It was late August 2017. The air in New York felt like a humid blanket, and the hip-hop world was bracing for the second installment of what many considered a victory lap. When Cozy Tapes Vol 2: Too Cozy finally dropped, it wasn't just an album. It was a chaotic, expensive-sounding house party captured on wax.
Honestly, it’s wild to think about how much has changed since then. Back then, the Mob felt untouchable. They had this specific energy—a mix of high-fashion arrogance and Harlem grit that nobody else could quite replicate. People often argue about whether the first or second volume is better, but Cozy Tapes Vol 2 is the one that actually showed us the full scale of their influence. It wasn't just about Rocky or Ferg anymore. It was about the collective.
The Chaos of the AWGE Era
You can't talk about this project without talking about the "Too Cozy" vibe. It’s messy. On purpose.
The album kicks off with "Skool Bus," and right away, you get that skit-heavy, VHS-aesthetic atmosphere that defined the AWGE period. It feels like you’re eavesdropping on a conversation you weren’t supposed to hear. Some critics at the time, like those at Pitchfork, felt the skits dragged it down. I disagree. Without those weird interludes, it’s just a playlist of trap songs. With them? It’s a time capsule.
The production on this thing is heavy. We’re talking about a massive roster of producers—RZA, Pi'erre Bourne, Hit-Boy, and Hector Delgado. They managed to make the whole project sound cohesive despite having about twenty different voices competing for airtime. It's loud. It's distorted in parts. It's basically the sonic version of a mosh pit at a Dior runway show.
Who Actually Carried the Project?
Everyone remembers "Raf." How could you not? It’s arguably one of the most significant fashion-rap crossovers in history. You had Rocky, Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert, and Frank Ocean all on one track talking about archival Raf Simons. It was a moment.
But if you look closer at the tracklist, the real MVP might actually be A$AP Twelvyy or A$AP Ant. While Rocky is the face, Twelvyy brings a lyrical grounding that keeps the project from floating off into pure "vibe" territory. His verses on "Cozy Tapes Vol 2" remind you that the Mob is still rooted in New York boom-bap, even when they’re rapping over futuristic Pi'erre Bourne beats.
Then there’s Ferg. His energy is infectious. On "East Coast Remix," the sheer number of features is dizzying—Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, French Montana. It’s overkill. It’s glorious.
Why the Critics Were Split
Not everyone loved it. Some people felt the album was too bloated. With 17 tracks and a runtime of nearly an hour, it’s a lot to take in. Some songs feel like sketches rather than fully realized ideas.
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But that's the point of a "Cozy Tape," isn't it? It's not supposed to be a polished, conceptual masterpiece like AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP. It’s a collective effort. It’s about the chemistry. When you hear the back-and-forth on "Bahamas," you realize these guys were actually in the studio together. It wasn't just files being emailed back and forth across the country. You can hear the laughter. You can hear the spontaneity.
- The Standouts: "Perry Aye," "Buck Shots," and "Please Guy."
- The Weird Stuff: The "Principal Daryl Choad" skits. (You either love them or you skip them instantly).
- The Features: Smooky MarGielaa was the "secret weapon" of this era. He was only 15 or 16 at the time, and he’s all over this album, bringing a youthful, melodic energy that balanced out the older members' gravelly tones.
The Cultural Weight of A$AP Mob Cozy 2
Looking back from 2026, A$AP Mob Cozy 2 represents the peak of the "tastemaker" era. This was when the Mob decided what was cool. They weren't following trends; they were busy making them.
The fashion references alone—Goyard, Guest, JW Anderson, Raf—served as a blueprint for the next generation of "SoundCloud rappers." They proved that you could be from the streets and still be obsessed with Belgian fashion designers. It sounds normal now, but in 2017, the Mob was still pushing that envelope harder than anyone else.
Also, let's talk about the guest list. Getting Frank Ocean to show up for a "posse cut" is a feat in itself. The fact that they got him to rap—really rap—on "Raf" is legendary. It showed the respect the industry had for Rocky’s vision.
Does it hold up?
Mostly, yes. Some of the trap tropes feel a little dated because everyone and their cousin copied this sound for the next three years. However, the sheer charisma of the Mob keeps it fresh. Songs like "Walk on Water" have a bounce that still works in a club or a gym setting today.
There's a specific kind of nostalgia attached to this album. It represents a time before the tragic passing of A$AP Yams really started to settle in as a permanent void in the group's leadership. You can still feel Yams' spirit in the curation. He was the one who championed the "Cozy" lifestyle, and this album was the ultimate tribute to that philosophy: stay comfortable, stay stylish, and don't take the industry too seriously.
Technical Breakdown: Production and Flow
The sequencing of Cozy Tapes Vol 2 is frantic.
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It jumps from the smooth, breezy "Perry Aye" (which feels like a summer night in Paris) to the dark, aggressive "Frat Rules." This shouldn't work. On paper, it’s a mess. But the transitions—often handled by Delgado—act as a glue.
The bass on this album is tuned specifically for car speakers. If you listen to "Buck Shots" on cheap headphones, you’re missing half the song. The sub-bass frequencies are designed to rattle trunks. It’s physical music.
- "FYBR (First Year Being Rich)" - This is the quintessential Mob track. Everyone gets a moment. The beat is haunting. The stakes feel high.
- "Feels So Good" - This was the lead single for a reason. It’s catchy, it’s light, and it showcases the chemistry between Rocky and Ferg perfectly.
- "What Happens" - This is a deep cut for the heads. It features the Pro Era crew (Joey Bada$$, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution) and Flatbush Zombies. It’s a "Beast Coast" reunion that reminds you of the NY renaissance that was happening simultaneously.
The Legacy of the "Cozy" Sound
What did we actually learn from this project?
Well, for one, it proved that the "collective" model still worked in the streaming age. It wasn't just a label sampler; it was a curated experience. It also solidified Playboi Carti's status. While he wasn't officially A$AP, his presence on this album made him an honorary member in the eyes of the fans. His "mumble" style—which was still being debated at the time—blended perfectly with the Mob's aesthetic.
The album also served as a launchpad. It gave guys like A$AP Nast and A$AP Ant a platform to show they could hold their own next to global superstars. Ant, in particular, has a very specific, off-kilter flow that became much more appreciated in the years following this release.
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How to Revisit the Album Today
If you’re going back to listen to A$AP Mob Cozy 2 now, don't just shuffle it. You have to listen to it front to back to get the "movie" feel they were going for.
Skip the skits if you're in a rush, sure. But if you want the full 2017 experience, let them play. They provide the context. They make the music feel like it belongs to a specific community.
Real Talk: Is it as good as Vol 1? Maybe not in terms of pure, lean songwriting. Vol 1 was tighter. But Vol 2 is grander. It’s more ambitious. It’s more "Mob." It’s the sound of a group of friends who realized they had conquered the world and decided to throw a party to celebrate.
Practical Takeaways for Fans and Collectors
To truly appreciate the era of Cozy Tapes Vol 2, look beyond the digital stream:
- Watch the AWGE DVDs: Most of the visual context for this album is tucked away in the AWGE DVD series found on YouTube. It explains the fashion, the inside jokes, and the grainy aesthetic.
- Check the Credits: Look up the engineers and minor producers. A lot of the "New York Sound" of the late 2010s was birthed in these sessions.
- Compare the Versions: There are various "Raf" versions and remixes floating around. Finding the V2 with the different Frank Ocean verse is a rite of passage for superfans.
The album remains a high-water mark for the collective. It reminds us that hip-hop is at its best when it's collaborative, when it's stylish, and when it doesn't mind being a little bit weird. Whether you're a fan of the fashion or the flows, there's no denying that the Mob left a permanent dent in the culture with this one. Stay cozy.