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

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

Butch Vig

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.