ASAP Rocky

ASAP Rocky is an American rapper, record producer, actor, fashion designer, and model. He is known for popularizing the cloud rap subgenre and has released multiple chart-topping albums, including his 2013 debut Long. Live. A$AP and the 2026 album Don't Be Dumb, both of which reached number one on the Billboard 200. Beyond music, Rocky is a significant figure in fashion, having founded the creative agency AWGE in 2014, co-chaired the Met Gala in 2025, and served as creative director for Puma F1 and Ray-Ban. His distinctive style, which merges streetwear with luxury, has established him as a global style icon. He has also ventured into acting, appearing in films such as Dope (2015) and Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest (2025).

Fans connect with Rocky for his artistic vision, enigmatic social media persona, and his high-profile relationship with Rihanna, with whom he has two sons. He continues to innovate across music, fashion, and business, receiving honors like the Virgil Abloh Award and the Fashion Icon Award.[edit]

Rakim Athelston Mayers, better known by his professional name ASAP Rocky, was born on October 3, 1988, in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. Growing up in the vibrant cultural landscape of Harlem, Mayers was deeply immersed in the sounds of hip hop, reggae, and soul, which profoundly shaped his early musical sensibilities. He began rapping at the tender age of eight, a passion that would only deepen through his formative years. His childhood was marked by significant adversity, including his father's incarceration for drug trafficking and, devastatingly, the murder of his older brother, Ricky, in 2004. These profound personal losses and challenges served as a powerful impetus, solidifying his resolve to pursue music not just as an interest, but as a serious career path. Though he attended Bayard Rustin Educational Complex, he ultimately made the decision to drop out, fully committing himself to his burgeoning artistic ambitions.

The late 2000s proved to be a pivotal era for Mayers. During this time, he connected with Steven Rodriguez, known as ASAP Yams, and Jabari Shelton, known as ASAP Bari, with whom he co-founded the influential hip hop collective ASAP Mob. It was through this collective that Rakim Mayers adopted his now-iconic stage name, ASAP Rocky. He began to hone his craft by performing his early material at local venues, gradually building a following as his initial tracks started circulating online. The breakthrough moment arrived in 2011 when his single "Peso" unexpectedly leaked to the public. The track quickly garnered immediate and widespread radio play, sparking an intense bidding war among several major record labels. This pivotal event unequivocally marked his emergence onto the national music scene, culminating in a significant record deal with Polo Grounds Music and RCA Records, setting the stage for his established career.[edit]

Rocky's debut mixtape Live. Love. A$AP (2011) earned critical praise. In 2012, he released "Fuckin' Problems" featuring Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar, which hit number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination. His debut album Long. Live. A$AP (2013) debuted at number one and went double platinum.

He followed with At. Long. Last. A$AP (2015), also a number one album, featuring the hit "L$D," which was nominated for Best Music Video at the Grammys. His third album Testing (2018) reached number four. In 2026, he released Don't Be Dumb, which debuted at number one. Rocky also founded the AWGE creative agency in 2014, which has partnered with brands like Moncler and Mercedes-Benz. He made his acting debut in Dope (2015) and later appeared in Monster (2018) and Highest 2 Lowest (2025).[edit]

Rocky is known for his avant-garde, high-fashion style, mixing streetwear with luxury brands like Gucci and Bottega Veneta. Media outlets often call him the most stylish man in rap. His social media presence is artistic and cryptic, with minimalist captions and high-quality visuals. Fans, collectively called The Mob, admire his trendsetting and willingness to experiment. His public persona balances a tough Harlem upbringing with a refined fashion sense, making him a unique figure in both music and style.[edit]

ASAP Rocky stands as the 56th most famous person in Hip-Hop, a placement that reflects his enduring grip on the genre's cultural consciousness. This standing within the iFANN Global Fame Rankings underscores his unique position where streetwear aesthetics and musical innovation intersect, tracking global attention across media coverage, search, and consumption signals worldwide. While the world often fixates on his style, the core of his influence remains rooted in the collective identity of the A$AP Mob. Unlike many artists with a singular moniker for their followers, Rocky's audience identifies deeply with the group's Ramones-style naming convention and its signature smoky beats. There is no formal name like 'Rocky Army' or 'Yams' officially designated by the artist; instead, fans are simply part of the Mob community, bound by a shared loyalty to the Harlem collective's aesthetic and lifestyle.

This bond is tested and celebrated through specific rituals, most notably ASAP Yams Day, an annual tribute to the late mentor A$AP Yams. The event has evolved into a significant moment where the artist engages directly with supporters, such as when Rocky performed 'Don't Be Dumb' during a livestream in January 2026. The fandom also carries the weight of recent lore regarding the group's fracturing, particularly the emotional fallout surrounding A$AP Ferg's departure from the collective in mid-2025. Fans have reacted intensely to these shifts, viewing them not just as business decisions but as personal betrayals within a family dynamic that has defined hip-hop fashion for over a decade.[edit]

Rocky was named after the rapper Rakim from Eric B. & Rakim and claims descent from the Barbadian pirate Stede Bonnet. He co-directs many of his own music videos under the alias Lord Flacko and holds a Guinness World Record for the most expensive sneakers worn by a rapper. In 2022, he faced assault charges involving a firearm but was acquitted in 2023. Beyond these verified facts, a persistent legend surrounds his early days as a teen crack dealer before achieving musical success, a redemption arc that contrasts sharply with his current high-fashion status. Another widely retold story involves his arrest in Sweden for assault and battery following a concert, which became a defining narrative of resilience against legal systems. More recently, the dissolution of the A$AP Mob has become central to fan mythology. Stories circulate about the tension between members, including the confirmation that founding member A$AP Illz removed A$AP Ferg from the group. Fans still discuss this fracture as a pivotal moment in the collective's history, especially after Rocky admitted that Ferg dropping the 'A$AP' prefix hurt him personally.[edit]

Rocky's father, Adrian Mayers, was a Barbadian street vendor and Seventh-day Adventist; his mother, Renee Black, is a gospel singer. He has an older brother, Ricky, who was killed in 2004, and a sister, Erika. He grew up in the Harlem projects, raised primarily by his mother after his father's incarceration. As of 2026, Rocky is engaged to Rihanna and they live in Los Angeles with their two sons, RZA and Riot.[edit]

Rocky is closely associated with the ASAP Mob collective, including ASAP Yams, ASAP Bari, and ASAP Ferg. He has collaborated frequently with Drake and Kendrick Lamar. His long-term partner is Rihanna, and he previously dated model Kendall Jenner.[edit]

Rocky's first known relationship was with stylist and model Chanelle, lasting from 2011 to 2012. He briefly dated Australian rapper Iggy Azalea in 2012. In 2013, he was rumored to be with actress Lili Reinhart, though neither confirmed it. From 2014 to 2016, he had a high-profile on-and-off relationship with model Kendall Jenner.

In 2020, he began dating singer and businesswoman Rihanna. The couple had two sons: RZA in 2022 and Riot in 2023. As of 2026, they are engaged and living together in Los Angeles, though not yet married.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates ASAP Rocky's net worth at $25 Million as of 2026. His wealth accumulates from diverse streams: music sales, streaming, and touring generate roughly $5 million per album cycle. His AWGE creative agency contributes millions through brand partnerships with companies like Moncler, Mercedes-Benz, and Puma. Additional income flows from endorsement deals with Calvin Klein, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Beats by Dre, and Ray-Ban. Real estate holdings include a $5 million mansion in Los Angeles and a $3 million apartment in New York City. He maintains stakes in various tech startups and fashion brands. This financial growth has been steady since his debut, marked by significant increases following each album release and the expansion of AWGE. In 2025, his role as Met Gala co-chair and creative director for Puma F1 and Ray-Ban further elevated his profile and earnings.[edit]

Rocky has won a BET Award for Best Video, two BET Hip Hop Awards for Best Hip Hop Video and Best Hip Hop Style, an MTV Video Music Award Japan for Best Hip Hop Video, and an MTVU Woodie Award for Best Video. He has also received fashion accolades: the Global Style Icon Award, the Virgil Abloh Award, the Cultural Innovator Award, the Collaboration of the Year Award, and the Fashion Icon Award.[edit]