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ASAP Rocky

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ASAP Rocky
Photo still of Rocky, 2011
Photo still of Rocky, 2011
Background information
Birth nameRakim Mayers
Born (1988-10-03) October 3, 1988 (age 35)
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, music video director
Years active2007–present
LabelsA$AP Worldwide, Polo Grounds, RCA, Sony
Websiteasapmob.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, 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

Rocky performing at Coachella, 2012

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

Singles

List of songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
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

List of songs with guest appearances by A$AP Rocky
Title Year Album Artist
"Get High" 2010 — A$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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:ASAP Rocky.

References

  1. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (2011-10-12). "Thinking Globally, Rapping Locally". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-11-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Battan, Carrie (2011-10-28). "A$AP Rocky Talks $3 Million Record Deal, Mainstream Acceptance". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  3. ^ Zeichner, Naomi (2011-10-14). "Gen F: ASAP Rocky". The Fader. Retrieved 2011-11-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Markman, Rob (2011-10-20). "Drake Has 'Good Taste,' A$AP Rocky Says After Co-Sign". MTV. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  5. ^ Murphy, K. (2011-11-02). "A$AP Rocky Talks Debut Album, Musical Influences, and Accepting Gay Fans". Vibe. Retrieved 2011-11-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Lymangrover, Jason. "ASAP Rocky - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  7. ^ a b Adaso, Henry. "A$AP Rocky Biography". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
  8. ^ a b "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. 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. ^ a b http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2012/artists/asaprocky/
  16. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (December 13, 2011). "Drake Announces 2012 Club Paradise Tour Dates". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  17. ^ "ASAP Rocky Reveals Debut Album Title, Trashes XXL Freshman & More at SXSW". EveryoneLovesHipHop. March 16, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  18. ^ "Goldie - Single". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  19. ^ http://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs#/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs?order=gainer
  20. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of January 28, 2012 (Biggest Jump)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  21. ^ A$AP Rocky > "Peso" - Single iTunes, Retrieved 2011-12-06.
  22. ^ A$AP Rocky > "Purple Swag" - Single iTunes, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
  23. ^ "David Banner – Sex, Drugs & Video Games (Album)". 2DopeBoyz. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  24. ^ ASAP Rocky > "Get High" Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-18.
  25. ^ ASAP Rocky > "Purple Swag" > Directed by Jason Ano + ASAP Rocky Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
  26. ^ ASAP Rocky > "Peso" > Directed by Abteen Bagheri + ASAP Rocky Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
  27. ^ Smoke DZA featuring A$AP Rocky > "4 Loko" > Directed by Cristopher Schafer + Kory Smith Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-07.
  28. ^ ASAP Rocky > "Demons" Youtube, Retrieved 2012-1-30.
  29. ^ AllHipHop.com Interview Youtube, Retrieved 2011-12-28.
  30. ^ ScHoolboy Q featuring A$AP Rocky > "Hands on the Wheel" > Directed by Jerome D Youtube, Retrieved 2012-01-21.
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