6/10
Over the last few years, A$AP Rocky has been an almost static force in the world of rap. Despite not releasing a studio album since 2015's 'At.Long.Last.ASAP', the frontman has found himself collaborating with the likes of Tyler, The Creator and Mura Masa on a variety of projects since then, as well as releasing a new mixtape with his ASAP Mob collective. But returning back on his own terms, he has brought a huge wealth of talent to his latest full-length release, showing that his presence on a record is still something that brings out the best in others.
While the LP boasts a diverse mix of collaborative talent, such as Moby, Dev Hynes, Skepta, FKA Twigs and many more, the general sound of this record seems to be one of bold experimentation. Attempting to leave behind the cliches of his genre, Rocky has gone to high lengths to create a release that fits with his chosen direction, but also tries something a little different along the way. The result is a sometimes mismatched collection that looks to impress at times, but others is simply happy to just moving along with the same old flow.
It is a hard record to really get into. There is plenty to enjoy here, but as a whole it feels that so many contributors added to the release have made it difficult to enjoy as a whole. I hate to resort to the "too many cooks" comparison, but in the case of 'Testing', it seems like less could have been more.
