He has won a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTV Video Music Award Japan and an MTVU Woodie Award, but many fans still have no idea how A$AP Rocky got his stage name
He was named after one of the all-time greats – so it’s only fitting he became a star too. A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Athelaston Mayers, was named after American rapper Rakim, whose chart-topping hits include When I Be On Tha Mic, Guess Who’s Back and It’s Been A Long Time.
At just nine-years-old, A$AP Rocky started rapping after learning from his older brother. But when he was 13, his brother was tragically killed in Harlem, New York, inspiring him to take rapping more seriously.
He ended up joining the A$AP Mob crew in 2007, a group made up of rappers, producers, music video directors, and others. All of the members of the crew adopted A$AP in front of their own stage names. But this has left some fans questioning not only what A$AP stands for, but also why he decided to be known as Rocky.
A statement on American Songwriter reads: “The name was conjured up when the rapper was back home in New York City. His entire crew had A$AP preceding their name. The collective of rappers, directors, fashion designers, and other artists was dubbed the A$AP Mob. The acronym stands for ‘Always Strive and Prosper.’
“Rocky was a nickname his mother gave him when he was younger. Put the two together and you have an unforgettable rap alter ego.” After his single Peso was leaked online in 2011, A$AP Rocky signed with Polo Grounds Music and went on to release his debut mixtape, Live. Love. A$AP.
The statement adds: “The mixtape was met with critical acclaim – so much so that he landed a $3 million record deal with Polo Ground Music. His debut studio album, Long. Live. A$AP, was released in 2013 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album has since been certified gold by the RIAA.”
“The next few years would be a whirlwind of releases, features, tours and more as Rocky rose in the rap ranks thanks to his stellar debut. His most recent album, Testing, was released in 2018, debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.”
He announced his relationship with singer Rihanna during an interview with GQ in 2021, and the pair now have two children – RZA Athelston Mayers and Riot Rose Mayers. Commenting on A$AP Rocky’s stage name, one Reddit user admitted: “It took me way too long to realize ASAP stands for Always Strive And Prosper.” Another user said: “Just now realised this too.”
