ACL Review: A$AP Rocky

Somebody’s man-child screamed, as if no one else reads time or schedules, “He’s late! A$AP Rocky is 15 minutes late, man!” Fortunately for the Harlem rapper turned style icon, his fashionable lateness – 20 minutes to be exact – was forgotten just long enough to deliver a passable turn-up on the Samsung Galaxy stage Saturday.

A massive television flickering Fifties iconography backdropped Rocky and his hype men parading in from the back in era-appropriate attire. The Pluto Nash-produced “JD” blared just before Rocky ditched his turtleneck for an old Marilyn Manson tour tee during “Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2.” The present theme, barely present to begin with, disconnected from the material and remained so.

After pleasing the crowd with his verse in “Shabba” and “L$D,” the rapper announced a few important bits of information. It was his birthday, for one. Plus, he loves South by Southwest, principally because of his Chamberlainian feat: “Last time, we did like 100 orgies.”

The most unforgiving and unusual sin was lack of material. Let’s be clear: The set wasn’t truncated by time. A video arcade setup, which was likely supposed to intrigue the crowd, produced apathy and annoyance instead.

Fact is, Rocky’s star shines bright due to his star power and panache, not his material – something he’ll have to rectify using the cultural credit he’s earned. His charm is undeniable and endearing, however, if not also slightly warped: “I appreciate y’all. I want y’all to spread love, while on the most powerful drugs.”