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. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. chickensusu
    Feb 24, 2021
    6
    Experimental but not experimental 6/10
    Experimental but not experimental 6/10
    Experimental but not experimental 6/10
  8. 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 ****
  9. 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

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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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