ASAP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actor.
He was born on October 3, 1988, in Harlem, New York City.
Rocky gained popularity in the early 2010s with his mixtape Live. Love. ASAP and his debut studio album Long. Live. ASAP which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart in 2013.
Rocky is known for his unique style, blending elements of hip-hop, trap and cloud rap.
He has collaborated with many notable artists, including Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna.
In addition to his music career, Rocky has also ventured into acting, appearing in films such as Dope and Monster.
Rocky has been involved in several high-profile legal issues, including a 2019 assault case in Sweden that gained international attention and led to his temporary imprisonment.
Despite these challenges, Rocky has continued to be a prominent figure in the music industry and has received critical acclaim for his work.
A$AP Rocky early life and education
The rapper grew up in a neighborhood known as The New Harlem Renaissance and was raised by his mother after his father was incarcerated.
As a child, Rocky was interested in music and began rapping at the age of 9.
He attended several schools in New York City, including Bayard Rustin High School and George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, but he did not graduate from either.
Despite not completing his formal education, Rocky continued to pursue his passion for music and began to gain recognition in the underground hip-hop scene in New York City.
He formed a collective called ASAP Mob, which included other up-and-coming artists such as ASAP Ferg and ASAP Nast.
Rocky’s early life and experiences growing up in Harlem heavily influenced his music, which often touches on themes of poverty, violence, and drug use.
His unique style and sound quickly caught the attention of major record labels, and he signed a record deal with RCA Records in 2011.
Since then, Rocky has become one of the most successful and influential rappers of his generation, known for his innovative style and collaborations with other artists such as Rihanna, Tyler, The Creator and Kendrick Lamar.
A)AP Rocky net worth
According to multiple sources including Marca, Rocky has an estimated net worth of $20 million as of September 2023.
How does A$AP Rocky make his millions?
Rocky has amassed a significant net worth through his music career, as well as various business ventures and endorsements.
One of the primary sources of his wealth is his music career.
He has released several successful albums and singles, including his debut album Long. Live. ASAP which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
In addition to his music career, Rocky has also ventured into fashion and modeling.
He has collaborated with several high-end fashion brands, including Dior and Gucci, and has even launched his own fashion line called AWGE.
These ventures have helped to diversify his income streams and increase his net worth.
Rocky has also been involved in various endorsement deals, including partnerships with companies such as Calvin Klein, Samsung and Mercedes-Benz.
These deals have helped to increase his visibility and earnings, as well as solidify his status as a cultural icon.
A$AP Rocky career
Rocky began his music career in 2007, and since then, he has become one of the most influential and successful rappers of his generation.
His breakthrough came in 2011 with his debut mixtape, Live. Love. ASAP, which received critical acclaim and helped him secure a record deal with RCA Records.
His debut studio album, Long. Live. ASAP, was released in 2013 and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and featured hit singles such as Goldie and F**kin’ Problems.
Throughout his career, Rocky has received numerous awards and nominations for his music.
In 2013, he won the BET Award for Best Collaboration for his song F**kin’ Problems featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar.
Rocky also won the BET Hip Hop Award for Best Mixtape for Live. Love. ASAP in the same year.
In 2015, he released his second studio album, At. Long. Last. ASAP, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
The album featured collaborations with artists such as Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Rod Stewart.
In 2016, Rocky won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing for his music video, L$D.
Aside from his music career, he has also ventured into acting, having made his acting debut in the 2015 film Dope and has since appeared in other films such as Monster, Zoolander 2 and Uncut Gems.
A$AP Rocky controversies
Rocky has been involved in several controversies throughout his career.
In July 2019, the rapper was arrested in Stockholm, Sweden, after a street altercation with two men.
He was charged with assault and spent a month in jail before being released and returning to the United States.
The incident sparked a diplomatic dispute between the United States and Sweden, with President Donald Trump advocating for Rocky’s release.
In a 2015 interview with Time Out New York, Rocky made controversial comments about women’s appearance and sexuality.
He said, “I feel like women should dress more modestly. I mean, I like to see skin, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being a virgin.”
The comments were widely criticized as sexist and outdated.
In a 2013 interview with the radio show The Breakfast Club, Rocky made homophobic comments when asked about the trend of rappers wearing skirts.
He said, “I don’t think that’s dope, I don’t think that’s swag. I don’t think that’s anything that should be in rap.”
These comments were widely criticized as homophobic and insensitive.
Additionally, Rocky has been open about his drug use in the past, and has been arrested for drug-related offenses.
In 2019, he revealed that he had stopped using drugs after the death of his friend and fellow rapper, ASAP Yams, who died of a drug overdose in 2015.
Also, some of Rocky’s lyrics have been criticized for promoting violence, drug use, and misogyny.
For example, in his song Better Things, he raps about assaulting a woman and making her ‘bleed.’
