12.
Long.Live.A$AP
A$AP Rocky
A$AP Worldwide/RCA
The notion that A$AP Rocky was going to go away as quickly as he arrived—seemingly, overnight—was quelled by the staying power of his debut project, Love.Live.A$AP, and the vice grip his rambunctious, beloved A$AP Mob crew was placing on the culture. In 2012, he showed no signs of slowing up, showing up for the rollout of his proper debut album with a more focused sound, and a very refined rapping style. From “Goldie”, featuring one of the better Hit-Boy beats you’ll probably ever hear, to the almost-crossover “F*ckin’ Problems”, Rocky showed off his complete hip-hop persona, and the release of his debut solidified his position as one of the leaders of the new school. Despite leaking a month early, Rocky still took the number 1 spot on Billboard in January, selling over 160,000 copies in its first week on the shelves, and Rocky had arrived.
Top Tracks: “Angels,” “Goldie,” “Ghetto Symphony,” “Phoenix”