ASAP Rocky made a striking entrance at Rolling Loud California, descending from a helicopter as his song “ASAP Forever” played. Following his recent acquittal from felony assault charges, he expressed joy to perform again. Known for his unique sound and influence on hip-hop, his recent performance felt underwhelming, lasting only 45 minutes and starting an hour late. While he showcased new tracks and collaborations, notable hits from his past were absent. Rocky aimed to assert his musical relevance amidst questions about his place in the genre, especially after focusing on fashion and personal life over the past few years.
True to form, ASAP Rocky made a striking entrance on Saturday night.
Dressed in dark sunglasses, diamond earrings the size of walnuts, and a T-shirt featuring a bulletproof vest design, the rapper, fashion influencer, and devoted partner kicked off his headlining performance at Rolling Loud California by lowering himself from a helicopter via a cable as his track “ASAP Forever” echoed throughout Inglewood’s Hollywood Park.
“I’m gonna be real with y’all — I’m so excited to see y’all right now, y’all don’t even know,” he exclaimed to the audience once he reached the stage. “Things got a bit hectic for a n— recently. It got sticky super quick.”
ASAP Rocky makes an entrance on a helicopter hoisted by a crane.
(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)
Saturday’s show marked ASAP Rocky’s first performance after being acquitted in a high-profile trial last month in Los Angeles, where he faced two felony assault charges stemming from accusations of shooting a former friend and musical collaborator near the W Hollywood hotel in 2021. The 36-year-old Harlem musician drew considerable attention throughout the trial, both for his flashy court attire and for the presence of his partner, pop sensation Rihanna, who shares two young sons with him. However, a guilty verdict could have seriously impacted the career of an already influential hip-hop artist.
With a hazy and almost surreal sound that fuses rap influences from New York, L.A., Houston, and Atlanta, Rocky was pivotal in the 2010s dismantling of hip-hop’s previously strict stylistic boundaries. His earlier tracks like “Peso” and “Purple Swag,” along with his debut album “Long. Live. ASAP,” which hit the top of the Billboard 200 in 2013, paved the way for many of the new wave artists currently dominating the genre, including Playboi Carti, who is scheduled to headline Night 2 of Rolling Loud on Sunday.
While his successors have continued to gain prominence, Rocky has shifted his focus towards fashion collaborations with Puma and Ray-Ban, an acting role in an upcoming Spike Lee film, and his supportive relationship with Rihanna, whom he often accompanies in public, such as during her Super Bowl halftime show in 2023. Though it has been nearly seven years since the release of his last album, “Testing,” he has been teasing fans with promises of a new project on the horizon.
ASAP Rocky performs.
(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)
The uncertainty surrounding his career has led to jabs from other artists, including one from Drake during his recent feud with Kendrick Lamar. In his track “Family Matters,” Drake quipped, “I ain’t even know you rapped still ’cause they only talking ’bout your fit again, probably gotta have a kid again before you think of dropping any s— again.”
This performance at the premier rap festival was not just a celebration of his acquittal; it also served as a chance for Rocky to reinforce his musical relevance — a tradition at Rolling Loud, which previously hosted Travis Scott following the tragic events of Astroworld and Kanye West last year after his controversial remarks led to many in the entertainment world distancing themselves from him.
Compared to the dismal performance of Kanye — who merely lingered on stage while his tracks played in the background — Rocky’s show on Saturday was seen as a success, primarily because he used a microphone. However, the performance, which commenced an hour late and lasted only 45 minutes, felt somewhat lackluster, especially following the dramatic helicopter entrance.
Sexyy Red was also on the bill Saturday.
(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)
His energetic track “Riot (Rowdy Pipe’n)” had fans jumping on cars and waving upside-down American flags, while he hopped on a car himself during “Tailor Swif,” detailing his struggles and triumphs. He brought out Skepta for their collaboration “Praise the Lord (Da Shine)” and performed “Highjack,” a forthcoming collaboration with indie artist Jessica Pratt that showcases his ability to meld diverse musical styles.
However, tracks like “Stop Snitching” and “Your Honor” — both evidently influenced by his run-ins with the law — felt rough around the edges, lacking strong choruses or a cohesive political message, which was unexpected given his choice of staging for the former, where he surrounded himself with men dressed in tactical gear, and the latter, which he performed from behind a podium typically used for speeches.
“There’s a lot of s— dividing us in America right now, but when I look at this crowd, I see unity,” he remarked, which — fair enough.
Rocky also largely omitted some of his iconic hits that solidified his position in hip-hop: there was no “Peso,” no “Goldie,” and certainly no “F— Problems,” which now feels like a relic of a bygone era featuring both Drake and Lamar. Considering the youthful audience at Rolling Loud, filled with teens and people in their 20s, alongside a roster of emerging artists like Sexyy Red and Peso Pluma, it’s understandable why he might have chosen to avoid drawing attention to his age. But it left many wondering what direction he aims to pursue moving forward.
Peso Pluma performs.
(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)