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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 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. There are rumblings on the streets of Williamsburg that he sold his sold his soul to the devil for moderate fame and a sick backpack. A$AP Rocky has neither confirmed or denied this.

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

• LongLiveASAP (2012)

Mixtapes

• LiveLoveASAP (2011)

Collaborations

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

Singles

As featured artist

Other charted songs

Guest appearances

Notes

• A "Hands on the Wheel" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 20 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
• B "Cockiness (Love It)" (Remix) did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 2 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100. It did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 3 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
• C "Hot Thing" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 3 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Music videos

Awards and nominations

See also

• East Coast hip hop

References

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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$AP Rocky Talks Debut Album, Musical Influences, and Accepting Gay Fans". Vibe. Retrieved 2011-11-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
6. Lymangrover, Jason. "ASAP Rocky - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
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45. ASAP Rocky > "Peso" > Directed by Abteen Bagheri + ASAP Rocky Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
46. Smoke DZA featuring A$AP Rocky > "4 Loko" > Directed by Cristopher Schafer + Kory Smith Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
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57. "US Artist About To Go Global MTV Europe Music Awards". MTV. Retrieved 2012-10-18.

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
• Underground rappers