A$AP Rocky
The Harlem rapper, producer, and fashion designer who co-chaired the 2025 Met Gala and serves as creative director for Puma F1 and Ray-Ban.
Rakim Athelston Mayers, known professionally as ASAP Rocky, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, fashion designer, and model. Born and raised in Harlem, he embarked on his musical career as a member of the hip hop collective ASAP Mob. His 2011 single "Peso" was leaked online and began receiving radio airplay within weeks, propelling cloud rap into mainstream attention. He signed with Polo Grounds Music, an imprint of RCA Records, that October and released his debut mixtape, Live. Love. A$AP to widespread critical acclaim.
Quick Facts
- Other names
- Lord Flacko
- Pretty Flacko Jodye II
- Flacko
- Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye
- Education
- Bayard Rustin Educational Complex
- Birth name
- Rakim Athelston Mayers
- Born
- 3 October 1988
- Birthplace
- New York City, U.S.
- Children
- 3
- Occupation
- Rapper
- songwriter
- record producer
- model
- actor
- fashion designer
- Organization
- AWGE
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$D", was nominated for Best Music Video at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.
His third album, Testing (2018), debuted within the Billboard 200's top five, while his fourth album, Don't Be Dumb (2026), debuted atop the chart.
Reader's Guide
Aside from his musical career, Mayers founded the creative agency and record label AWGE in 2014. AWGE launched partnerships with Marine Serre, Amina Muaddi, Moncler, JW Anderson, Under Armour, PacSun, Vans, Mercedes-Benz, Selfridges, as well as conceptual collaborations with MTV and Needles. Mayers co-launched cult fashion label VLONE, co-chaired the Met Gala in 2025 and spearheaded campaigns for DKNY, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Ferragamo, Beats by Dre, Dior Homme and more.
As of 2025, he serves as the creative director for Puma F1 and Ray-Ban. As an actor, Mayers has had supporting roles in Dope (2015), Monster (2018), Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest (2025) alongside Denzel Washington, and If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025). Mayers has received accolades such as a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTV Video Music Award Japan and an MTVU Woodie Award. His creative entrepreneurship has been rewarded with the Global Style Icon Award, the Virgil Abloh award, the Cultural Innovator Award, the Collaboration Of The Year Award, and the Fashion Icon Award.
He has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, six World Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards and two MTV Europe Music Awards.
Did You Know?
- Mayers' real name, Rakim, and his sister Erika's name are both taken from the Eric B. & Rakim duo.
- His cousin is fellow ASAP Mob member ASAP Nast.
- His father died in 2012.
- Mayers' mentor and partner, Steven 'A$AP Yams' Rodriguez, died on January 18, 2015, at age 26; his cause was ruled acute mixed drug intoxication.
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