A$AP Mob Releases "Lord$ Never Worry" to Waiting Fans

This year, A$AP Rocky has been riding high on the success of his “Live.Love.A$AP” mixtape and seems poised to keep the momentum going with his upcoming debut album. In the meantime, we’ve started to meet the various other members of the A$AP crew through their own singles and videos. This week, the Harlem collective released “Lord$ Never Worry” to make the introductions official, and unlike with typical groups full of also-rans benefiting from one member’s achievements, the A$AP Mob's mixtape shows that Rocky isn’t the only one worth paying attention to.

Just to get it out of the way, Rocky is in attendance for a solid amount of the album (though not so much that no else gets time in the spotlight) so his fans won't feel victimized by an elaborate bait-and-switch. “Purple Kisses” is probably the most like what we heard on “Live.Love.A$AP” with its codeine-coated beats and Bone Thugs-inspired flows. Opener “Thuggin’ Noise” hits a similar note, featuring Rocky stuntin’ his ass off once again, leading the way for his team to come through and make a little noise of their own. Rocky brings his A game whenever called on, but decidedly remains a team player.

One of the things that makes A$AP work as a unit is a strong, clearly defined aesthetic that every member fully buys into. As a result, A$AP Ferg’s “Work” sounds nothing like an A$AP Rocky track at the same time as it sounds exactly like an A$AP Rocky track. More to the point, the Mob is getting better at acknowledging their influences without outright mimicking them, giving “Full Metal Jacket” or “Coke & White Bitches”—with Gunplay and the always welcome Danny Brown—a distinct flavor beyond the expected UGK/Bone hybrid that A$AP is known for (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

A$AP’s increased notoriety also brings with it access to higher-profile collaborators, thought they restrain themselves well and go for quality over quantity with Jim Jones (“Freeze”) and Raekwon (“Underground Killa$”) providing a little extra spice without allowing things to get overpowering. Just as notable is “Bath Salts” with newcomers Flathbush Zombies, an addicting, appropriately spooky track that serves as a nice introduction to another young New York crew.

It would appear that A$AP Ferg is the next up for the Mob and if "Hundred Million Roses" somehow wasn't enough to warrant giving him a chance, "Lord$ Never Worry" should help ensure that fan don't have to worry that these guys are one-trick ponies or weed carriers for the already-established star. Once again, A$AP has given us a free mixtape better than most albums you'll hear this year, and that alone justifies forking over $11.99 for a retail album when they eventually release one.