For months, the Harlem MC A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, has been teasing fans of a new album. On May 25th, the MC finally released his third studio album titled Testing. The album was recorded over three years between New York, LA, London and Berlin and features guest appearances from Juicy J, T.I., Moby, Frank Ocean, French Montana, FKA twigs, Skepta, Kid Cudi and Kodak Black.
On Rocky’s last track, “Purity” featuring Frank Ocean, considered one of the best on the albums, samples “I Gotta Find Peace Of Mind” from Lauryn Hill’s 2002 MTV Unplugged album. In the trace, according to The Fader, both artists speak about their “disillusionment with fame, using a moment that signaled the beginning of Hill’s retreat from the public eye to get vulnerable about what their listeners don’t see.”
“Purity” isn’t the only song on the record that samples from another. “A$AP Forever” featuring Moby was the record’s first official single. It features a sample from “Porcelain” which comes off of Moby’s record-breaking album, Play.
Listen to “Purity” below as well as the album tracklist for Testing.
Earlier this week on May 20th, the MC gave a live-streamed performance art piece in New York at Sotheby’s called Lab Rat. There, he revealed the cover art for the record which was encased in a glass room inside the gallery. A$AP Rocky then spent 90 minutes exploring and interpreting the creative process with the audience through a series of tests and simulations where he was the test subject. A$AP Ferg, A$AP Twelvyy, and Dev Hynes also appeared along with a phone call appearance by David Banner. You can watch the performance below.
Testing Tracklist:
Distorted Records
A$AP Forever REMIX feat. Moby, Kid Cudi & T.I.
Tony Tone
Fukk Sleep feat. FKA twigs
Praise The Lord (Da Shine) feat. Skepta
CALLDROPS feat. Kodak Black
Buck Shots
Gunz N Butter feat. Juicy J
Brotha Man feat. French Montana
OG Beeper
Kids Turned Out Fine
Hun43rd
Changes
Black Tux, White Collar
Purity feat. Frank Ocean
Photo credit: Mauricio Alvarado
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