A$AP Rocky is a US rapper, record producer, actor, fashion designer and model from Harlem, New York. Born Rakim Athelston Mayers in 1988, he starts out in the A$AP Mob collective, from which he takes his stage name. He is also associated with AWGE.

Music

A$AP Rocky first draws wider attention in 2011 when the single “Peso” leaks online and receives radio play, helping cloud rap reach a bigger audience. Later that year, he signs with Polo Grounds Music, an imprint of RCA Records, and releases his debut mixtape, Live. Love. A$AP. The mixtape receives strong critical praise.

In 2012 he releases “Fuckin’ Problems”, featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar. The track reaches number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and is nominated for Best Rap Song at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. His debut studio album, Long. Live. A$AP, follows in 2013 and debuts at number one on the Billboard 200, later earning double platinum certification from the RIAA.

His second album, At. Long. Last. A$AP, also reaches number one and receives critical praise. Its singles “Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPFJ2)” and “Everyday”, the latter featuring Rod Stewart, Miguel and Mark Ronson, are both certified double platinum. “L$D” is nominated for Best Music Video at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

His third album, Testing, enters the Billboard 200 top five. His fourth album, Don’t Be Dumb, is listed as a later release.

Other work

Outside music, Mayers founds AWGE in 2014 as a creative agency and record label. It works with brands including Marine Serre, Amina Muaddi, Moncler, JW Anderson, Under Armour, PacSun, Vans, Mercedes-Benz and Selfridges, and takes part in conceptual partnerships with MTV and Needles.

He co-launches the fashion label VLONE and leads campaigns for DKNY, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Ferragamo, Beats by Dre and Dior Homme. He also serves as creative director for Puma F1 and Ray-Ban.

As an actor, he appears in supporting roles in Dope, Monster, Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.

Recognition

A$AP Rocky receives a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTV Video Music Award Japan and an MTVU Woodie Award. His wider recognition includes the Global Style Icon Award, the Virgil Abloh Award, the Cultural Innovator Award, the Collaboration of the Year Award and the Fashion Icon Award. He is nominated for two Grammy Awards, six World Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards and two MTV Europe Music Awards.

He also frequently co-directs his own music videos and contributes to production or songwriting for other artists under the name Lord Flacko.