A$AP Rocky Meets David Letterman

I’m not loving all the new A$AP Rocky music so far. Of the two songs he performed on David Letterman’s show last night, I definitely prefer the first one — the syrupy title track to his new album, LongLiveA$AP — over the hectic techno squawk of the second one, “Wild For the Night.” But even if the stuff doesn’t grow on me, or you, it’s worth watching him start his rhyming while reclining on a golden throne (a nod to ’80s great Big Daddy Kane.) And DJs Clark Kent and A-Trak cutting records behind him. And the lightning-quick fingers of producer Araabmusic as he types out the beats on an MPC machine. (Music is so different than it used to be!) Best of all is at the end, the Harlem rapper’s reaction to Letterman’s exaggeratedly hokey Indianian charm. “How ya doin’ buddy!” Dave says, “Nice to see ya!” “Nice to see you, too, man,” Rocky says, breaking into a warm smile. I keep watching that part over and over again.