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A$AP Rocky
Rocky performing at Coachella, 2012
Background information
Birth name	Rakim Mayers
Born	(1988-10-03) October 3, 1988 (age 36)
Origin	New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, music video director
Years active	2007–present
Labels	A$AP Worldwide, Polo Grounds, RCA, Sony
Website	asapmob.com

Rakim Mayers (born October 3, 1988), better known by his stage name ASAP Rocky (stylized as A$AP Rocky), is an American rapper and music video director. Born and raised in the New York City neighborhood Harlem, he is a member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker.

Rocky released his debut mixtape LiveLoveA$AP in 2011 to critical acclaim. He plans to release his debut studio album, LongLiveA$AP, on October 31, 2012.

Early life

Born in 1988, Mayers was named after the hip hop legend Rakim, one half of the Eric B. & Rakim duo. When he was 12 years old, his father went to jail in connection with selling drugs. A year later his older brother was killed near his apartment, which inspired him to take rapping seriously. Mayers, who had started rapping at age eight, grew up admiring Harlem-based rap group The Diplomats, and also lists among his influences Three 6 Mafia, Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang Clan, UGK, Run DMC and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. After living in a shelter with his mother, and elsewhere around Manhattan, Mayers moved to Elmwood Park, New Jersey.

Career

2007–11: Beginnings and mixtape

In 2007, Rocky assembled the hip hop crew A$AP Mob, a collective of rappers, producers, and music video directors. He adopted its A$AP moniker, which has multiple meanings, including "Always Strive and Prosper", "Assassinating Snitches and Police", and Rocky's favorite, "Acronym Symbolizing Any Purpose".

On July 8, 2011, an unofficial compilation titled Deep Purple was released, which according to Rocky, was a compilation of his YouTube hits compiled by a fan in Paris. In August, his first single "Peso" was leaked onto the internet in August 2011 and within weeks received airplay on the high-profile Hot 97 New York radio station. Music videos for "Peso" and "Purple Swag", the latter from Deep Purple, generated further buzz and resulted in ASAP Rocky signing a reported two year $3 million record deal with Sony, RCA Records and Polo Grounds Music. ASAP Rocky released the mixtape LiveLoveA$AP, featuring both songs, in October to critical acclaim. On December 5, he was nominated for BBC's Sound of 2012 poll.

2012–present: Touring and debut album

Beginning in February 2012, Rocky joined Kendrick Lamar as the opening act for Drake's Club Paradise Tour. In June, SpaceGhostPurrp, founder of Miami-based collective Raider Klan and Rocky's past collaborator, accused A$AP Twelvyy of jumping Raider Klan's Matt Stoops and subsequently diassociated himself from A$AP Mob and Rocky in a YouTube video. He and Raider Klan also accused A$AP Mob of copying their style, and Rocky of using lyrics from SpaceGhostPurrp's song "My Enemy" on "Goldie". Rocky responded in a July interview for MTV, saying that SpaceGhostPurrp is "try to build hype" and told him to "stick to makin' beats".

In July, Rocky performed at Pitchfork Music Festival. He was scheduled to make his network television debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on July 20, but was arrested the night before after an alleged involvement in a brawl in downtown Manhattan and the performance was cancelled. After it was rescheduled for August 21, Rocky performed "Goldie" on the show. On September 6, he performed a guest rap on Rihanna's "Cockiness (Love It)" at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards.

Rocky's debut studio album LongLiveA$AP will be released on October 31. He produced the album with Clams Casino, Hit-Boy, A$AP Ty Beats, Soufein3000, and Joey Fat Beats. "Goldie" was released as its lead single on April 27. He also worked on Lords Never Worry, an A$AP Mob mixtape released as a free download on August 27. During September through November, Rocky will promote his debut album with a 40-date national tour, the LongLiveA$AP Tour, with opening acts Schoolboy Q, Danny Brown, and A$AP Mob. Rocky and Schoolboy Q had collaborated on LiveLoveA$AP and the latter's 2012 song "Hands on the Wheel".

Discography

Studio albums

• LongLiveA$AP (2012)

Mixtapes

• LiveLoveA$AP (2011)

Collaborations

• Lord$ Never Worry (2012) (with A$AP Mob)

Singles

As featured artist

Promotional singles

Guest appearances

Music videos

Awards and nominations

See also

• East Coast hip hop

References

1. ^ Caramanica, Jon (2011-10-12). "Thinking Globally, Rapping Locally". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-11-15. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
2. Battan, Carrie (2011-10-28). "A$AP Rocky Talks $3 Million Record Deal, Mainstream Acceptance". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
3. Zeichner, Naomi (2011-10-14). "Gen F: ASAP Rocky". The Fader. Retrieved 2011-11-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
4. Markman, Rob (2011-10-20). "Drake Has 'Good Taste,' A$AP Rocky Says After Co-Sign". MTV. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
5. Murphy, K. (2011-11-02). "A$AP Rocky Talks Debut Album, Musical Influences, and Accepting Gay Fans". Vibe. Retrieved 2011-11-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
6. Lymangrover, Jason. "ASAP Rocky - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
7. ^ Adaso, Henry. "A$AP Rocky Biography". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
8. ^ "Music". ASAP Mob. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
9. Roos, Brandon E. (November 29, 2011). "ASAP Rocky Says Deluxe Version Of "LiveLoveA$AP" Is Coming, Reveals Identity Of "Purple Swag" Video Girl". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
10. Greenwald, David (April 16, 2012). "A$AP Rocky Premieres 'Goldie' Single: Listen". Billboard. Los Angeles: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
11. Weiss, Jeff (2011-11-10). "Album Reviews: A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
12. Barshad, Amos (2011-11-06). "Veggie-Friendly Weirdo Rap". New York. Retrieved 2011-11-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
13. Madden, Mike (2011-11-07). "Album Review: ASAP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
14. Markman, Rob (2011-11-07). "A$AP Rocky Having A 'Good Time' On Debut Mixtape". MTV. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
15. ^ "Sound of - 2012 - ASAP Rocky". BBC. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
16. Vena, Jocelyn (December 13, 2011). "Drake Announces 2012 Club Paradise Tour Dates". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
17. ^ Markman, Rob (July 3, 2012). "A$AP Rocky Suggests SpaceGhostPurrp 'Stick To Makin' Beats'". MTV. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
18. "Who Is SpaceGhostPurrp?". Complex. Complex Media. July 6, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
19. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (July 14, 2012). "A$AP Rocky Talks 'LongLiveA$AP' Album, Discovers The Dirty Projectors". Billboard. Chicago: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
20. "A$AP Rocky arrested after brawl in New York". NME. IPC Media. July 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
21. Lynch, Sean (July 20, 2012). "A$AP Rocky's Jimmy Fallon Performance Cancelled". The Source. The NorthStar Group. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
22. Meara, Paul (August 22, 2012). "Video: A$AP Rocky Performs "Goldie" Live On Jimmy Fallon". Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
23. Alexis, Nadeska (September 6, 2012). "Rihanna And A$AP Rocky Perform 'Cockiness (Remix)' At MTV VMAs". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
24. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (August 27, 2012). "A$AP Rocky Delays Album Release Date". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
25. "Goldie - Single". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
26. Pelly, Jenn (August 27, 2012). "Download the New Mixtape Lords Never Worry From A$AP Rocky's A$AP Mob". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
27. McDermott, Tyler K. (July 25, 2012). "A$AP Rocky Announces 'LONGLIVEA$AP Tour'". Billboard. New York: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
28. "ScHoolboy Q - Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
29. ^ "A$AP Rocky - Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
30. "A$AP Rocky - Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
31. "Official UK Singles Top 100 - 11th August 2012". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2012-08-05.
32. David Banner > "Yao Ming" Amazon.com, Retrieved 2012-08-07.
33. Swizz Beats > "Street Knock" Amazon.com, Retrieved 2012-08-07.
34. Young, Alex. "New Music: Rihanna feat. ASAP Rocky – "Cockiness (Love It)" remix". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
35. Hands On the Wheel - Single by ScHoolboy Q - United States. iTunes.com. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
36. Juicy J > "Real Hustler's Don't Sleep" DatPiff, Retrieved 2012-08-07.
37. Lloyd Banks > "Make It Stack" DatPiff, Retrieved 2012-08-07.
38. "Smoke DZA – Sweet Baby Kushed God (FreEP)". 2DopeBoyz. 2011-12-24. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
39. "David Banner – Sex, Drugs & Video Games (Album)". 2DopeBoyz. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
40. "THEOPHILUS LONDON – ROSE ISLAND VOL. 1". The Smoking Section. 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
41. ASAP Rocky > "Get High" Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-18.
42. ASAP Rocky > "Purple Swag" > Directed by Jason Ano + ASAP Rocky Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
43. ASAP Rocky > "Peso" > Directed by Abteen Bagheri + ASAP Rocky Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
44. Smoke DZA featuring A$AP Rocky > "4 Loko" > Directed by Cristopher Schafer + Kory Smith Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
45. Danny Brown > "Blunt After Blunt" > Directed by A$AP Rocky Youtube, Retrieved 2012-07-30.
46. ASAP Rocky > "Demons" Youtube, Retrieved 2012-1-30.
47. AllHipHop.com Interview Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-28.
48. ScHoolboy Q featuring A$AP Rocky > "Hands on the Wheel" > Directed by Jerome D Youtube, Retrieved 2012-01-21.
49. Young, Alex (May 3, 2012). "Video: ASAP Rocky – "Goldie"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
50. Battan, Carrie; Phillips, Amy (June 3, 2012). "Watch the Video for A$AP Rocky's and Schoolboy Q's "Brand New Guy"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
51. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNWX6iuvkHg A$AP Rocky - Purple Kisses > Directed by A$AP Rocky, retrieved 2012-08-14
52. "Bath Salt". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
53. "106 & Park: A$AP Rocky – Best New Artist Nomination". BET. Archived from the original on 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2012-07-27.
54. "Best Editing 2012 MTV Video Music Awards". MTV. Archived from the original on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2012-08-03.

External links

• ASAP Rocky on Twitter
• ASAP Rocky Website
• ASAP Rocky "Peso"

Template:Persondata

• 1988 births
• African-American rappers
• Living people
• People from Elmwood Park, New Jersey
• People from Harlem, New York
• East Coast hip hop musicians
• Pseudonymous rappers
• People from New York
• Rappers from New York City
• American music video directors
• People self-identifying as substance abusers
• Homeless people