Praise the Lord (Da Shine)
by A$AP Rocky (featuring Skepta)

Album: Testing (2018)
Charted: 18 45
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A$AP Rocky has been a avid drug user since his teenage years when he sold weed and crack in the Bronx. The rapper's open attitude towards his usage of pharmaceuticals feeds into his music as well, once even recording a track titled "LSD." Rocky laid down this cut with UK grime artist Skepta in London while the pair were high on mushrooms and LSD.

    Diamonds glowing, chart-climbing on 'em
    You'd think I'm jumping out the window how I got 'em open
    Line around the corner, line 'em up to block and over
    Times I even stop the smoking when it's time to focus


    Rocky recalled at a listening party the night he and Skepta recorded the song. "I never saw colors like that before. Music never sounded that good before."
  • Skepta makes reference to the pair's religious beliefs on the chorus before stating how something bad always seems to happen to Rocky every time he visits London.

    I came, I saw, I came, I saw
    I praise, the Lord, then break, the law
    I take, what's mine, then take, some more
    It rains, it pours, it rains, it pours


    Rocky explained in a Genius attribution: "It rains every day in London. It's almost like a double entendre. Every time I put out an album or every time I'm about to release an album, for some f---ing strange reason, I always lose somebody close to me. It was my pops, it was Yams, it was my sister. Like, I always lose somebody close to me. S--t feel like some crazy s--t, like jinx or some s--t or something. Without being superstitious or paranoid, it takes a toll. very time. Every time. Not one time."
  • The song's music video was directed by A$AP associate Dexter Navy, who also filmed the Grammy-nominated clip for Rocky's "LSD". The grainy split-screen visual follows simultaneous scenes of Rocky's life in Harlem and Skepta's in London, as they go about similar day-to-day activities like partying with their friends and riding bikes.

Comments: 2

  • Joni from PnwHe ain't Rihanna, that's for sure. He's got a family now. He needs to get and stay clean!
  • Benyro from VienaSo, it is not a christian song. The chorus says it all...
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!