World famous rapper, unashamed drug enthusiast, successful model, and fashion icon. A$AP Rocky has “made it” not just in the rap world, but in popular culture. Today’s track pays homage to his debut studio album, Long. Live. ASAP, which today celebrates its 6th birthday. This was the first hip-hop album I bought a physical copy of, and the summer after it’s release I vividly remember being the only one from a group of about 20 of my friend’s ar Reading Festival that ventured into a tent to watch him perform. The air-filled with weed and cigarette smoke, my first experience of live hip-hop was like many others (live hip-hop is, as a rule of thumb, never something to shout home about anyway), but the memory of rapping Goldie word for word, on my own, surrounded by veteran hip-hop/festival enthusiasts was really formative for me and my music tastes.
It was this album that solidified my love for hip-hop. After listening to this a lot, it encouraged me to explore older hip-hop and more nuanced projects within the genre. It also introduced me to artists I would go on to discover, such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Action Bronson, Schoolboy Q, Joey Badass, and A$AP Ferg, as any good early album experience should. This is why I’ve chosen to honour this album, and it is fittingly done with one of my favourite hip-hop songs of all time.
Goldie was the first single from the album, released 8 months to the prior album in April 2012. Produced by Hit-Boy (of N*ggas In Paris fame), it almost feels, at times, detached from the rapper, both in delivery style and lyrical content. It is typical of hip-hop themes; bitches, cars, weed, and guns, but Rocky brings the arrogance of a new, emerging artist to make it fresh and palatable. Hit-Boy has revealed that the beat was originally intended for rap royalty Jay-Z, but Rocky jumped on it while they were jamming in the studio.
The start of the instrumental is like a time machine for me. It brings back so many memories and I am obliged, whatever my mind, to badly rap along as loud as possible. A defining song for me, if you haven’t heard it before I hope you enjoy it a share apart of my musical upbringing. If you have, we should collab on a cover. Hmu.
Spotify Playlist Link: https://spoti.fi/2CKuVex
A Song A Day 