ASAP Rocky
ASAP Rocky | |
---|---|
Photo still of Rocky, 2011 Photo still of Rocky, 2011 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Rakim Mayers |
Born | October 3, 1988 |
Origin | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, music video director |
Years active | 2007–present |
Labels | A$AP Worldwide, Polo Grounds, RCA, Sony |
Website | asapmob |
Rakim Mayers (born October 3, 1988), better known by his stage name ASAP Rocky (stylized as A$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$AP, in July 2012.
Early life
Born in 1988, Mayers was named after the hip hop legend Rakim, one half of the Eric B. & Rakim duo.[1][2] When he was 12 years old, his father went to jail in connection with selling drugs. A year later an older brother was killed near his apartment, which inspired him to take rapping seriously.[3] Mayers had started rapping at age 8,[4] grew up admiring Harlem-based rap group The Diplomats, and also lists among his influences Three 6 Mafia, Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang Clan, UGK, Run DMC and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.[5][6] After living in a shelter with his mother, and elsewhere around Manhattan, Mayers moved to Elmwood Park, New Jersey.[1]
Career
2007–11: Beginnings and mixtape
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/ASAP_Rocky_Coachella_2012_1.jpg/260px-ASAP_Rocky_Coachella_2012_1.jpg)
In 2007, Rocky assembled the hip hop crew A$AP Mob, a collective of rappers, producers, and music video directors.[7] 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".[7]
On July 8, 2011, an unofficial compilation titled Deep Purple was released,[8] which according to Rocky, was a compilation of his YouTube hits compiled by a fan in Paris.[9] 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,[8] 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.[10][11][12][13][14] On December 5, he was nominated for BBC's Sound of 2012 poll.[15]
2012–present: Debut album
Beginning in February 2012, Rocky opened for rapper Drake on the latter's Club Paradise Tour.[16] He plans to release his debut studio album, LongLiveA$AP, in July, along with an ASAP Mob mixtape.[17] The album's lead single, "Goldie", was released on April 27.[18]
Discography
- Studio albums
- LongLiveA$AP (2012)
- Mixtapes
- LiveLoveA$AP (2011)
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US R&B |
US Rap | ||||
"Goldie" | 2012 | — | 70[19] | — | LongLiveA$AP | |
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. |
- Promotional singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US R&B [20] | |||
"Pe$o"[21] | 2011 | 75 | LiveLoveA$AP |
"Purple Swag"[22] | — | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Album | Artist |
---|---|---|---|
"Get High" | 2010 | — | A$AP Ferg |
"Take 1" | 2011 | 808s & Dark Grapes II | Main Attrakionz |
"Make It Stack" | Cold Corner 2 | Lloyd Banks | |
"Real Hustlers Don't Sleep" | Blue Dream & Lean | Juicy J, SpaceGhostPurrp | |
"4 Loko" | Rolling Stoned | Smoke DZA | |
"4 Loko" (Remix) | Sweet Baby Kushed God | Smoke DZA, A$AP Twelvy, Danny Brown, Killa Kyleon, Freeway | |
"Grippin Woodgrain" | — | Seth Narley | |
"Hands on the Wheel" | 2012 | Habits & Contradictions | Schoolboy Q |
"Yao Ming" (Remix)[23] | Sex, Drugs & Video Games | David Banner, Chris Brown | |
"Hot Thing" | Looking 4 Myself | Usher | |
"Big Spender" | Lovers Holiday 2: Rose Island | Theophilus London | |
"Street Knock" | Life After the Party | Swizz Beatz | |
"Out of My Mind" | Nightclub (Walmart expanded edition) | Eve Torres, Big Sean |
Music videos
Song | Year | Artist | Director |
---|---|---|---|
"Get High"[24] | 2010 | ASAP Rocky (featuring ASAP Ferg) | King Zulu |
"Purple Swag"[25] | 2011 | ASAP Rocky | Jason Ano and Rakim Mayers |
"Peso"[26] | Abteen Bagheri and Rakim Mayers | ||
"4 Loko"[27] | Smoke DZA (featuring ASAP Rocky) | Cristopher Schafer and Kory Smith | |
"Demons"[28] | ASAP Rocky | Donjai | |
"Wassup"[29] | 2012 | Rakim Mayers | |
"Hands on the Wheel"[30] | Schoolboy Q (featuring ASAP Rocky) | Jerome D | |
"Goldie" | ASAP Rocky | Rakim Mayers | |
"Street Knock" | Swizz Beatz (featuring ASAP Rocky) | Tahj | |
"Brand New Guy" | ASAP Rocky (featuring Schoolboy Q) | The ICU and Rakim Mayers |
Awards and nominations
Year | Organisation | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | BBC Sound of 2012 | Sound of 2012[15] | Nominated |
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
References
- ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (2011-10-12). "Thinking Globally, Rapping Locally". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Battan, Carrie (2011-10-28). "A$AP Rocky Talks $3 Million Record Deal, Mainstream Acceptance". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
- ^ Zeichner, Naomi (2011-10-14). "Gen F: ASAP Rocky". The Fader. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Markman, Rob (2011-10-20). "Drake Has 'Good Taste,' A$AP Rocky Says After Co-Sign". MTV. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
- ^ Murphy, K. (2011-11-02). "A$AP Rocky Talks Debut Album, Musical Influences, and Accepting Gay Fans". Vibe. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ Lymangrover, Jason. "ASAP Rocky - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
- ^ a b Adaso, Henry. "A$AP Rocky Biography". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
- ^ a b "Music". ASAP Mob. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
- ^ Roos, Brandon E. (November 29, 2011). "ASAP Rocky Says Deluxe Version Of "LiveLoveA$AP" Is Coming, Reveals Identity Of "Purple Swag" Video Girl". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ^ Greenwald, David (April 16, 2012). "A$AP Rocky Premieres 'Goldie' Single: Listen". Billboard. Los Angeles: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
- ^ Weiss, Jeff (2011-11-10). "Album Reviews: A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
- ^ 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) - ^ Madden, Mike (2011-11-07). "Album Review: ASAP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
- ^ Markman, Rob (2011-11-07). "A$AP Rocky Having A 'Good Time' On Debut Mixtape". MTV. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
- ^ a b http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2012/artists/asaprocky/
- ^ Vena, Jocelyn (December 13, 2011). "Drake Announces 2012 Club Paradise Tour Dates". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
- ^ "ASAP Rocky Reveals Debut Album Title, Trashes XXL Freshman & More at SXSW". EveryoneLovesHipHop. March 16, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
- ^ "Goldie - Single". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs#/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs?order=gainer
- ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of January 28, 2012 (Biggest Jump)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- ^ A$AP Rocky > "Peso" - Single iTunes, Retrieved 2011-12-06.
- ^ A$AP Rocky > "Purple Swag" - Single iTunes, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
- ^ "David Banner – Sex, Drugs & Video Games (Album)". 2DopeBoyz. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
- ^ ASAP Rocky > "Get High" Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-18.
- ^ ASAP Rocky > "Purple Swag" > Directed by Jason Ano + ASAP Rocky Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
- ^ ASAP Rocky > "Peso" > Directed by Abteen Bagheri + ASAP Rocky Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
- ^ Smoke DZA featuring A$AP Rocky > "4 Loko" > Directed by Cristopher Schafer + Kory Smith Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
- ^ ASAP Rocky > "Demons" Youtube, Retrieved 2012-1-30.
- ^ AllHipHop.com Interview Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ ScHoolboy Q featuring A$AP Rocky > "Hands on the Wheel" > Directed by Jerome D Youtube, Retrieved 2012-01-21.