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A$AP Rocky Biography: The Harlem Rapper Who Became a Global Fashion Icon

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A$AP Rocky Biography: The Harlem Rapper Who Became a Global Fashion Icon

A$AP Rocky (born Rakim Mayers on October 3, 1988) is an American rapper, record producer, actor, fashion designer and model whose breakout 2011 single “Peso” and debut album Long. Live. A$AP made him one of hip-hop’s defining voices of the 2010s — and whose sense of style made him a fixture of high fashion. In October 2026 he announced Australian and New Zealand arena dates for his Don’t Be Dumb World Tour, his first visit to the region in eight years.

Quick facts

  • Full name: Rakim Athelston Mayers (some outlets render the middle name “Athelaston”)
  • Born: October 3, 1988, Harlem, New York City, USA (age 38)
  • Nationality: American
  • Occupation: Rapper, record producer, actor, fashion designer, model
  • Known for: “Peso”, “Fuckin’ Problems”, Long. Live. A$AP, fashion icon status
  • Partner: Rihanna (together since 2020)
  • Children: RZA (born May 2022), Riot (born August 2023), Rocki (born September 2025)

Early life and background

Rakim Mayers was born on October 3, 1988, in Harlem, New York City, and named after the legendary rapper Rakim (the “A” in his stage name comes from A$AP Mob’s “Always Strive And Prosper”). He grew up amid hardship: his father was incarcerated and his older brother killed when he was young, and he spent time in homeless shelters with his mother (ASAP Rocky — Wikipedia). He began rapping at age eight, and after moving through New Jersey and Pennsylvania with his mother, he returned to New York as a teenager and joined the hip-hop collective A$AP Mob in 2007 alongside members including A$AP Yams and A$AP Bari — the “A$AP” standing for “Always Strive And Prosper”. He later co-founded the A$AP Worldwide label with Yams (ASAP Rocky — Wikipedia).

Career: from mixtape leak to stardom

In August 2011, Mayers’s single “Peso” was leaked online and picked up radio airplay within weeks, propelling cloud rap into mainstream attention (ASAP Rocky — Wikipedia). He signed with Polo Grounds Music, an imprint of RCA Records, that October — reportedly a $3 million deal — and released his debut mixtape, Live. Love. A$AP, to widespread critical acclaim (A$AP Rocky bio — Last.fm).

Mayers’s 2012 single “Fuckin’ Problems” (featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar) marked his first entry — at number eight — on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Rap Song at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards (ASAP Rocky — Wikipedia). It preceded his debut studio album, Long. Live. A$AP (2013), a critical and commercial success that debuted atop the Billboard 200 and received double platinum certification by the RIAA (ASAP Rocky — Wikipedia). His second album, At. Long. Last. A$AP (2015), also debuted atop the chart, with singles “Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPFJ2)” and “Everyday” (featuring Rod Stewart, Miguel and Mark Ronson) both certified double platinum, while “L$D” earned a Best Music Video nomination at the 58th Grammy Awards (ASAP Rocky — Wikipedia). His third album, Testing (2018), debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200 (ASAP Rocky — Wikipedia).

Don’t Be Dumb and the 2026 tour

After an eight-year gap between studio albums, Rocky delivered his long-awaited fourth album Don’t Be Dumb in January 2026 — featuring guests including Doechii, Gorillaz, Jessica Pratt, Thundercat, Tyler, the Creator and will.i.am, with cover art by filmmaker Tim Burton — and it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (K-Jewel/Billboard, Oct 2026; X-Press Magazine, Oct 2026). A 25-date sold-out European and UK arena leg took him to 19 countries (Sheldon Ang Media, Oct 13, 2026). On October 13, 2026, he announced Australian and New Zealand dates for the Don’t Be Dumb World Tour — Melbourne (December 5), Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland’s Spark Arena (December 12) and Perth’s RAC Arena (December 17), his first visit to the region in eight years (Tone Deaf/The Brag, Oct 2026; X-Press Magazine, Oct 2026).

Major achievements

  • Four studio albums; Long. Live. A$AP, At. Long. Last. A$AP and Don’t Be Dumb all debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
  • Over 25 billion streams worldwide; five billion combined YouTube views (X-Press Magazine, Oct 2026).
  • Three Grammy nominations (Best Rap Song, 2014; Best Music Video, 2016 and 2025).
  • Winner of a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTV Video Music Award Japan and an MTVU Woodie Award (ASAP Rocky — Wikipedia).
  • First rap artist to play eight arena shows across Central and Eastern Europe, during the 2026 Don’t Be Dumb tour (Sheldon Ang Media, Oct 13, 2026).
  • Announced a full-tuition, four-year scholarship for one student at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at LIU Brooklyn (Oct 2026) (Roc Nation, Oct 6, 2026).

Fashion and business

Rocky’s style made him a designer favorite: he became the face of Dior Homme, collaborated with Calvin Klein, Guess and Under Armour, and in 2023 signed a deal with Puma around Formula 1 (Parade, 2026; PeaceInverse, 2026). He directs his own creative agency AWGE and has taken global creative director roles, including at Ray-Ban (PeaceInverse, 2026). In September 2026 he drew a record 6,000 attendees to his Anti War Global Economics fashion show in Paris — reportedly the most-attended fashion show ever — hours before his sold-out Accor Arena concert (Sheldon Ang Media, Oct 13, 2026).

Personal life

Rocky has been in a relationship with singer and businesswoman Rihanna since 2020; the couple went public in 2021 (Parade, 2026). They have three children: sons RZA Athelston Mayers (born May 13, 2022) and Riot Rose Mayers (born August 3, 2023), and daughter Rocki Irish Mayers (born September 13, 2025) (AfroTech, 2026). Legal troubles have marked his career: in 2019 he was arrested in Stockholm and convicted of assault, receiving a suspended sentence and fine (ASAP Rocky — Wikipedia); in February 2025 he was acquitted in Los Angeles on two felony assault charges stemming from a 2021 incident (PeaceInverse, 2026).

Net worth snapshot

A$AP Rocky’s net worth in 2026 is estimated at $30–$35 million — Celebrity Net Worth puts it at $30 million, while other outlets report it in excess of $35 million; no Forbes, Bloomberg or Hurun figure has ever been published. For the full breakdown of his music, touring and fashion earnings — plus our transparent estimate methodology — read A$AP Rocky’s net worth.

Frequently asked questions

What is A$AP Rocky’s real name?

Rakim Athelston Mayers (some outlets render the middle name “Athelaston”). He took his stage name from the A$AP Mob collective he joined in 2007; A$AP stands for “Always Strive And Prosper”.

How old is A$AP Rocky?

38 — born October 3, 1988, in Harlem, New York City. He turned 38 just days before announcing his 2026 Australian/New Zealand tour dates.

How did A$AP Rocky become famous?

His 2011 single “Peso” leaked online, earned rapid radio airplay and a deal with Polo Grounds/RCA. His debut mixtape Live. Love. A$AP and debut album Long. Live. A$AP (2013, No. 1 Billboard 200) made him a hip-hop star.

When is A$AP Rocky coming to Australia and New Zealand?

On October 13, 2026, Rocky announced December 2026 arena dates: Melbourne (Dec 5), Sydney (Dec 9), Auckland’s Spark Arena (Dec 12), Brisbane (Dec 14) and Perth’s RAC Arena (Dec 17) — his first visit to the region in eight years.

Is A$AP Rocky married to Rihanna?

The couple has not publicly confirmed a marriage. They have been together since 2020 and share three children: RZA, Riot and Rocki.

What is A$AP Rocky’s net worth?

An estimated $30–$35 million in 2026, per Celebrity Net Worth and other outlets — built on music, touring, fashion collaborations and brand deals. No Forbes or Bloomberg estimate exists.

Sources