How did ASAP Rocky get his name?
A$AP Rocky has been in the spotlight more than ever recently between his relationship with Rihanna, with whom he shares two children, and his legal case, which saw him acquitted of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Rocky was born Rakim Athelaston Mayers on October 3rd, 1988, in Harlem, New York City. He moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of nine, which is where he started rapping after learning from his older brother. Rocky spent his teenage years in homeless shelters with his mother and sister after his father was jailed when he was nine. His brother was killed in Harlem when he was 13, inspiring him to take hip-hop seriously.
In 2007, he joined ASAP Mob, founded by ASAP Yams, ASAP Bari and ASAP Illz. Rocky gained popularity in 2011 with his single ‘Purple Swag’ and later ‘Peso’. That year, he released his first project, Live. Love. ASAP, which is widely considered a classic mixtape.
Rocky dropped his first album, LONG.LIVE.ASAP, in 2013, which reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was home to hit singles such as ‘Goldie’ and ‘Fuckin Problems’, featuring Drake, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Big K.R.I.T, and 2 Chainz.
In 2015, he released his second album, AT.LONG.LAST.ASAP, which also topped the Billboard 200 chart. Danger Mouse helped executive produce the project, inviting guest appearances from Future, Kanye West and Lil Wayne. Rocky’s Testing album dropped in 2018, serving as his first album not to reach number one. Peaking at number four, the album featured Frank Ocean, Kid Cudi, Skepta, French Montana and many other big names.
After being found not guilty in his gun assault trial, Rocky is expected to return with his new album Don’t Be Dumb in 2025, which would be his first album in seven years. “I don’t want to be cliché or sound like a salesman, but I’ve pushed myself to the limit on everything,” he told Dazed. “Going from that industrial, subversive sound from Testing and then graduating with a more polished sound… I just like where it is.”
What does ASAP mean?
While many might assume “as soon as possible” is the meaning, “ASAP” actually stands for “Always Strive and Prosper.” Many other members of his collective, ASAP Mob, have ASAP in their names, including ASAP Ferg, ASAP Twelvyy, ASAP Nast, ASAP TyY, ASAP Lou and ASAP Ant.
The “Rocky” part of his name is something his mother used to call him, deriving from his real name, Rakim. He was named after the legendary rapper of the same name, who was one-half of the iconic hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, behind classic ’80s albums such as Paid in Full and Follow the Leader.
Rakim once recalled meeting Rocky and his mother when the ‘Praise the Lord’ rapper was just a baby. “I remember a long time ago, driving through Harlem,” he told Hot 97. “A lady walks across the street. I’m at the light, she walks across the street. She got the carriage and everything.
“She says, ‘Can you sign this for me?’ I never say no. I say, ‘What’s his name?’ ‘Rakim.’ I’m like, word? I sign the joint, I remember that day, ’cause that was the first time hearing someone named their son after me. Like I said, humbling experience.” He added, “When I spoke to him, he brought the story up, and it all came back to me.”