1 Train (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = 1 Train

| cover =

| alt =

| type = Song

| artist = ASAP Rocky featuring Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson and Big K.R.I.T.

| album = Long. Live. ASAP

| released = January 15, 2013

| recorded = 2012

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = East Coast hip hop

| length = 6:12

| label = {{flatlist|

ASAP Worldwide
Polo Grounds
RCA

}}

| writer = {{flatlist|

}}

| producer = Hit-Boy

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = song

| file = ASAP Rocky - 1Train sample.ogg

}}

"1 Train" is a song by American hip hop recording artist ASAP Rocky from his debut studio album, Long. Live. ASAP (2013). The song was produced by Hit-Boy, and features additional verses from fellow American rappers Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, and Big K.R.I.T. The song is a posse cut created to feel like an "original '90s underground track." Upon the release of the album, high downloads resulted in the song peaking at number three on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

Background

The song features an ensemble of young rappers Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson and Big K.R.I.T. Rocky described the meaning behind the song saying, "I wanted to make a posse cut that felt like an original '90s underground track, and I didn't have to tell anyone what to do." He also said he "took it upon myself to feature all the people who I respect as artists of my generation." Rocky wanted to make sure that the track turned out perfectly, so he pieced it together himself, determining the order of every feature.{{cite web|last=Alexis |first=Nadeska |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700224/asap-rocky-1-train-track.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120060154/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700224/asap-rocky-1-train-track.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |title=A$AP Rocky Hopes '1 Train' Rides Like A '90s 'Posse Cut' - Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV.com |date=2013-01-16 |access-date=2013-10-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/12/video-asap-rocky-discusses-his-posse-cut-1-train |title=Video: A$AP Rocky Discusses His Posse Cut "1 Train" |publisher=Complex |date=2012-12-22 |access-date=2013-10-03}} He also said his favorite verse in the song is K.R.I.T.'s.{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22552/title.a-ap-rocky-says-big-k-r-i-t-has-the-best-verse-on-1-train- |title=A$AP Rocky Says Big K.R.I.T. Has The Best Verse On "1 Train" |publisher=HipHop DX |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005183623/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22552/title.a-ap-rocky-says-big-k-r-i-t-has-the-best-verse-on-1-train- |archive-date=2013-10-05 |url-status=dead }}

The song's title is a reference to the New York City Subway 1 Broadway–Seventh Avenue Local service. Rocky elaborated saying, "When you think about New York, you think about things like the subway, and I needed to bring it back to that essence," he said. "[But] when I'm rapping and mentioning 'anything is better than that 1 train,' it's the truth." He also said, "I was just thinking of each artist as a different train stop, and when you hear that beat, it just brings me back to like - well, for me, it brings me back to being at the bus stop or being on the train early in the morning, cold, mad at life on the way to school late. I'm showing up third period - that's the 1 train. Anything is better than the 1 train."{{cite web|last=Homie |first=Big |url=http://rapradar.com/2013/01/15/cipha-sounds-rosenberg-interviews-aap-rocky/ |title=Cipha Sounds & Rosenberg Interviews A$AP Rocky |publisher=Rap Radar |date=2013-01-15 |access-date=2013-10-03}}

On December 18, 2012, the song leaked along with the rest of the album, a month before its retail release.{{cite web |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/12/new-music-aap-rocky-1train-feat-kendrick-lamar-joey-bada-yelawolf-danny-brown-action-bronson-big-k-r-i-t-prod-hit-boy/ |title=New Music: ASAP Rocky – "1Train" feat. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Danny Brown, Action Bronson & Big K.R.I.T. |date=18 December 2012 |publisher=Consequence of Sound |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005071859/http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/12/new-music-aap-rocky-1train-feat-kendrick-lamar-joey-bada-yelawolf-danny-brown-action-bronson-big-k-r-i-t-prod-hit-boy/ |archive-date=2013-10-05 |url-status=live }} Following the song's leak, it was rumored that Joey Badass would be signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation record label, due to his comments in the song.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/1481331/joey-bada-hints-at-roc-nation-signing-on-aap-rockys-1-train |title=Joey Bada$$ Hints at Roc Nation Signing on A$AP Rocky's '1 Train' |publisher=Billboard |date=2013-01-15 |access-date=2013-10-03}} However, in January 2013, Joey dispelled the rumors saying he would rather stay independent than sign to a major label for the time being.{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23047/title.joey-bada-explains-remaining-independent-not-signing-to-roc-nation |title=Joey Bada$$ Explains Remaining Independent, Not Signing To Roc Nation | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-02-27 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005210923/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23047/title.joey-bada-explains-remaining-independent-not-signing-to-roc-nation |archive-date=2013-10-05 |url-status=dead }}

Music and lyrics

"1 Train" features a looped instrumental sampled from the 2003 song "Senen" by Syrian artist, Assala Nasri. The song also features no refrain and continuous verses from the featured artists.{{cite web|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2013_01F_longliveasap.html |title=Feature for January 22, 2013 - A$AP Rocky's "Long. Live. A$AP" |publisher=Rapreviews.com |date=2013-01-22 |access-date=2013-10-03}} Due to this it has received many comparisons to classic Wu-Tang Clan cypher style songs.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2013/01/asap-rocky-long-live-asap-review/ |title=A$AP Rocky, Long.Live.A$AP Review - XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2013-01-15 |access-date=2013-10-03}}{{cite web |author=Mikael Wood |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2013-jan-14-la-et-ms-asap-rocky-album-review20130115-story.html |title=Album review: ASAP Rocky makes big jump with 'Long Live ASAP' |date=2013-01-14 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005020055/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/14/entertainment/la-et-ms-asap-rocky-album-review20130115 |archive-date=2013-10-05 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/01/album-review-asap-rocky-longliveasap/ |title=Album Review: ASAP Rocky – LongLiveASAP |publisher=Consequence of Sound |date=2013-01-07 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005071851/http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/01/album-review-asap-rocky-longliveasap/ |archive-date=2013-10-05 |url-status=live }}

Critical reception

The song was met with generally positive reviews, and sparked much debate on which rapper had the strongest verse on the song.{{cite news|author=Andrew Unterberger |url=http://popdust.com/2012/12/18/asap-rocky-1-train-seven-rappers/ |title=Ranking the Seven Rappers' Verses on ASAP Rocky's "1 Train" |newspaper=Popdust |date=2012-12-18 |access-date=2013-10-03}}{{cite web |author=Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) |url=http://allhiphop.com/2013/02/21/aap-rocky-reveals-who-he-felt-had-the-best-verse-on-1-train/ |title=A$AP Rocky Reveals Who He Felt Had The Best Verse On "1 Train' |publisher=AllHipHop.com |date=2013-02-21 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222420/http://allhiphop.com/2013/02/21/aap-rocky-reveals-who-he-felt-had-the-best-verse-on-1-train/ |archive-date=2013-10-04 |url-status=live }} Luke Fox of Exclaim! named the song an "indisputable mega-posse cut, "1 Train" is an event song, the kind of 1990s throwback album cut that, in a bygone era, would cause a segment of heads to buy the CD just for that one tune."{{cite news|last=Fox |first=Luke |url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/ap_rocky-longliveap |title=A$AP Rocky - LongLiveA$AP • Hip-Hop Reviews • |publisher=Exclaim.ca |date=2013-01-14 |access-date=2013-10-03}} Roman Cooper also gave the song a positive review saying, ""1 Train" is truly a must-listen as Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, and Big K.R.I.T. perfectly execute the cypher-style posse cut that's largely been missing since the 1990s. Each emcee comes correct, so don't be surprised if you and your friends will all have different favorite verses. The cut is also a perfect example of Rocky's refusal to be regional, as K.R.I.T.'s Southern drawl hits home just as well as Bronson's gritty NYC flavor."{{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Roman |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.2021/title.aap-rocky-longliveaap |title=A$AP Rocky - LongLiveA$AP | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-01-14 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928045344/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.2021/title.aap-rocky-longliveaap |archive-date=2013-09-28 |url-status=dead }} Expert Witness of MSN Music called the song a "terrific virtual-posse cut."{{cite web |url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=dca0b8c8-babd-4119-9c4a-429aa2500008 |title=A$AP Rocky/Action Bronson |publisher=Social.entertainment.msn.com |date=2013-03-11 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004225852/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=dca0b8c8-babd-4119-9c4a-429aa2500008 |archive-date=2013-10-04 |url-status=dead }} Chris DeVillie of The A.V. Club credited Rocky for assembling an "eye-popping tag team of recent next big things to set the bar for 2013 posse cuts."{{cite web |author=Chris DeVille |url=https://www.avclub.com/a-ap-rocky-long-live-a-ap-1798175568 |title=A$AP Rocky: Long.Live.A$AP |publisher=The A.V. Club |date=2013-01-22 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005002324/http://www.avclub.com/articles/aap-rocky-longliveaap,91399/ |archive-date=2013-10-05 |url-status=live }} Idolator praised all the rappers verses and called the song an "utterly ferocious, old school posse cut.{{cite web|author=Carl Williott |url=http://www.idolator.com/7339292/asap-rocky-1-train-kendrick-lamar-big-krit-yelawolf-danny-brown/ |title=A$AP Rocky's "1 Train": Hear The Massive Posse Cut With Kendrick Lamar, Yelawolf, Danny Brown & More | Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on |publisher=Idolator.com |date=2012-12-18 |access-date=2013-10-03}} Andrew Nosnitsky of Spin called the song, "a flatlined true-school posse cut that features every rapper you've ever read about on a blog", also saying Danny Brown had the best verse.{{cite web|last=Nosnitsky |first=Andrew |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/asap-rocky-long-live-asap-asap-worldwide-polo-grounds-rca/ |title=A$AP Rocky, 'LONG.LIVE.A$AP' Review |date=18 January 2013 |publisher=Spin.com |access-date=2013-10-03}}

David Amidon of PopMatters said the instrumental "seems to go on forever despite a lot of solid verses, Hit-Boy's beat just fails to bring any energy to the situation. You can feel him going for a classic 1993, gritty NYC type cypher beat but it's just not there, a simple loud drum loop and a quickly grating violin swirl. It changes up a little but overall doesn't really get the Aftermath meets DITC vibe it's going for. It's especially a shame considering the talents of the rappers on hand, and the risks that are taken elsewhere."{{cite news|last=Amidon |first=David |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/167159-aap-rocky-long.-live.-aap/ |title=A$AP Rocky: Long. Live. A$AP |newspaper=PopMatters |access-date=2013-10-03}} Michael Walsh of The Boston Phoenix called Rocky's verse his toughest on the album, however said that it was overshadowed by the guest appearances.{{cite web|author=MICHAEL C. WALSH |url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/150403-asap-rocky-longliveasap/ |title=A$AP Rocky | Long.Live.A$AP - CD Reviews |publisher=Thephoenix.com |date=2013-01-16 |access-date=2013-10-03}} Jesse Cataldo of Slant Magazine said the guests, "sound hungrier and more lyrically inventive than A$AP, who hangs back and contributes little."{{cite web |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/aap-rocky-long-live-aap/2959 |title=A$AP Rocky: Long. Live. A$AP. | Music Review |date=7 January 2013 |publisher=Slant Magazine |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111083627/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/aap-rocky-long-live-aap/2959 |archive-date=2013-01-11 |url-status=live }} Chris Kelly of Fact also gave it a more mixed review saying, it is "an interesting experiment, but one so obviously engineered for blog interest that it's tough to enjoy on its merits. It would have been better off as a segment at the BET Awards, rather than a six-minute series of verses in the middle of the album."{{cite web |url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/01/10/long-live-aap/ |title=Long.Live.A$AP – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music |publisher=Factmag.com |date=2013-01-10 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112225310/http://www.factmag.com/2013/01/10/long-live-aap/ |archive-date=2013-01-12 |url-status=live }} Lucy Jones of NME also gave the song a mixed review, saying ASAP Rocky sounded weak compared to the guest rappers on the song.{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/aap-rocky--2/13974 |title=NME Album Reviews - A$AP Rocky - 'Long.Live.A$AP' |publisher=Nme.Com |date=2013-01-18 |access-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124132539/http://www.nme.com/reviews/aap-rocky--2/13974 |archive-date=2013-01-24 |url-status=live }} Dan Jackson of CMJ gave it a more negative review, calling it a "meandering, directionless mess."{{cite web|url=http://www.cmj.com/reviews/aap-rocky-long-live-aap/|title=Review: A$AP Rocky - Long.Live.A$AP (Polo Grounds/RCA)|author=Dan Jackson|publisher=Cmj.com|access-date=2013-10-03}}

Complex not only named Brown's verse the best of the song, they named his the sixth best verse of 2013. They said, "It's not just the sounds of Danny's voice that make this a memorable affair; the verse itself is the eccentric at his finest, from his tightly packed wordplay ("That molly got me nauseous, aw shit, no off switch") to drug references to comedic lines, it's some of the most remarkable chaos around."{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/12/best-rap-verses-2013/ |title=The 13 Best Rap Verses of 2013 |website=Complex Networks |access-date=2019-09-15}} HipHopDX called it one of the most memorable tracks of 2013.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.2249/title.hiphopdx-s-top-25-albums-of-2013 |title=HipHopDX's Top 25 Albums Of 2013 |access-date=2013-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122060142/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.2249/title.hiphopdx-s-top-25-albums-of-2013 |archive-date=2014-01-22 |url-status=dead }}

Chart performance

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
Chart (2013) ! Peak position
scope="row" {{singlechart\|Billboardbubbling100\|3\|artist=A$AP Rocky\|song=1 Train}}
scope="row" {{singlechart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|31\|artist=A$AP Rocky\|song=1 Train)}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

Chart (2013)

! Peak
position

scope="row" {{singlechart|Billboardbubbling100|3|artist=A$AP Rocky|song=1 Train}}

scope="row" {{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|31|artist=A$AP Rocky|song=1 Train)}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=ASAP Rocky feat. Kendrick Lamar|title=1Train|award=Gold|relyear=2013|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=December 28, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}