A$AP Rocky “Tests” his audience

A$AP Rocky’s Injured Generation Tour Takes on S.D. 

Danielle Agnello / A&C Editor / The USD Vista

On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the chart-topping Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky came to San Diego to perform at Pechanga Arena. The artist’s Injured Generation Tour included songs from his latest album, “Testing,” as well as hits from “AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP,” released in 2015. That being said, A$AP Rocky kicked off the concert with a test for his audience, creating an interactive experience for the energetic crowd, while ensuring the audience was all on the same page – as they are one generation. The crowd immediately turned their attention to the massive screen directing the test. “Next, we will demonstrate ‘mosh pit,’ ‘smile,’ ‘frown,’ ‘applaud,’” the screen demanded. “Now that you understand the rules, let’s begin.” 

Opening with “A$AP Forever,” Rocky pumped up the crowd as he passionately sung the lyrics and jumped around stage with his face wrapped in a ski mask. Half-way through the concert, Rocky finally took off the mask, initially exposing his identity, his race, and his color. Despite all of these factors which diversify a generation, Rocky emphasized that we are all one. 

Rocky exuded energy not only on the stage, but on a car descending from the ceiling as he belted “Gunz N Butter.” Rocky’s distinct sound coupled with the extravagant special effects and elaborate stage design showed the audience that society is even greater than his dedication to creating a unique hip-hop sound, which yields no limits. His setlist was interrupted by these tests, and intermittent sermons from Rocky on his belief that we are an injured generation, creating a sense of community with the crowd, generating unbelievable jubilation and cooperation from the audience. The crowd listened in awe to his instructions.

“Make some noise if you know how to mosh pit out here,” Rocky said. “Pay attention to your boy Pretty Flacko one time, the way that you mosh pit is you open up a circle and run in a circle, you don’t crash and collide, you run in a circle, when you open up a circle. Everybody go to the back. We want one mosh pit.” 

Rocky consistently stated how there is no fighting, only love because we are one. This constant theme throughout his performance further explained the purpose of “Testing” and his understanding of the world as an accepting place for all people. 

Shortly after creating one large mosh pit, Rocky invited two young men, one black and one white, onto the stage to join him for his next song, “Wild for the Night.” Rocky gave the two a pep talk on stage. 

“Listen, when you come to the Injured Generation Tour, we’re not black, we’re not Spanish, we’re not white,” Rocky said. “We are one generation, we are purple people, so technically you guys are brothers at the end of the day.” Another test then interrupted the performance and explained detailed instructions how to properly “mosh” on the big screen. The crowd’s unity and support for each other further exhibited the A$AP Mob frontman’s powerful presence and ability to successfully guide a mass amount of people.

Rocky also handed out water bottles to the crowd on the floor, particularly those who cooperated with his instructions to create a mosh pit. Further prompting the crowd to buy into his belief of society as one whole, Rocky insisted that the audience did not fight over the water bottles. Rather than fighting for the water, he commanded everyone to share. Rocky sought support from his audience throughout the duration of his performance in hopes of successfully communicating his message to spread love among each other.

While Rocky encouraged his audience to love and support each other, he also expressed his appreciation and respect for other artists of the hip-hop genre when he sang “Plain Jane” by A$AP Ferg, claiming it’s his pump-up song. Rocky manifested an unconditional admiration and recognition for other members of A$AP Mob, the American hip-hop collective of which Rocky is a part.

Closing his performance with the song, “L$D” the first track off his first album, Rocky communicated his immense gratitude for the entirety of the crowd’s love and for joining him along his journey with the Injured Generation Tour. Overall, Rocky showed his audience the beauty of acting as one generation, one powerful entity uniting to listen and to interpret his perception of the world through his creation of “Testing.” Rocky’s music amplifying from the speakers was the initial expectation, but beyond his memorable performance, Rocky constructed a strong sense of community, succeeding in his pursuit to revolutionize the minds of the injured generation.