A$AP Rocky

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Lore & Background

Mayers' 2012 single, "Fuckin' Problems" (featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar), marked his first entry—at number eight—on the Billboard Hot 100, was nominated for Best Rap Song at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, and preceded his debut studio album, Long. Live. A$AP (2013). A critical and commercial success, it debuted atop the Billboard 200 and received double platinum certification by the RIAA. His second album, At. Long. Last. A$AP (2015), also debuted atop the chart; its two lead singles, "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPFJ2)" and "Everyday" (featuring Rod Stewart, Miguel and Mark Ronson), both received double platinum certifications by the RIAA, while its third, "L$D", was nominated for Best Music Video at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. His third album, Testing (2018), debuted within the Billboard 200's top five, while his fourth album, Don't Be Dumb (2026), debuted atop the chart.

In Their Own Story

Mayers started rapping at age nine, when he moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He learned how to rap from his older brother, who also wore the cornrows hairdo that Mayers later adopted. When Mayers was 13, his brother Ricky was killed by gun violence in Harlem. The death inspired Mayers to take rapping more seriously. When Mayers was 12 years old, his father went to jail and he spent his teenage years moving around homeless shelters with his mother and sister. In 2007, Mayers joined the A$AP Mob crew. In July 2011, Mayers released his single "Purple Swag" which quickly became a street anthem in New York City. In August 2011, his single "Peso" was leaked online and within weeks received airplay on Hot 97. In October, he signed a two-year, $3 million record deal with Bryan Leach's Polo Grounds Music. In February 2012, Mayers joined Kendrick Lamar as the opening act for Drake's Club Paradise Tour. On September 6, he performed a guest rap on Rihanna's "Cockiness (Love It)" at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards.

Reader's Guide

Aside from his musical career, Mayers founded the creative agency and record label AWGE in 2014. AWGE launched partnerships with Marine Serre, Amina Muaddi, Moncler, JW Anderson, Under Armour, PacSun, Vans, Mercedes-Benz, Selfridges, as well as conceptual collaborations with MTV and Needles. Mayers co-launched cult fashion label VLONE, co-chaired the Met Gala in 2025 and spearheaded campaigns for DKNY, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Ferragamo, Beats by Dre, Dior Homme and more. As of 2025, he serves as the creative director for Puma F1 and Ray-Ban. As an actor, Mayers has had supporting roles in Dope (2015), Monster (2018), Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest (2025) alongside Denzel Washington, and If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025). Mayers has received accolades such as a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTV Video Music Award Japan and an MTVU Woodie Award. His creative entrepreneurship has been rewarded with 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 has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, six World Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards and two MTV Europe Music Awards.

Did You Know?

• Mayers' real name, Rakim, and his sister Erika's name are both taken from the Eric B. & Rakim duo.
• His cousin is fellow ASAP Mob member ASAP Nast.
• Mayers co-directed most of his own music videos, often under the pseudonym Lord Flacko.
• His father died in 2012.
• Mayers' mentor and partner, Steven 'A$AP Yams' Rodriguez, died on January 18, 2015, at age 26; his cause was ruled acute mixed drug intoxication.