Asap Rocky says rap has failed to mature since Soulja Boy days
Asap Rocky has been in the music industry for over a decade now thus at this point, he can be viewed as a veteran in our generation. The 33-year old father of one recently spoke with Jerrod Carmichael on Interview Magazine where he aired out his views on the current state of rap.
Rocky explained that Hip Hop music has lacked maturity since Soulja Boy’s influence exploded in the late 2000s and early 2010s. “Rap is in its adolescence and it’s been stuck here since Soulja Boy,” the ‘’D.M.B’’ rapper said. “Before, everybody looked 35 and up. When Lil Wayne and JAY-Z and T.I. and Jeezy and [Rick] Ross was on, rappers looked old. Like, we had Lil Bow Wow and that was it.”
He continued, ”That all changed with the internet and self-releasing. Now, rap is stuck in this braggadocious, adolescent space. It’s not as mature.”
Rocky himself has in the past said that his career wouldn’t exist if Soulja Boy didn’t. “If it wasn’t for Soulja Boy, A$AP Rocky probably wouldn’t be around,” Rocky said at an L.A.’s 92.3 radio station interview in 2019. “He kinda made a formula. He was the first to do it and it work for him and since then I think that kind of became a basis of a standard way to make it.”
During his chat with Carmichael, Rocky also disclosed that he’s finishing up his next album. He also revealed that he’s been extensively working with Tyler, The Creator on the project. “I’ve been working with [Tyler, The Creator] a lot, man,” he said. “We blocked out the last two weeks and have been working on a lot of music, but I’m wrapping up this album right now, about to direct a few of these videos.’’
He added, “And I can tell you, just from doing a couple of music videos, it’s so much energy and preparation and curation. And music videos are only three to four minutes long.”
