A$AP Rocky recently dropped a track titled Taylor Swift, and it’s a classic trap banger, packed with hard-hitting drums and clever bars throughout. Before diving in further, I highly recommend watching the video while listening for the first time. It’s an unexplainable mix of abstract imagery, cleverly put together, that pulls you in and makes you want to pay attention. Filmed in Kyiv, Ukraine, the video blends street visuals with a dose of surreal film magic.

As for the song's message, interpretations vary. Some listeners may think it’s a jab at Taylor Swift, while others speculate that Rocky could be riding the wave of her massive popularity to grab some extra search engine attention. Some might simply see it as playful banter. Either way, take the song for what it is and see if it doesn’t get your head nodding.

The track was produced by Hitkidd (aka President HitKidd), known for his work with Bladee, Glorilla, and Megan Thee Stallion. The drums hit in just the right places, commanding attention without overshadowing the vocals—arguably the song’s most important element.

It’s interesting to follow rap’s evolving instrumentals. While the genre can seem homogenous, with many tracks sounding alike, this is likely due to the sheer volume of releases. Still, even though a lot of songs sound similar, they consistently sound good. The music continues to evolve—rhymes are sharper, drums hit harder, and the grooves dig deeper.

These days, rappers are outsourcing their instrumentals, and it’s hard to imagine an album like Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly being made without collaboration. I’m all for artists working with a variety of producers, as it takes serious skill to curate the right beats for a project. This kind of tastemaking is no small feat and is crucial to crafting a cohesive sound. As rap continues to grow, A$AP Rocky is showing the way forward.

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!