Rolling Loud 2017 - Sunday
A$AP Rocky at Rolling Loud 2017 (more by Aaron Ricketts)

A$AP Rocky teasing new album, released two "dummie" songs

A$AP Mob had a very busy 2017, with the release of new A$AP Mob, A$AP Ferg, and A$AP Twelvyy albums in the same month, and it looks like 2018 will be the year that the group’s most popular member, A$AP Rocky, will release a new album. Rocky discussed the new album in a GQ profile last fall, and said:

My new album is really about testing new sounds. People are scared to test new sounds, so they go with what’s current ’cause it’s the easy thing to do. The top 100 songs sound a certain way. People cater more to that because it’s a bigger demographic behind that, or it’s a guaranteed demographic behind that. I prefer to experiment and have my crowd grow with me and to reach new crowds. I don’t just rap—I actually make music. That’s why it takes time. These sonics represent me.

He initially said he wanted to release it in 2017, which didn’t happen, but just a few days into 2018 he posted a teaser that read “TESTING?” and had a snippet of new music. This week he put out two new songs, “5IVE $TAR$” (ft. DRAM) and “ABOVE,” which were released with the disclaimers “THIS IS A TEST” and “THIS IS JUST A TEST,” respectively. Rocky later Instagrammed a picture of the word “DUMMIE” and then clarified, “What five star and above were #dummies #asaprocky #ThatsWhyTheyreFree.”

Both songs were produced by Frans Mernick, and “5IVE $TAR$” also features production by Metro Boomin, Jordan Blackmon, and Daniel Lynas. Both are minimal, laid back songs as far as A$AP Rocky’s music usually goes, and “ABOVE” has him entirely in singing mode. Even if they aren’t official tracks for his new album, they do indeed show him testing out new sounds. It should be exciting to see where he goes next.

UPDATE: Rocky released a third “dummy” track, “Money Bags Freestyle (Dean Blunt Meditation),” which was produced by Dean Blunt and samples Babyfather’s Dean Blunt and Arca-produced track “Meditation.” Listen below.

Rocky’s new album will be his first since 2015’s At.Long.Last.A$AP. Listen to both new songs below.

A$AP Mob played their annual Yams Day show this week, which was unfortunately shut down early due to a brawl. A$AP Ferg is touring with Denzel Curry and IDK this year, including a Terminal 5 show.