his second album Wolf in 2013, a loose concept album that featured a summer camp love triangle, matured lyrics, and more layered production. Tyler followed that up in 2015 with the divisive Cherry Bomb, which featured both elaborate, jazzy arrangements and loud, distorted insanity.
Tyler’s earlier albums, in many ways, feel like a blueprint to what eventually became Flower Boy. The layered arrangements, loose concepts, personal lyrics, and influences from soul and jazz to The Neptunes are all present in Flower Boy, but they all feel matured to their freshest possible sound. If you’ve taken even a brief look at Tyler’s social media, you’ll know he loves chords and melodies, and Flower Boy is sonically gorgeous. Lyrically, it’s also his most personal work yet, and the album quickly attracted a lot of attention for a number of lines that hinted strongly at Tyler being in the closet. Flower Boy is a far cry from where Tyler began, both in subject matter and sound, and the result of nearly a decade of musical evolution. The album was critically acclaimed, with a current 84 score on Metacritic and being ranked as Pitchfork's 8th best album of 2017. - ThereIsNoSantaClaus
Spotify
Apple Music

1. Foreword (feat. Rex Orange County)
   
2. Where This Flower Blooms (feat. Frank Ocean)
   
3. Sometimes...
   
4. See You Again (feat. Kali Uchis)
   
5. Who Dat Boy (feat. ASAP Rocky)
   
6. Pothole (feat. Jaden Smith)
   
7. Garden Shed (feat. Estelle)
   
8. Boredom (feat. Rex Orange County & Anna of the North)
   
9. I Ain't Got Time!
   
10. 911 / Mr. Lonely (feat. Frank Ocean & Steve Lacy)
    
11. Droppin' Seeds (feat. Lil Wayne)
    
12. November
    
13. Glitter
    
14. Enjoy Right Now, Today
    

LIL UZI VERT - LUV IS RAGE 2

Lil Uzi Vert, genre-wise, falls under the umbrella of trap music. If you asked Uzi, however, he'd call himself a rockstar. He's listed his main influences as Hayley Williams and Marilyn Manson in the past, and has definitely taken more than a few cues from emo rock in his style and musical content. Born in Philadelphia in 1994, a 20 year old Uzi was discovered by producer and DJ Don Cannon in 2014 and signed with Cannon and DJ Drama not long after. He released his breakthrough mixtape Luv is Rage in October 2015, and a pair of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World-inspired mixtapes the year after, Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World and The Perfect LUV Tape. The tapes spawned Uzi's first major hits, "You Was Right"and "Money Longer". 2017 brought Uzi firmly into the mainstream with his first number one single from the Migos collab "Bad and Boujee", and his first top 10 solo hit with "XO TOUR Llif3", as well as a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Throughout 2016 and 2017, Uzi had also teased a follow-up to Luv is Rage, frequently posting snippets of new music through his social media. Finally, Uzi announced the album's release on August 24th, just a day in advance. The album received positive reviews from critics and sold well, debuting at number one and later going platinum.
Luv is Rage 2 feels much like a sequel to a film that wasn't expected to be as big of a hit as it was. It keeps the feel and mood of the original mixtape, but expands upon it with cleaner production, solid hooks, and big-name collaborators (particularly The Weeknd and Pharrell Williams, who are both featured). Much of the album deals with heartbreak over Uzi's long-time on and off now ex-girlfriend Brittany Byrd, who has frequently appeared in his music videos and album covers. The album often feels like it was written in the wake of yet another breakup, with many lyrics dealing with heartbreak and resentment. "XO TOUR Llif3", the big single and unexpected hit, feels much like a thesis statement for the whole project, a catchy trap beat mixed with raw and relatable lyrics about love lost, heartbreak, depression, and fame. The hook is both endlessly catchy but still sad and relatable, and in that fashion Uzi does really feel like the successor to his emo influences. Music will change, but sad music will never go out of style. - ThereIsNoSantaClaus
Spotify
Apple Music

1. Two®
   
2. 444+222
   
3. Sauce it Up
   
4. No Sleep Leak
   
5. The Way Life Goes (feat. Oh Wonder)
   
6. For Real
   
7. Feelings Mutual
   
8. Neon Guts (feat. Pharrell Williams)
   
9. Early 20 Rager
   
10. UnFazed (feat. The Weeknd)
    
11. Pretty Mami
    
12. How to Talk
    
13. X
    
14. Malfunction
    
15. Dark Queen
    
16. XO TOUR Llif3
    

VINCE STAPLES - BIG FISH THEORY

Vince Staples (real name Vincent Jamal Staples, born in July 1993) isn’t your average west coast rapper. He was born in Compton, California, home of many other rappers such as NWA (who include Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, DJ Yella and Ice Cube), The Game, YG or (also in this rate) Kendrick Lamar. Compton is also known for the high crime rates, which made his mother move to North Long Beach when he was barely a kid with his other 4 siblings. There he grew up in poverty and studied at a christian high-school until 8th grade. He was involved in gangs during all of his childhood, which made some of his best friends lose their lives in summer 2006, when they were barely 13 year old. His mother, worried about his son, made him move to Atlanta with his sister for six months, until he came back to Long Beach. He studied in several high-schools at that time, and in 2009, in a trip to Los Ángeles, he met Syd Tha Kid and Earl Sweatshirt, two members of the former hip-hop collective Odd Future (who was leaded by, also in this rate, Tyler the Creator).
Vince would then start to release mixtapes, like Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1 (2011), Winter In Prague (2012), Stolen Youth (2013, produced by Mac Miller), Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2 (2014) and the project that would finally bring him to a (more or less) mainstream audience, Hell Can Wait (2014). He was also featured in other songs like Earl Sweatshirt’s Hive, and got signed to Def Jam after he released Stolen Youth.
But the year where he finally got to shine was 2015: he released the singles Señorita, Get Paid and Norf Norf from his debut album Summertime ‘06, and appeared on the 2015 XXL Freshman, with a brilliant freestyle and a great cypher with Goldlink and OG Maco. Summertime ‘06 was met with critical acclaim, many claiming it as the best rap debut of the year and one of the best albums of the year, lauding Vince’s lyrical content and flows and praising the production from No I.D., Clams Casino and DJ Dahi.
In 2016 Vince released another EP, Prima Donna, announced August 25th and released one day later. It featured Kilo Kish and A$AP Rocky, and once again got acclaimed by both public and critics, who also saw the tints of experimentation on it.
That drives us to Big Fish Theory, a product of experimentation with other genres and sounds which are outlandish to hip-hop, such as dance, electronic, house and techno. It features Kendrick Lamar (Yeah Right), Juicy J (sampled on the Big Fish hook) and Ty Dolla $ign (Rain Come Down), and has other smaller features such as A$AP Rocky in SAMO, Kučka in Yeah Right or Damon Albarn and Kilo Kish in Love Can Be. The album was produced by some producers who are alien to hip-hop like SOPHIE, Justin Vernon (also known as Bon Iver) or Flume. And, you guessed it, Big Fish Theory was another acclaimed album, with a harsh production and lyrical content ranging from suicide and fame to politics and racism, which makes it, behind 4:44, the best hip-hop album of 2017 to me. - VodkaInsipido
Spotify
Apple Music

1. Crabs in a Bucket
   
2. Big Fish
   
3. Alyssa Interlude
   
4. Love Can Be...
   
5. 745
   
6. Ramona Park is Yankee Stadium
   
7. Yeah Right
   
8. Homage
   
9. SAMO
   
10. Party People
    
11. BagBak
    
12. Rain Come Down
    

Bonus Tracks

1. Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 4
   
2. Kendrick Lamar & SZA - All the Stars
   
3. Kendrick Lamar & The Weeknd - Pray for Me
   
4. Tyler, the Creator - WHAT THE FUCK RIGHT NOW (feat. ASAP Rocky)
   
5. Tyler, the Creator - ZIPLOC
   
6. Tyler, the Creator - OKRA
   
7. Vince Staples & Yugen Blakrok - Opps
   
8. Vince Staples - Get the Fuck Off My Dick
   
9. Vince Staples - War Ready
   
10. Lil Uzi Vert - The Way Life Goes Remix (feat. Nicki Minaj)
    
11. Lil Uzi Vert - You Was Right
    
12. Lil Uzi Vert & Steve Aoki - Smoke My Dope
    

RULES
Here's the rules section, which is being shamelessly stolen from every other rate.

• Listen to every song and assign it a score of between 1 and 10. Decimals like 7.6 or 9.3 are fine, but no more than one decimal spot! No 6.33 or 7.66 scores, we'll be using letsallpoo's program and scores like that will crash the program. Also make sure to enter a score for everything. Empty scores will also not work with the program, and we want everyone's scores to be counted.
  
• Feel free to leave comments on songs you rate, obviously. Just make sure to use the correct format when leaving a comment.
  

This is the only correct way to do it:
See You Again: 10 This song is amazing!
All of these are incorrect:
See You Again: 10: This song is amazing!
See You Again: 10 - This song is amazing!
See You Again: 10 (This song is amazing!)
See You Again: This is a 10 because it's amazing!

• You are allowed to give one song an 11 and one song a 0. You are not required to give either of these, but if you want to spotlight your favorite or least favorite song in the rate, you are able to. As usual, we strongly suggest not to intentionally sabotage the results, just be honest with your scoring.
  
• The songs in the bonus rate are separate from the main rate. A bonus track can not be your 11 or 0.
  
• If at some point later in the month you want to change your scores, message me or VodkaInsipido and we can fix it up for you.
  
• If you don't follow the format, I'll still accept your ballot, but I reserve the right to publicly shame you and your inability to follow basic instructions.
  

HERE IS THE PRE-PREPARED LINK.

HERE IS THE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST FOR THIS RATE, INCLUDING ALL FOUR ALBUMS AND THE BONUS TRACKS. (Note: ZIPLOC and WHAT THE FUCK RIGHT NOW are not on Spotify, so they aren't on the playlist. You can find both easily on YouTube and they're both conveniently linked above.)

And that's it! We hope you all participate and have fun! We'll see you in May for the reveal. Keep an eye out throughout the month as well for information on plug.dj listening parties for this rate.
- ThereIsNoSantaClaus and VodkaInsipido

By cloud/ dark I mean everything from Yung Lean to ASAP Rocky (especially the first album), passing through producers like XXYYXX and Clams Casino and rappers like Night Lovell or Derek Wise. By saying cloud I mean this, and I'm directly quoting from the subreddit https://www.reddit.com/CloudRap/ here: "Cloud Rap refers to a form of hip hop whose distinguishing features include ethereal, dreamlike beats which often use wordless vocal samples, wherein singers harmonize or hold long notes, to produce a majestic effect and abstracted, sometimes deliberately absurd, lyrics." Even better if it has southern rap influence. The dark part is more related to the nocturnal feeling that these songs tend to evoke, and I might even use the Weeknd when he was in his mixtape days as an example. Other artists I might put in either one or both of these categories are Bones, ASAP Ant (I really like "set dat bitch off"), Travis Scott, Raiderklan ... I know these definitions might be kinda weak, but I hope I was broad enough to ensure you guys could bring good suggestions. Thanks a lot to everyone who will help me!

The mouse is this week's best vbeats!
Background: anger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' The Beatles (aka the White Album).
He formed Gnarls Barkley with CeeLo Green and produced its albums St. Elsewhere and The Odd Couple. In 2009 he collaborated with James Mercer of the indie rock band The Shins to form the band Broken Bells. In addition, Burton worked with rapper MF Doom as Danger Doom and released the album The Mouse and the Mask.
As a producer Danger Mouse produced the second Gorillaz album, 2005's Demon Days, as well as Beck's 2008 record Modern Guilt and three albums with The Black Keys (Attack & Release, El Camino and Turn Blue). In 2016, Danger Mouse produced, performed on and co-wrote songs for the eleventh studio album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers titled The Getaway. Danger Mouse has also produced and co-written albums by Norah Jones (Little Broken Hearts), Electric Guest (Mondo), Portugal. The Man (Evil Friends), Adele (25), and ASAP Rocky's (At.Long.Last.ASAP (ALLA)). He has been nominated for 19 Grammy Awards and has won 6. He's been nominated in the Producer of the Year category five times, and won the award in 2011.
IMPORTANT TIPS BEFORE VOTING:

1. All Votes must provide a one-two sentence justification for it to be counted.
   
2. Remember to provide links!
   
3. One vote per comment as well.
   
4. Before voting please look into listen to some of the Danger's best beats and lesser known beats to ensure we are not voting on popularity:
   

• Best of Danger Mouse Spotify Playlist
  
• https://www.discogs.com/artist/109129-Danger-Mouse
  

Past 20 Week Results:
Week 14 - Knxwledge - "Kendrick Lamar - Momma" Week 15 - Timbaland - "JAY Z - Big Pimpin'" Week 16 - Swizz Beatz - "DMX - Ruff Ryders Anthem" Week 17 - Flying Lotus - "Flying Lotus - Never Catch Me" Week 18 - Hit-Boy - "JAY Z & Kanye West - Niggas in Paris" Week 19 - Pete Rock - "Pete Rock & CL Smoth - T.R.O.Y." Week 20 - 9th Wonder - "Anderson .Paak - The Season/Carry Me" Week 21 - El-P - "Cannibal Ox - Iron Galaxy" Week 22 - Boi-1da - "Drake - Pound Cake" Week 23 - 2016 - "Danny Brown - Ain't It Funny" Week 24 - Q-Tip - "Nas - One Love" Week 25 - No I.D. - "Big Sean - Control" Week 26 - Clams Casino - "Lil B - I'm God" Week 27 - DJ Shadow - "DJ Shadow - Midnight in a Perfect World" Week 28 - MF DOOM - "MF DOOM - Hoe Cakes" Week 29 - Nujabes - "Nujabes - Feather" Week 30 - Havoc - "Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt. II" Week 31 - Organized Noize - "Outkast - Da Art of Story Tellin' Pt. 1" Week 32 - KAYTRANADA - "KAYTRANADA - Glowed Up" Week 33 - Tyler, The Creator - "Tyler The Creator - Rusty" Week 34 - Lex Luger - "Wakka Flocka Flame - Hard in the Paint"
Post your favorite beats (with links) here!
^{remember just because a beat may be iconic that does necessarily mean it's their best beat.}
taking suggestions for next week

Alright, so this has been bugging me for quite a few years now and I think someone here should be able to give me the answer I'm looking for.
In hip-hop/rap, people that make beats (such as most of us here) are referred to as producers (e.g. "Clams Casino has produced various songs for ASAP Rocky).
However, I originally come from a background in rock and metal where the person referred to as the producer isn't really writing or creating any music, but sort of "guiding" the artist/band and giving suggestions (e.g. "Butch Vig produced 'Nevermind' by Nirvana"). For example, a band hires someone to produce their album. They're in the studio recording songs and in one instance the producer suggests that the band's guitarist should play their part in double time because they feel it would sound better. Things like that are part of a producer's role in (for the lack of a better term) "band music".
So what's the proper term for someone in hip hop/rap that isn't making beats but has the same kind of involvement as the "rock producer" in a hip hop/rap record? Is that an executive producer or is that something completely different as well?

Alright maybe once I have more time I'll put the research in to make a quality post, but right now all I have are a couple leads. So here ya go
I've been bumpin a lot of cloud rap and I'm real curious as to how it came about. The earliest projects I found were Viper-You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack and Lil B's 6 kiss (specifically with the clams casino produced I'm God
I know a lot of people think viper and lil b are trolls or just shitty, but it's pretty clear these late 2000's works spawned a subgenre almost exclusive to the internet world that became termed "cloud rap." Probably the most well known example of the genre is ASAP Rocky's Live.Love.A$AP tape, which featured heavy production from clams casino and also included the debut of spaceghost purrp on Keep it G, which is an excellent example of the genre's sound. Other popular artists in the genre today include Main Attraktionz, Nacho Picasso x BSBD, and sometimes Antwon
Obviously the genre is already pretty spread out, but there is a clear similarity in sound. So, I was going through old music videos and stumbled upon the Spike Jonze directed Notorious B.I.G. - Sky's the Limit music video. The song's beat, produced by 2000s hitmaker Clark Kent, sounds very similar to a lot of cloud rap stuff today. Do you guys think there's an obvious correlation, or know of any evidence to link the influence? I've also heard of influence from Brian Eno, and the Enya sampling Fugees - Ready Or Not has a similar beat, but both are hard to link.
Anywho, anyone else have any input/ideas? Cloud rap as a genre has grown pretty rapidly since '08 and its already become a fairly popular internet subgenre that is only going to keep growing.

Verified? (This bot cannot verify AMAs just yet)
Date: 2016-01-18
Link to submission (Has self-text)

Questions	Answers
What's your favorite song that you've been part of?	1 - I don't make music, but my favorite song that I've been in the studio to hear and to witness is probably Yamborghini High.
So how did ASAP start and become what it is today? Did you all just randomly come together or how?	I wasn't there in the beginning, but hthe Mob really started with A$AP Yams and A$AP Bari, and just throughout time and just runnin as a street crew, the other members joined and it became what it is today.
You're kind of living every big fan's dream right? You were originally a huge A$AP supporter until they welcomed you into the mob. How exactly did them asking you to be part of it come about and what were you doing before that?	Before that I was in between jobs, and it just came about after I met them at a show. I started hanging out with them and becoming close. Rocky needed an assistant at the time and asked if I wanted to come on board and do that and I accepted.
off congrats on everything you achieved so far, keep doing your thing. I have two questions. What can we expect from the Cozy Tapes? And is it still possible to get a ticket for Yams Day? R.I.P Yam$. Thanks.	You could expect that ol' Flaco, a lot of guest appearances, and you can expect that ignorant young turn up music. And a lot of exclusives from the Mob.
	The tickets are all sold out - make sure you get your tickets early next year!
What is the craziest thing you and the mob have done while on a tour?	Um.
	When we were on tour with Tyler, we had a HUGE water fight backstage - throwing buckets of water on people, water balloons, ice. All the cameras got wet. It was crazy.
Who is one artist/rapper you would want to work with in the future? Any artist you've worked with in the past that was super fun?	In the future... ummm Whoever's hot, ya know. Whoever I find that's hot at the time.
	As for the past - all the Mob, anyone who's associated with the Mob.
Will there be another cozy boy party in London ace hotel this year?	Heh
	Um, I dunno about the Ace Hotel, but there will definitely be a cozy boy party in London this year. Ya get me?
What's it like to be part of A$AP Mob?	It's amazing, it's fun. It's the funnest job I've ever had. I wouldn't change it for anything.
Will we ever see you producing? If so any projects coming up?	Naw, you'll just see me hosting projects. Cozy Boy Tapes coming up this year.
What's your opinion on Kanye West and his impact on the culture?	Kanye is dope. He has a huge impact on the culture, I think it's amazing what he's been able to do.
Favorite memory of A$AP Yams ?	Um.
	He always had the best stories. He always knew how to make everybody laugh.
How often do you get mistaken for Lou Bega? Do you appreciate the comparison?	I've never gotten mistaken for him, but I would appreciate the comparison.
Any special things planned for the Yams day concert tonight?	Yea, we have a lot of special things in store. Make sure you tune in on Yahoo live stream.
What were you thinking when you got up on stage with the mob for the first time in NY? Did you think that you would become part of it?	Um, I didn't think I'd become a part of it. I was just grateful for the experience to be up there.
Imagine you didn't go to the concert that day rocky brought you up on stage. How do you think your life would have been right now? Can you shoot a follow back on Twitter my name is @asvpxjacob ?	I think my life would a still been cool because I already had a good plan for myself. But it wouldn't be as dope as it is now.
When are we getting this forthcoming Ferg album?	Uh, soon. Release date is a secret right now. But ya'll gonna fuck with it.
Do you have any words of advice on getting to where i want to be in life and being the best at what you do?	Always work at it everyday. Make sure you're ambitious, don't ever stop or give up on your dream.
Is rocky the coolest guy ever?	Yea, he's super cool. But he's a piece of shit, too. Ha.
WHEN WILL THE WHOLE A$VP MOB COME TO SPAIN? we're waiting for ya'l.	We've been to Spain before. Hopefully we'll be back soon, I love Barcelona!
How big of an impact did Yams have on you personally and the entire crew?	A huge impact - I was with him almost every day, he was like a mentor to me.
There's a live stream today for the concert right? And what time the concert start?	The live stream is on Yahoo, and it starts at 8 Eastern.
Cheers for being an inspiration to all us long haired, white boy hip-hop heads, what conditioner do you use to get your lochs so on point?	I use my own conditioner, it's called Luscious Locks by Lou Banga. It will be in stores Spring of this year.
As A broke 20 year old collage student How can I look fresh as you while on a budget? Also what's your fit today?	Find a friend with money that got some fly clothes and just borrow them.
What's your favorite cozy clothing item?	My robe.
	(Editor's note - that he's wearing right now.)
YOU ROCKIN AN ATLANTA FITTED OR A YANKEE FITTED FOR YAMS DAY???	I don't wear hats, it fucks my hair up.
Whats your favourite song or songs right now?	Yamborghini High, and Uber Everywhere by MADEINTYO.
FAVOURITE SWEATPANTS?	Oooo um - probably my Palace sweatpants.
What are the keys to a successful cozy boy lifestyle?	Get ya bath robe, get ya flip flops, and just get cozy.
Hey Lou.. How are you? Hope all is well! Happy YAM$ day! Coming out to Chicago anytime soon?	Yea I'm bout to fly there for some Harold's Chicago.
Do you take calls from kanye at 3 am?	Hahaha Um... I'll take anyone's call at 3am.
Can I call you at 3am to discuss food?	No, if it's not about money I'm hangin up on you.
Aren't you from San Antonio Texas ASAP Lou??	Naw, I'm from New York.
Is Yamborghini High gonna be on itunes?	No, we're going to put it out for the people.
Are you still riding in a porsche?	Hehehe Naw. My license is suspended.
What happened to clams casino and asap rocky joints ?	They made the most amazing, beautiful album.
Why did you guys decide to make the concert 18+?	Cuz of the venue. Wasn't our decision.
Aye man, are you guys ever gonna come do a show in china?	We were just in Hong Kong not too long ago!
Now be honest, Rocky or Ferg, whose music do you like more?	Hahaha
	Neither. They are both trash! Ha!
of all RIP YAMS the legend lives on. Is the A$AP Yams tribute album done or halfway done could we expect it soon?	Cozy Boy album is almost done. You can expect it later this year.
Who is your inspiration?	Um
Do you ever feel pressure to be better than other members of the A$AP mob?	Not at all. Everyone has their own thing.
Favorite new artist?	Playboi Carti.
Who would win in a freestyle battle you or Tyler Grosso?	I would win, Tyler ain't shit.
What is it like when a$ap rocky and tyler the creator are in the same room?	It's hilarious. The energy is on 100.
What city do you guys have the most fun in?	London. We the ends.
LOU! Hope to shoot with y'all again soon! when is the next tour?!	End of February in Australia!
The drink for tonight?	Henny.
Can I hang out with you guys even though I'm not swag and cozy down to the teeth?	Naw, you gotta get cozy bro.
Where's your favourite place to eat in London?	Jerk City.
Do you still connect with any of your old friends from before you were A$AP or is it strictly Mob now a days? Ps I saw you at the Lowell MA show and loved the sweatsuit.	Naw, I still talk with my old friends and I've got some new friends too.
YO WHEN IS YAMBORGHINI HIGH COMING OUT?!? Up vote to get to the top so he answers everyone wants to know ASAP FOREVER.	Very, very soon.

Last updated: 2016-01-18 20:11 UTC | Next update: 2016-01-18 21:11 UTC
This post was generated by a robot! Send all complaints to epsy.

What I could piece together from comments, knowledge and a bit of rummaging around. Pretty raw and unformatted, but a good basis to get this thing finished. Any one know any of the gaps?
Beats

1. FlyLo - Tealeaf Dancers (feat Andreya Triana) (0.28)
2. xxyyxx - About You (1.35)
3. Tor Cesay - The Perch (Feat. Flying Lotus, Oddisee & Phonte Coleman) (2.45)
4. Hudson Mohawke feat. Samiyam - Eff This (3.25)
5. ??? - ??? (4.10)
6. Yosi Horikawa & Dorian Concept - Red Sound (4.55)
7. xxyyxx - About You (6.50)

Post Dubstep

1. Zodiac - "Wake Up"
2. Boke One and Xavier Leon - "One? Hour Later"
3. Krystal Klear, Broke One, Ghosts On Tape - "You Said You Loved Me"
4. Anenon - "Aquiescence"
5. Addison Groove & Mark Pritchard - "Pump Dat"
6. Sepalcure - "Me"
7. Brenmar, Canblaster, Ghosts on Tape - "Phone Tone"
8. Broke One and Xavier Leon - "One Hour Later"
9. Mount Kimbie - "Chord"
10. Mount Kimbie - "Field"
11. Bondax - "Baby I Got That"

CloudRap

1. Zodiac - "Wake Up"
2. Main Attrakzions - "Grown Folk"
3. Main Attrakzions - "Freestyle 1"
4. Main Attrakzions - "Freestlye 2"
5. Main? Attrakzions Feat. ASAP Rocky - "Take 1"
6. Robb Bank$ - "Look Like Basquiat"
7. Robb Bank$ - "I'm that Nigga" (5.04)
8. Piff Gang - "Candy Cups"
9. Flatbush Zombies Feat. Kilo Kish -? "Jupiter" (7:12)
10. Flashbush Zombies - "Laker Paper"
11. Main Attrakionz - "Grown Folk"(8:05)

Other notes from comments: Clams Casino - Leaf 3.45 Main Attrakionz - Zoney Nights (Instrumental) 1:00
Tumblrwave
Yr So Wet 3.0 from "Bubbles" - SPLASH008 by Ultrademon + DJ Kiff (3:22) Mind Body (produced by Boody) by LE1F
BlogPop
Jamie Woon & Subeena "Solidify" (2:12)
AltR&B
"PE1" from Zodiac (2:05) "somebody" by rochelle jordan and klsh (3:00-3:40)