Same Problems?

Album: released as a single (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A$AP Rocky has been deeply affected by the premature deaths of many of his peers in the rap industry, due to gun violence (Juice WRLD, Pop Smoke, Nipsey Hussle, Takeoff) and drug overdoses (Juice WRLD, Mac Miller). These losses have led him to reflect on the themes he addresses in his music, and this introspection is evident on "Same Problems."
  • A$AP wrote the track because he was feeling troubled. "I think I was also feeling a sense of guilt, because every time we lose somebody in our community, we all – especially me – have a habit of just saying things like, 'It's messed up. It's wrong. Why do these kind of things happen?'" he told Apple Music's Zane Lowe. "I never took time out to really understand that I was part of the problem because I was contributing those kind of lyrics and whatnot to songs," the New York born artist continued.

    "Without preaching too much, I just wanted to touch on something a bit different opposed to just being braggadocios, flamboyant and just regular rap content for me," Rocky concluded. "I just kind of wanted to express myself and tell how I felt without preaching."
  • Rocky premiered "Same Problems" in December 2022 as part of his Amazon Music Live Thursday Night Football performance. He released the song to streaming services on January 18, 2023. The date is meaningful because it's the eight-year anniversary of the death of A$AP Yams. A founding member of A$AP Mob, Yams passed away from a drug overdose in January 2015 aged 26.
  • Rocky's first hit back in 2012 was a song titled "Fu--in' Problems." "Now, 10 years later exactly, I'm putting out a song named 'Same Problems,'" he said. "It's just like problems, problems."
  • Rocky produced the song with Hector Delgado and Tyler, The Creator, giving it a sparse and soulful instrumentation. It features uncredited vocals from Lil Yachty and Miguel.

    Miguel also plays bass on the track along with frequent Kendrick Lamar collaborator Thundercat.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."