Rakim Athelaston Mayers (born October 3, 1988), known professionally as ASAP Rocky (stylized as A$AP Rocky), is an American rapper. Born and raised in Harlem, he embarked on his musical career as a member of the hip hop collective ASAP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker.
In August 2011, Mayers' single "Peso" was leaked online and within weeks, began receiving radio airplay. He signed with Polo Grounds Music, an imprint of RCA Records in October of that year, and shortly after, released his debut mixtape, Live. Love. A$AP (2011) to widespread critical acclaim.
Early life[]
Rakim Athelaston Mayers was born on October 3, 1988, in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, a borough of New York City.[1] His father is from Barbados. He has an older brother (deceased) and an older sister, Erika.[2][3] Both Rakim and Erika's names are taken from the Eric B. & Rakim duo. His cousin is fellow ASAP Mob member ASAP Nast.[4]
Mayers started rapping at age nine, when he moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.[5] He learned how to rap from his older brother, who also wore the Cornrows hairdo that A$AP Mayers later adopted. When Mayers was 13, his brother was killed in Harlem.[6] The death inspired Mayers to take rapping more seriously. Mayers grew up admiring Harlem-based rap group The Diplomats. He was also influenced by Mobb Deep, Three 6 Mafia, UGK, Run DMC, Wu-Tang Clan, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.[7][8]
When Mayers was 12 years old, his father went to jail and he spent his teenage years moving around homeless shelters with his mother and sister.[9] After living for a period in a shelter with his mother in New York City, he moved to Midtown Manhattan. His father died in 2012.[10]
Discography[]
- Long. Live. A$AP (2013)
- At. Long. Last. A$AP (2015)
- Testing (2018)
- Don't Be Dumb (2024)
Collaborations[]
- "URRRGE!!!!" - Scarlet 2: CLAUDE (2024)
References[]
- ↑ "ASAP Rocky"
- ↑ "Thinking Globally, Rapping Locally"
- ↑ A$AP Rocky Talks New Album 'Testing' and Working With Kanye West | Complex Cover
- ↑ "VIBE TV: Meet the ASAP Mob"
- ↑ "Drake Has 'Good Taste,' A$AP Rocky Says After Co-Sign"
- ↑ "A$AP Rocky Lights Up The City"
- ↑ "A$AP Rocky Talks Debut Album, Musical Influences, and Accepting Gay Fans"
- ↑ "A$AP Rocky"
- ↑ "A$AP Rocky Takes Us to Hometown Harlem Block Where His Brother Was Shot"
- ↑ "A$AP Rocky Mourns the Loss of His Father"
[]
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Tracks | Paint The Town Red • Demons • Wet Vagina • Fuck The Girls (FTG) • Ouchies • 97 • Gun • Go Off • Shutcho • Agora Hills • Can't Wait • Often • Love Life • Skull And Bones • Attention • Balut • WYM Freestyle |
| Deluxe tracks |
ACKNOWLEDGE ME • DISRESPECTFUL • URRRGE!!!! • OKLOSER • MASC • PISS • HEADHIGH |
| Scrapped tracks | Ain't News • Crack • Dead Inside • GANG • Go Team • HUNGRY • I Don't Mind • Loon1e • n.h.i.e. • RIDER • Seeing Stars • Shampoo • Shots • Sweet n Salty • Who Are You • Your Man |
| Artists | Doja Cat • A$AP Rocky • Teezo Touchdown • The Joy |
| Tour | The Scarlet Tour |