Testing
by A$AP Rocky
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 267 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 194 out of 267
  2. Mixed: 56 out of 267
  3. Negative: 17 out of 267
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  1. TrentRey
    May 26, 2018
    4
    This is a very mediocre album that feels more like a mixtape rather than an album. I love that he went a new direction for this album but it fails at capturing any real emotions. it just feels like a bunch of unfinished mixtapes songs. There aren't any real highlights on this album. This album had the potential to be great but ended up just meh. The lyrics on this album are not impressiveThis is a very mediocre album that feels more like a mixtape rather than an album. I love that he went a new direction for this album but it fails at capturing any real emotions. it just feels like a bunch of unfinished mixtapes songs. There aren't any real highlights on this album. This album had the potential to be great but ended up just meh. The lyrics on this album are not impressive at all. Probably his weakest album lyrically. It's not an awful album and it's not even a solid album. It is just so meh. A$AP Rocky had some great features on this album, but it seems like the features for this album didn't help make the songs special. This is indeed, an experimental project. Some experimental projects are great while some are not.

    Score: 4.2/10    … Expand
  2. woostar
    May 29, 2018
    7
    Nice experimental touch but lacks the depth of his previous work. It's kind of a mess.
  3. MrMemeister
    May 27, 2018
    4
    N.Y. cloud rap pioneer A$AP Rocky returns after a long break following his sophomore effort "A.L.L.A", with maybe his most unconventional album yet, "Testing". Continuing the ambition of "A.L.L.A", this time around there's much less finesse across the album, not only in the production, but with Rocky himself. Most of the beats sound unfinished, some of his oldest collaborators (ClamsN.Y. cloud rap pioneer A$AP Rocky returns after a long break following his sophomore effort "A.L.L.A", with maybe his most unconventional album yet, "Testing". Continuing the ambition of "A.L.L.A", this time around there's much less finesse across the album, not only in the production, but with Rocky himself. Most of the beats sound unfinished, some of his oldest collaborators (Clams Casino, Jim Jonsin) disappointing on their respective tracks, while others barely feel like a presence (Boi-1da, DJ Khalil). The same goes for Rocky, who feels like he was confused as to what he wanted to do on almost every track on here, sometimes lazily crooning, sometimes spitting placeholder bars with no enthusiasm. There are highlights ("A$AP Forever", "Praise The Lord (Da Shine)", "Hun43rd"), but they rarely reach those of his other projects. Sadly, this is Rocky's most boring and uneventful record yet, a true misstep in his career.
    Favorites: "A$AP Forever", "Praise The Lord (Da Shine)", "Brotha Man", "Hun43rd"
    Least Favorites: "CALLDROPS", "Gunz N Butter", "OG Beeper", "Black Tux, White Collar"    … Expand
  4. thedaywalker
    May 29, 2018
    4
    If i have to describe this album in one word, i'd say it's underwhelming. Like the title suggest, ASAP seems to be in the testing phase one this whole album, because every song seems like something new to him.

    The production i'd say is the biggest highlight in this, every song had instrumentals that were fresh to listen to, but once the rapping starts it really makes a lot to be wished    If i have to describe this album in one word, i'd say it's underwhelming. Like the title suggest, ASAP seems to be in the testing phase one this whole album, because every song seems like something new to him.

    The production i'd say is the biggest highlight in this, every song had instrumentals that were fresh to listen to, but once the rapping starts it really makes a lot to be wished for. It isn't terrible by any means, some songs hold some value to it, songs like Purity, Gunz and Butter (ft. Juicy J), Kids Turned out fine and Hun43rd were small highlights, but even those aren't something to be excited about.

    So, this album was highly experimental, and unfortunately, sometimes experiments don't work, as it was the case for this one    … Expand
  5. Danila12
    May 30, 2018
    10
    ASAP Rocky has tested the brand new sound! I haven’t heard something like ‘TESTING’ before. The vibe is incredible. Production is good. A$AP Forever – forever!
    10/10
  6. Swift_Milo
    May 28, 2018
    7
    This album is OK.

    A$AP Rocky's "TESTING" feels a bit rough, however, most of these songs are good. None of these songs, except "A$AP Forever" feels smooth. "Buck Shots" is a great song, but it feels OK. And "Distorted Records" feels like a amazing way to open this album. With song having buzzing sounds in the intro, it feels like if you put a cassette tape and it was completely broken.    This album is OK.

    A$AP Rocky's "TESTING" feels a bit rough, however, most of these songs are good. None of these songs, except "A$AP Forever" feels smooth. "Buck Shots" is a great song, but it feels OK. And "Distorted Records" feels like a amazing way to open this album. With song having buzzing sounds in the intro, it feels like if you put a cassette tape and it was completely broken. It's a very creative way to open a album.

    Besides that, A$AP Rocky's "TESTING" is a album that feels like it falls short (it sorta does) but if you get pass that, some of the songs off here are good.    … Expand
  7. sgsgsgs
    May 26, 2018
    10
    this was an amazing album, you can tell hes testing out new sounds, and it actually sounded real good. Reminds of YEEZUS, needs to grow on you.
  8. TimW001
    May 25, 2018
    5
    Three really good songs - Distorted Records, Praise the Lord, A$AP Forever. The rest of the album
    is a mess. A$AP Rocky lacks flow and lyrical meaning. The production is all over the place and most of the songs are just kind of annoying. Samples form Lauryn Hill, features form Frank Ocean, and Kid Cudi are the best parts. This album is mostly not worth your time.
  9. jamalt
    Jun 8, 2018
    8
    It's ridiculous that music critics will fawn all over anything Kendrick or Drake put out. Even when its quanity over quality. A$AP has bangers on this album and cross genre beats that seamlessly intertwine. It's creative and its fresh, the critics are just to busy juggling Kendrick's nuts in their mouth.
  10. Youngmetro
    May 25, 2018
    10
    At first i hated this album but the more i listened the more it feels like a natural evolution of rocky's sound some very unique uses of vocals, features and and production.Songs like" Distorted Records " Kids Turned Out Fine" is not what one would expect the typical rocky sounds but in my opinion works every well . He also brings that classic rocky sound with tracks like "Hun43rd" andAt first i hated this album but the more i listened the more it feels like a natural evolution of rocky's sound some very unique uses of vocals, features and and production.Songs like" Distorted Records " Kids Turned Out Fine" is not what one would expect the typical rocky sounds but in my opinion works every well . He also brings that classic rocky sound with tracks like "Hun43rd" and "Gunz N Butter" . The project could be trimmed down a couple tracks and maybe some different flow may have benefited the album better but it's not to the point where it bothers me .For sure not for everyone but with enough listens it's something i truly believe will be looked back at fondly… Expand
  11. JCOLEgod
    May 26, 2018
    10
    aamazing ass album, yaaaaaa heard. Took a while to get into, but when i did, so gooood
  12. draediamond
    May 25, 2018
    5
    The album is an interesting listen but that's about all I can say. His lyrics are not very witty or creative and the album is unorganized at times. The Pierre Bourneish trap beats DID NOT WORK IN THIS ALBUM. The first half is insanely forgettable. The second half is better but the entire album could've been like that. I'm honestly disappointed by this album. ASAP knew the stakes were highThe album is an interesting listen but that's about all I can say. His lyrics are not very witty or creative and the album is unorganized at times. The Pierre Bourneish trap beats DID NOT WORK IN THIS ALBUM. The first half is insanely forgettable. The second half is better but the entire album could've been like that. I'm honestly disappointed by this album. ASAP knew the stakes were high for him musically and did not really deliver enough. Like I said before, it is an interesting listen but Rocky misses SOOO many chances to make this album more.… Expand
  13. Fknvillain
    May 26, 2018
    10
    Album is an amazing piece of work done by Rocky and the whole crew who worked on it. Super different, wavy and just simply beautiful. Thank you, Rocky
  14. Wallnuut
    Aug 12, 2018
    3
    Though the project did look promising in the beginning, it did nothing but disappoint in the end. The beats seemed very out of place with A$AP'S voice and failed to give out any sort of pleasure. Most flows I heard were very generic and uninteresting. In all honesty, the entirety of TESTING fails to showcase even one unique song. Instead, the album is blended together into a forgettable mess.
  15. Myleene
    May 26, 2018
    10
    super bobma al'bom super klass stavlu 10 radi romo4ki. al'bom goda prosto luchshiy
  16. Robocop34
    May 26, 2018
    10
    so good, YAAA HEARDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD, YEEZUS esque tbh, but you have to listen multiple times
  17. elgeraeto
    May 25, 2018
    10
    This Album is never a mess. I heard it about 10 hours and I am really impressed. This Album is named TE$TING because Rocky is TE$TING something new and I like it, I like every Single Song. Its finally something new to hear with unique beats.
  18. romakrysa
    May 26, 2018
    10
    freaking awesome. thank you rakim for this amazing album, my fav of this year so far
  19. ftu
    May 26, 2018
    9
    A genuinely unique experience, which had me reeling back, listening multiple times.
  20. Biggiesmalls
    May 27, 2018
    10
    This is a musical masterpiece. Lyrically it could be better but I'm sure that wasn't Rocky's objective. The Production sounds like it came from heaven. Takes some listens to really love it though.
  21. yazanzaru
    May 27, 2018
    9
    fireeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
  22. Brendonh93
    May 31, 2018
    4
    Only a couple of good songs.

    The rest of the album sounds something you would hear off a mix tape and the production is so all over the place. Only a few things save this project which comes in features such as Cudi, Frank Ocean and Ms. Lauryn Hill.
  23. chickensusu
    Feb 24, 2021
    6
    Experimental but not experimental 6/10
    Experimental but not experimental 6/10
    Experimental but not experimental 6/10
  24. RCHRDPP
    May 27, 2018
    10
    Making an experimental album is always a hard choice - you know that not everybody will like it for sure. I think finding our voice is the most important because we all change. We have new things every time, we want to show how we change and trying to never be the same. With Testing Rocky shows us everything that happened in his musical career since A.L.L.A., he found new sounds, he wantMaking an experimental album is always a hard choice - you know that not everybody will like it for sure. I think finding our voice is the most important because we all change. We have new things every time, we want to show how we change and trying to never be the same. With Testing Rocky shows us everything that happened in his musical career since A.L.L.A., he found new sounds, he want to gifts his fans with the best of his musical talent. I can hear it in every single song and I know that the next one always will be different. I think this makes him one of the best artist of our time. I am thankful that he made an album again, can't wait for the next one - quality over quantity.

    My three favorite songs: A$AP Forever, Praise The Lord, Gunz N Butter.    … Expand
  25. Tuneison
    Jul 30, 2018
    4
    I could not tell you a single thing about this album. Even if you had a gun to my head, I couldn't tell you anything about this forgettable ****
  26. seancoz
    Apr 9, 2020
    6
    The third studio album from A$AP Rocky, TESTING, feels more like a rebirth of the Harlem rapper than another entry to his discography. Experimental hip hop albums are something many rappers are scared to try and only one rapper in recent memory has been able to perfect, that being Kendrick Lamar with To Pimp a Butterfly. While this experimental album might not be in the same league asThe third studio album from A$AP Rocky, TESTING, feels more like a rebirth of the Harlem rapper than another entry to his discography. Experimental hip hop albums are something many rappers are scared to try and only one rapper in recent memory has been able to perfect, that being Kendrick Lamar with To Pimp a Butterfly. While this experimental album might not be in the same league as Kendrick’s 2015 instant classic, it’s a damn good album and one that you might not love after just one listen, but will grow on you. TESTING may never do anything ground breaking that will blow the listener away, but there are some very great moments on this album and it’s not hard to realize this is Rocky’s strongest studio album to date. It may not be the Rap Album of the year, but on TESTING, Rocky proves himself as one of the most underrated rappers in the game today with this very enjoyable listen… Expand
  27. CarlosDeLaSilva
    May 28, 2018
    7
    Artistically, I applaud Rocky for trying a different sound. However, Rocky doesn't dive too deep into this new direction. Not everything works, but when it works, Rocky provides a more enjoyable and experimental sound. Maybe if this new direction is worked on more, we can have a truly great album.
  28. cfly
    May 30, 2018
    9
    On the first listen I truly was confused as to what Rocky was trying to accomplish. But after three years without a proper release I listened time after time. After multiple listens i realized, yes, this album is messy, cluttered, but there is a brilliance to it. These songs are so different from the "Plug Walk" Altlanta sound that we all hear everyday or the Lil Pump stupidity. I urgeOn the first listen I truly was confused as to what Rocky was trying to accomplish. But after three years without a proper release I listened time after time. After multiple listens i realized, yes, this album is messy, cluttered, but there is a brilliance to it. These songs are so different from the "Plug Walk" Altlanta sound that we all hear everyday or the Lil Pump stupidity. I urge anyone reading this to give the album a second or even third listen. The contemporary sound on this album holds ones attention much longer and is truly rewarding to listen to. Flacko is back I believe. Don't be so quick to judge it so negatively.… Expand
  29. OGHipHopCritic
    Jun 2, 2018
    7
    72- Which rounds down to a 7. The fact that A$AP Rocky decided to change the style of his music by experimenting with the sounds a bit is tolerable and respectable. But, he failed to execute this as well as he thought it would be. This album for me felt like a run-down version of Kanye West's Yeezus and also 808's and Heartbreaks, since it was not as good enough as them. There were many72- Which rounds down to a 7. The fact that A$AP Rocky decided to change the style of his music by experimenting with the sounds a bit is tolerable and respectable. But, he failed to execute this as well as he thought it would be. This album for me felt like a run-down version of Kanye West's Yeezus and also 808's and Heartbreaks, since it was not as good enough as them. There were many wasted tracks on the album such as Calldrops with Kodak Black which features Kodak Black "delivering a verse" on the phone. This approach was similar to what Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg did on Nuthin' But A G Thang, however, Calldrops was far from the legendary status of Nuthin But A G Thang. Kids Turned Out Fine is also another wasted track where A$AP Rocky sings through the album, probably striving to come close to the effect of L$D in his previous studio album ALLA. The best songs in the track are Distorted Records, A$AP Forever, Tony Tone, Praise The Lord with Skepta, Gunz N Butter with Juicy J and Purity with vocals from Frank Ocean and legendary Ms. Lauryn Hill. Although Purity was a good song, the vocals from Frank Ocean and Lauryn Hill were too auto-tuned and I was barely able to distinguish between them. In my opinion this is his worst album, however, in saying all that, I consider this album a good album and just like 808's and Heartbreaks, the more listens increases the enjoyment of the album.… Expand
  30. MetroSqStation
    Jun 11, 2018
    9
    Wonderful piece of music. HipHop combined with this psychedelic, experimental sound works great. (Also without any drug usage but with is even better :D) Have to admit that I havent listened to the other Rocky LPs before but I really have to catch up.
    There are almost no skip songs on a 15 track LP which is a good indicator i guess.
    01. Distorted Records 7/10    Wonderful piece of music. HipHop combined with this psychedelic, experimental sound works great. (Also without any drug usage but with is even better :D) Have to admit that I havent listened to the other Rocky LPs before but I really have to catch up.
    There are almost no skip songs on a 15 track LP which is a good indicator i guess.

    01. Distorted Records 7/10
    02. ASAP Forever 7/10
    04. Fukk Sleep 9/10 (great feature)
    05. Praise the Lord (Da Shine) 9/10 (best Feature)
    06. Calldrops 5/10 (that phone sounds destroys Kodaks feature, ASAPs part is good)
    07. Buckshots 7/10
    08. Gunz N Butter 10/10 (best flow)
    09. Brotha Man 9/10
    10. OG Beeper 9/10
    11. Kid$ Turned Out Fine 10/10 (Best song I think)
    12. Hund43rd 10/10
    13. Changes 6/10
    14. Black Tux 10/10
    15. Purity 9/10    … Expand
  31. C_dot
    Dec 7, 2018
    7
    Upon first listen, this appears to be one of the most disappointing albums of the hear. However, after listening to it a few times through, it grows on you a bit. Although still an underwhelming project, the few great tracks it contains-Purity, Praise Da Lord, Toby Tone-prevent it from being a complete miss for a young, talented rapper.
  32. Bishof
    Jun 14, 2018
    8
    This album is pretty nice. A half of tracks are magnificent. Song featuring Moby, probably, is album’s crown
  33. myboi123
    Mar 19, 2021
    7
    so first when i reviewed this album i gave it a 3/10 but more i listen to it the more i like it so my opinion has changed but i hope he makes a better album next so i have hopes
  34. All_ButTrU4
    Aug 25, 2022
    7
    Overhated. This is his most far out and experimental ,resulting in a hazy loose psychedelia rap that pushes and refines boundaries.
    Throughout the 15-track album, he weaves from hip-hop and psych-rock to R&B and soul, proving that artistically, he will never be confined to a single box.
  35. L00GE
    Apr 15, 2019
    10
    This album is a masterpiece. Definitely one of the best albums i have ever listened to. It requires a few listens from start to end to completely understand this project. A$AP Rocky's "Testing" makes you the testing dummy and tests the limits of your imagination of how you can interpret the sound of every track in your way.
  36. benjos
    May 9, 2021
    9
    This album. Genuinely gets better with every listen. Can't wait to hear what ASAP does next
  37. Hendo250
    Apr 6, 2021
    8
    this album is a 8 this album is a 8 this album is a 8 this album is a 8 this album is a 8
  38. CordRafael
    Feb 17, 2022
    8
    so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil
  39. meshaaaaa
    Jul 11, 2022
    8
    Awesome album love the new sound that Rocky is Experimenting. Best tracks: Gunz and Butterz, Buck shot, Brotha Man, Fukk sleep.
  40. andrilitvynchuk
    Aug 12, 2023
    7
    There are very good songs but this album is weaker than previous ones. A$AP Forever is my favorite song

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Most Discussed Album of 2018
83
#83 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Consequence
    Jun 15, 2018
    83
    It’s a welcome addition to a genre that has become so occupied with spacey, bare-bones operations and overly simplistic results.
    Read full review
  2. AllMusic
    Jun 12, 2018
    60
    While in some ways Testing is more musical than anything we've heard from A$AP Rocky before, it's also more confused, with ideas and musical shifts colliding at times to the point of randomness.
    Read full review
  3. The A.V. Club
    Jun 1, 2018
    67
    Though the finished project is as loose and incohesive as its title might suggest, there’s a lot to like about Testing.
    Read full review
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