Album Review: ASAP Rocky's 'At.Long.Last.A$AP' (A.L.L.A.) Pays Homage To 'Trill' Music

Empty Lighthouse is a reader-supported site. This article may contain affiliate links to Amazon and other sites. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.

Last night the Hip-Hop world went a bit crazy after A$AP Rocky announced that his sophomore album "At.Long.Last.A$AP," would be reaching fans one week before the scheduled release date.

(Album Stream Below)

"At.Long.Last.A$AP" would have been worth the wait but having it here is all that much better as Rocky pays tribute to the "Trill" roots of the style of music he produces, as well as one of his hip-hop inspirations Kid Cudi. At it's core its every bit as trill and "jiggy," as A$AP Rocky promised right from the opening, "Holy Ghost" featuring Joe Fox to the.

Rocky's "Holy Ghost" served as an ode to real prayer while pointing out a few hypocrisies within those who preach religion.

Joe Fox is an artist featured on five tracks on "At.Long.Last.A$AP," and was introduced to Rocky fans via the Red Bull Tour in London earlier this year. Much of the album was recorded in Red Bull Studios in London where Rocky was able to be creative and tap into the soul of his music.

The album is especially important because it serves as a tribute to A$AP architect A$AP Yams, who passed away earlier this year. Yams was heavily influential to the entire A$AP movement and was extremely close to Rocky.

The album jumps right into the raw beginnings of Rocky's hustle in "Canal St." featuring Bones.

It features a slowed beat, not quite chopped, but featuring the distorted voice often heard in Houston's "chopped and screwed" music.

"Fine Wine" however, features the "chopped and screwed" sound while Fox, Future and M.I.A. help Rocky get complete this trippy heartbreak song.

Following "Fine Wine," is the highly discussed "LSD" track that taps into the drugged out trips mixed with an indescribable love that wonders into Rocky's life. Trippy is yet another word that describes the album along with trill and jiggy.

It's very possible that Rocky pulled a bit of his inspiration of this track from Kid Cudi's experimental sound. He's gone on record to defend Cudi during the controversial back and forth Twitter argument between Cudi and Lupe Fiasco.

Meanwhile, "Excuse Me," the track previewed in the official music video for "LSD," also contains an out of this world sound as he explores life filled with making moves, expensive purchases and paying dues. Yes, he also keeps it trill especially in the songs last full verse.

On "Electric Body" Rocky reunites with one of his favorite artists to collaborate with in TDE's ScHoolboy Q.

The two have worked on "Hands On The Wheel" and "Brand New Guy." "Electric Body" is just as hot as the past collaborations between the two and continues to solidify the friendship between those two artists.

"At.Long.Last.A$AP" has also been touched by Kanye West who handled production and spit a hot verse for "Jukebox Joint" featuring Joe Fox.

The song features classic Kanye West production and Yeezy completely goes nuts in his verse where he speaks of having intercourse with his wife Kim Kardashian repeatedly.

In the continuation of tributes, A$AP Rocky shares a song titled, "Max B," paying tribute to the Dipset rapper who is currently serving time behind bars. Max B is also a product of Harlem like Rocky so it makes sense that he would pay homage to a fellow Harlemite.

The Max B tribute was followed by Rocky's ode to Houston music on "Wavybone" featuring Juicy J and UGK (Pimp C and Bun B).

It's not exactly easy for young artists like Rocky to get a hold of verses from fallen Hip-Hop artist Pimp C, so the fact that he got both Bun B and Pimp C on one track shows some serious co-signs by some of Houston's rap royalty.

"M's" was officially released as a stand alone track with a verse solely from Rocky. However, Rocky calls upon another artist from the South, Lil Wayne who also gives a shout out tribute to A$AP Yams before going in on his verse. Rocky brings things "Back Home" to New York with an old school styled track featuring Mos Def and Acyde. "At.Long.Last.A$AP" is a spectacular blend of Hip-Hop from different cultures.

All tracks featured on the album are artistically done and pay proper respects to the Houston trill scene, experimental nature found in Kid Cudi's music and old school New York Hip-Hop. Rocky makes a strong statement with this album and it could very well be a contender for top Hip-Hop album of 2015.

Fans who need to convince themselves can take a listen to the stream of "At.Long.Last.A$AP," below.

Stream "At.Long.Last.A$AP" below.