Rakim Athelaston Mayers[2] (born October 3, 1988), known professionally asASAP Rocky (/ˈeɪsæp/AY-sap; stylized asA$AP Rocky), is an American rapper.[3] Born and raised inHarlem, he embarked on his musical career as a member of thehip hop collectiveASAP Mob, from which he adopted hismoniker. In August 2011, Mayers' single "Peso" wasleaked online, and within weeks, began receiving radio airplay.[4] He signed withPolo Grounds Music, an imprint ofRCA Records in October of that year, and shortly after, released his debut mixtape,Live. Love. A$AP (2011) to widespread critical acclaim.[5][6]
Rakim Athelaston Mayers was born on October 3, 1988, in theHarlem neighborhood ofManhattan, a borough of New York City.[9] His father is fromBarbados.[10] He has an older brother (deceased) and an older sister, Erika.[11][12] Both Rakim and Erika's names are taken from theEric B. & Rakim duo.[13] His cousin is fellowASAP Mob memberASAP Nast.[14]
When Mayers was 12 years old, his father went to jail and he spent his teenage years moving aroundhomeless shelters with his mother and sister.[20] After living for a period in a shelter with his mother in New York City, he moved toMidtown Manhattan.[11] His father died in 2012.[21]
Career
2007–2011: Career beginnings
In 2007, Mayers joined theA$AP Mob crew, a Harlem-based collective of rappers, producers, music video directors, fashion designers, and bikers who shared similar interests in music, fashion, style, and art.[22] It had been formed by A$AP Yams, A$AP Bari and A$AP Illz.[23][24] In July 2011, Mayers released his single "Purple Swag" which quickly became a street anthem in New York City.[25][26][27][28]
In August 2011, Mayers’ single "Peso", wasleaked online and within weeks received airplay on the high-profileHot 97 New York radio station.[4] After he released amusic video for his song "Purple Swag", he received attention from several record labels. In October, he released the mixtapeLive. Love. A$AP to critical acclaim. Earlier that month, he signed a two-year, $3 million record deal with Bryan Leach'sPolo Grounds Music, which at the time was distributed byClive Davis'Sony Music division ofJ Records.[29] Upon his record deal, Mayers started a label, A$AP Worldwide, with A$AP Yams.[23] However, Mayers’ deal with J Records would be short-lived,[citation needed] when on October 7,RCA Music Group announced that it was merging J alongsideArista andJive Records intoRCA Records.[5] With the shutdown, Mayers (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release future material under the RCA brand.[30] On December 5, he was nominated forBBC'sSound of 2012 poll.[31]
In February 2012, Mayers joinedKendrick Lamar as the opening act forDrake'sClub Paradise Tour.[32] In June,SpaceGhostPurrp, founder of Miami-based collectiveRaider Klan and Mayers’ past collaborator, accused A$AP Twelvyy of jumping Raider Klan's Matt Stoops and subsequently disassociated himself from A$AP Mob and Mayers in a YouTube video.[33] He and Raider Klan also accused ASAP Mob of copying their style,[33] and Mayers of using lyrics from SpaceGhostPurrp's song "My Enemy" on "Goldie".[34] Mayers responded in a July interview for MTV, saying that SpaceGhostPurrp is "try[ing] to build hype" and told him to "stick to makin' beats".[33]
In July 2012, Mayers performed at thePitchfork Music Festival.[35] He was scheduled to make his network television debut onLate Night with Jimmy Fallon on July 20,[35] but he was then arrested the night before, after an alleged involvement in a brawl, with 21-year-old artist iRome. The scuffle took place in downtown Manhattan and the performance was canceled.[36][37] After it was rescheduled for August 21, Mayers performed "Goldie" on the show.[38] On September 6, he also performed a guest rap onRihanna's "Cockiness (Love It)" at the2012 MTV Video Music Awards.[39]
Mayers recorded his debutstudio albumLong. Live. A$AP, along with several producers, such as Clams Casino, Hit-Boy, Friendzone, A$AP Ty Beats, Soufein3000 and Joey Fat Beats.[40] "Goldie" was released as the album's first single on April 27.[41] On August 27, his crew A$AP Mob released the mixtapeLords Never Worry as a free download.[42] During September through November, Mayers promoted the album with the 40-date nationalconcert tour, the Long Live ASAP Tour, with opening actsScHoolboy Q,Danny Brown, and A$AP Mob.[43]Long. Live. A$AP was released on January 15, 2013, to mostly positive reviews from critics.[44] The album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, with first-week sales of 139,000 copies in the United States.[45] As of March 13, 2013[update], it has sold 284,000 copies.[46] On March 16, 2015,Long. Live. A$AP was certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for the shipment of 500,000 copies in the United States.[47][48]
On April 12, 2013, in an interview atWild 94.9 radio station, Mayers revealed that he was working on aninstrumental album, which he plans on releasing without notice. He even discussed his favorite music videos and talked about his desire to collaborate with veteran rapperAndré 3000.[49] On June 21, Mayers toldMTV News that he had completed his debut instrumental album, which mostly consists ofambient oriented instrumental tracks, titledBeauty & The Beast: Slowed Down Sessions (Chapter 1) and was originally set to be released during the summer for free download.[50] However, that album was delayed with no release date announced. Mayers previewed two snippets that would have made theBeauty & The Beast: Slowed Down Sessions (Chapter 1) compilation, titled "Riot Rave" and "Unicorn".[51] The project has not been released as of 2023.
2015–2017:At. Long. Last. A$AP
Mayers in 2013
On March 16, 2014, Mayers announced that he was working on his second studio album, entitledA.L.L.A. (an acronym forAt. Long. Last. A$AP)[52] which was a follow-up to his debut album,Long. Live. A$AP.[53] Upon the wake of a delay of theASAP Mob album,L.O.R.D., Mayers subsequently collaborated with cohortsA$AP Ferg, Nast and Twelvyy on the album's third single, "Hella Hoes", which was released on June 6, 2014.[54] Nonetheless, A$AP Mob leader A$AP Yams announced on hisTumblr account that the album had been shelved.[55] On October 3, 2014, his 26th birthday, Mayers launched a short-lived music giveaway called Flacko Jodye Season,[56] which first premiered with "Multiply", which featured additional vocals fromJuicy J;[57][58] later released on iTunes one week after its premiere.[59][60]
OnNew Year's Day 2015, Mayers released his second album'slead single, "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPFJ2)", a sequel to "Pretty Flacko".[61] Then, on January 18, seventeen days after the single's release, Mayers’ mentor and partner, Steven "A$AP Yams" Rodriguez, died at the age of 26.[62][63] However, some reports later stated that Yams' cause was ruled acute mixed drug intoxication[64] while Mayers and several A$AP Mob members and affiliates said that the late leader of the collective died due to hissleep apnea, which causedasphyxiation andpulmonary aspiration.[65][66][67] Weeks after Yams' death, Mayers revealed thatAt. Long. Last. A$AP was executive-produced by rapperJuicy J, producerDanger Mouse, Mayers and Yams themselves.[68][69][70]
In 2015, Mayers appeared in a cameo role in theindie comedy-drama,Dope. The film premiered at the2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2015.[71] It opened in all movie theaters on June 12.[72] There at the event, Mayers explained his expressions and grief over the death of his own friend and partner; performed "Multiply" on-stage as a dedication to his loving memory, minutes before running backstage to calm down.[73] In March 2015, Mayers said in an interview withMTV News that he made songs such as "Wild For The Night" and "Fuckin' Problems" for mainstream commercial success, and that he now hated those songs.[74]
On April 8, 2015, the rapper released a song, titled "M'$", debuted during an interview with theRed Bull Music Academy, and was released on theiTunes Store two days later,[75] however, it was announced that the song was not an official single from the album.[76] The album, however, did include a remixed version of the track that replaced Mayers’ second verse with a guest verse fromLil Wayne. On May 9, Mayers unveiled the album'scover art on his officialInstagram page, with the caption "AT LONG LAST...."[77] On the same day, he then released the album's alternative artwork[78] and released the album's second single, titled "Everyday" featuringRod Stewart,Miguel andMark Ronson (the latter of which also produced the track alongsideEmile Haynie).[79][80] Mayers also announced that the release date forA.L.L.A. was updated to June 2, 2015; however, on May 25, 2015, around 6:00 PM EDT, the albumleaked online, approximately one week before its expected release.[81] Subsequently, Mayers tweeted to announce that the album will be released at midnight (May 26), changing the date a week early.[82]
Upon its release,At. Long. Last. A$AP received generally positive to mixed reviews frommusic critics.[83] Overall, the album was supported by the release of threesingles: "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPFJ2)", "Everyday" and "L$D".At. Long. Last. A$AP debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, selling 116,000 copies in the United States.[84] In conclusion to this, it also gave Mayers his second consecutive number one album on the charts to date.[85] In Canada, the album debuted at number one, with 11,000 copies sold.[86] The album has spent two more weeks beyond the top ten of theBillboard 200.[87][88] As of July 2015[update], the album has sold 215,000 copies in the United States.[89] It has sold 60,662 copies in the United Kingdom, as of June 2015[update].[90]
2018–present:Testing and upcoming fourth studio album
On January 23, 2018, Mayers released "☆☆☆☆☆ 5ive $tar$" onSoundCloud, produced byMetro Boomin, Frans Mernick, Jordan Blackmon and Daniel Lynas and featuring uncredited vocals byDRAM.[96] Over the following two days he shared "Above", produced by Mernick and "Money Bags Freestyle (Dean Blunt Meditation)", produced by Blunt and featuring uncredited vocals byLil Yachty. The songs were captioned "TESTING COMING SOON" and "THIS IS JUST A TEST", leading to speculation that they were in promotion of an upcoming studio album entitledTesting.[97][98] On February 16, Mayers collaborated withGucci Mane and21 Savage for "Cocky", in promotion of the filmUncle Drew. He released the single "Bad Company" on March 27. It features rapperBlocBoy JB, as well as further allusions toTesting in its marketing.[99] On April 5, he released a second single: "ASAP Forever". The song samples record producerMoby's 2000 single "Porcelain", crediting him as a featured artist. It was premiered onThe Tonight Show alongside new track "Distorted Records", and a music video was released the following day.[100] A day later he was featured on the song "One Track Mind", from rock bandThirty Seconds to Mars' fifth studio albumAmerica.
On May 25, 2018, Mayers releasedTesting to generally positive reviews from critics. It debuted at number four on the USBillboard 200, becoming Mayers’ third consecutive top-five album on the chart, but another low-seller.[101][102] In its second week, the album dropped to number 15, with 26,000 album-equivalent units (1,000 copies).[103] The following week,Testing dropped to number 22 on the chart.[104] On July 23, 2018, Mayers andTyler, the Creator announced a collaborative project,WANGSAP, by releasing a music video of a remix ofMonica's "Knock Knock" called "Potato Salad" on AWGE's "AWGE DVD (Vol. 3)".[105] However, on January 23, 2019, Tyler, the Creator announced this album never existed.[citation needed] In May 2019, Juicy J announced Mayers began working on his upcoming album, formerly titledAll Smiles.[106][107] On August 28, Mayers released the music video for "Babushka Boi". It was directed by Nadia Lee Cohen.
In October 2021, Mayers released his 2011 mixtapeLive. Love. ASAP to all streaming platforms in celebration of its 10-year anniversary.[108] Mayers appeared on two tracks fromNigo's album,I Know Nigo!, released March 25, 2022, the opening track "Lost and Found Freestyle 2019" withTyler, the Creator, and the single, "Arya".[109] Mayers supported theRed Hot Chili Peppers on their2022 international stadium tour. After he arrived late for a performance atOld Trafford, Manchester, he performed a shortened 20-minute set after the Chili Peppers.[110] In May 2022, Mayers released the single, "D.M.B.",[111] and followed up in December with "Shittin' Me".[112][113] Also in December, he appeared on producer Metro Boomin's albumHeroes & Villains, on the track "Feel the Fiyaaaah", which also featured late rapperTakeoff, who was gunned down a month prior to the album's release.[114] He then confirmed a new album with production from Metro Boomin to materialize in the future.[115][116] Later that month, he named his upcoming fourth album,Don't Be Dumb.[117][118][119]
Business ventures
In October 2011, Mayers signed a record deal withSony Music Entertainment worth $3 million ($1.7 million of which was earmarked for his solo work; $1.3 million earmarked to fund his company).[120] Mayers said that he sought a "bigger platform" for him and his collective with the deal.[6] His first studio album planned to be under the deal, but it allowed him to continue releasing mixtapes throughSony/RED.[6] Fellow rapper and A$AP Mob memberA$AP Ferg also signed a joint venture deal with the RCA-distributed Polo Grounds Music; Ferg released his single "Work", for digital retail via various platforms. He later announced an officialremix featuring Mayers,French Montana,ScHoolboy Q andTrinidad James.[121]
In 2013, he and ASAP Mob co-founderASAP Bari[122] released his A$AP merchandise brand, and went to collaborate with high-profile fashion designer and close friendRaf Simons.[123][124] On October 2, 2014, Mayers announced he had officially signed a contract for worldwide representation withWilliam Morris Endeavor.[125]
In February 2016,Guess released a collaboration with Mayers called GUE$$, which was inspired by Mayers’ admiration for the brand's vintage '90s clothing that he wore while growing up.[126]
In 2022, Mayers launched his own brand of whisky called Mercer + Prince. It was officially launched on the Revolt TV show, Drink Champs, during a segment in a two-hour long interview.
In 2023, he collaborated with Gucci (Guilty perfume advertisements), Puma (sneakers in collaboration with F1) and with Bottega Veneta on a campaign based on paparazzi candids.
Personal life
From 2011 to 2012, Mayers dated Australian rapperIggy Azalea.[127][128] He began dating modelChanel Iman in early 2013, and in April 2014, they were reported to be engaged,[129] but broke up in June 2014.[130]
On May 19, 2021, Mayers revealed during an interview withGQ that he is in a relationship with Barbadian singerRihanna, describing her as "the love of my life".[131] The two were first linked in 2013, after Mayers opened up for Rihanna'sDiamonds World Tour.[132] Rihanna gave birth to their first son in 2022.[133][134][135][136] She gave birth to their second son in 2023, after previously revealing she was pregnant during herSuper Bowl LVII halftime show performance.[137][138][139][140]
Mayers was previously apescetarian.[141] In 2012, he transitioned to avegetarian diet with the help of his vegan manager after learning of the horrors of the poultry industry.[142] On his 2019 single "Babushka Boi", Mayers stated he isvegan.[142][143][144]
Mayers has said that while he was raised in a Christian household, he does not like going to an organized church, and instead has "[his] own relationship with God... I pray every day before I go to sleep."[145] He addresses these views in the song "Holy Ghost" on his 2015 albumAt. Long. Last. ASAP. During Mayers’ 2019 incarceration in Sweden, he prayed to keep himself occupied.[146]
Mayers is 5'11" (180 cm) tall, which he revealed in aNikki & Sara Live interview to contextualize why he felt out-of-place standing next to the much tallerJason Collins.[147]
Legal issues
In 2006, Mayers served two weeks inRikers Island where he shared a cell with future rapperCasanova.[148]
Assault in Sweden
Max Hamburgers atHötorget where the first contact was made. The victim's headphones were retrieved from the awning on the left in the picture.Apelbergsgatan behind Max Burgers where the final assault took placeMedia and audience outsideStockholm District Court where the trial against Mayers was being heldGraffiti about Mayers in Stockholm
In July 2019, Mayers was arrested initially foraggravated, then for simpleassault inStockholm,Sweden, after an altercation in the street against a man named Mustafa Jafari and another person that involved Mayers and three of his entourage on June 30.[149][150][151] Jafari was beaten, kicked, and cut with broken bottles when down on the ground.[152] He suffered several cuts, requiring stitches, and a fractured rib.[153] Mayers uploaded two videos of the incident toInstagram. In the first, he and his entourage repeatedly ask two young men, including Jafari, to stop following them as the latter complains about his headphones.[154] In the other, created from footage of assorted events, Jafari's headphones break during a scuffle, and he is seen hitting Mayers’ bodyguard with them. A woman is also seen in the video, accusing the two men ofgroping.[155][156] Henrik Olsson Lilja, the defense attorney for Mayers, maintained that his client acted in self-defense after being attacked by Jafari.[157]
Mayers’ bodyguard filed a counter-complaint against Jafari,[158] and Jafari was initially suspected of harassment and minor assault or possibly attempted assault.[159] The investigation against Jafari was dropped as prosecutors said he acted in self-defense, after being grabbed by the neck and pushed by the bodyguard.[160][161] Mayers was arrested after being allowed to finish his gig at Stadion.[162][163] As it was judged there was a risk that he may flee or tamper with evidence, he was kept in custody atKronoberg Remand Prison until the trial,[164][165][166] with two members of his entourage also under arrest.[167] Mayers’ ongoing tour was then put on hiatus due to the trial.[168]
He was visited by personnel from the US embassy shortly after his arrest.[169] Several US artists called for a boycott of Sweden due to the incident.[170][171] A petition to release him was started.[172] The family askedAl Sharpton for help.[173]US PresidentDonald Trump tweeted his support for Mayers, and it was later revealed by justice ministerMorgan Johansson that Trump had threatened trade restrictions against Sweden if Mayers was not released.[174] Former US ambassador to SwedenMark Brzezinski suggested that the government should intervene and speculated that racism may have been the cause of the brawl.[175] Foreign ministerMargot Wallström said the government is not allowed to interfere citing Chapter 11 §3 of the Swedish constitutionalInstrument of Government which explicitly forbids the interference of politicians, or unrelated government offices, in the work of the courts of law.
Mayers was convicted of assault, given asuspended prison sentence and asked to pay 12,500 kr ($1,270) indamages to the victim.[176] The court could not decide who used the bottle, but said it was not a case of self-defense.[177] As Mayers had already served over a month in jail for the incident before the sentence was handed out, it was determined that he did not need to serve any additional time.[178] The conviction does not bar him from returning to Sweden.[179]
Shooting in Hollywood
On April 20, 2022, Mayers was arrested byLAPD officers upon arriving to theLos Angeles International Airport after a vacation with his partner, Rihanna. He was arrested for a potential assault with a deadly weapon in a shooting that took place in Hollywood on November 6, 2021.[180][181] The shooting victim, who survived the incident with only a graze to his knuckle, was reported to be former friend and collaborator Terell Ephron, better known asASAP Relli.[182][183] Bail was set at $550,000 and he was released shortly after.[181][180]
After his arrest, detectives executed a warrant to search his home, gaining entry by using a pry bar to force the gate open. Detectives took several boxes from his home to use as evidence.[184] Investigating officers did not find any shell casings at the scene and recovered no fingerprints from the 9mm casings Ephron later provided to police. The gun allegedly used was never found during a search of Mayers' residence. However, surveillance footage of the scene captured a man in a hooded sweatshirt, identified as the defendant, potentially holding a gun.[185] On August 15, 2022, theLos Angeles County District Attorney's office filed charges against Mayers.[186]
On November 20, 2023, a Los Angeles judge, M.L. Villar, determined that there was sufficient evidence for Mayers to stand trial after hearing roughly a day and a half of testimony from two witnesses during a preliminary court hearing.[187][182] On January 8, 2024, Mayers entered a plea of not guilty, turning down a plea bargain of six months in jail, and risking a maximum sentence of over 20 years in prison.[188][183] Mayers missed a hearing scheduled for March 6, 2024.[189][190] During a court hearing which took place on May 23, Mayers had his trial set to start on October 21.[191] The trial start date was pushed back to January 21, 2025.[192][193] In a departure from typical practices in LA County courts, the judge allowed cameras to record almost the entirety of the trial.[185] The defense team and witnesses stated that Mayers had used a prop gun that fired blanks.[183] Jurors were instructed that they could acquit Mayers if he fired in self-defense.[183] On February 18, Mayers was found not guilty.[194]
^Mitchell, Ben (July 9, 2015)."A$AP Rocky: What I've Learned".Esquire. Archived fromthe original on April 26, 2017. RetrievedApril 25, 2017.I don't eat meat. At all. Four years now. No chicken, no pork, no beef, no turkey. Fish, yes. I'm a pescatarian. One day, I was going to an interview and people were giving away live chickens. It was the worst smell ever. I just don't want to eat something that smells like that when it's alive. That was disgusting.
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