1. His Taste in Music Will Surprise You
A$AP Rocky admits hes only skimmed Kendrick Lamars To Pimp a Butterfly: I got about two songs I liked. On the other hand, he cant stop talking about all things psychedelic, especially rock and trip-hop. For inspirations, he name-checks Portishead, Massive Attack, Thom Yorke and old 60s psychedelic shit like the Kinks and the Stooges. At one point, he breaks into singing Creams Free and calls T. Rexs Electric Warrior perfection.
At. Long. Last. A$AP. collaborator Mark Ronson once asked Rocky if he had heard of Tame Impala. He looked at me like I was crazy, Ronson tells Billboard. [He] proceeded to play me a chopped-and-screwed remix that he made of [the bands] Feels Like We Only Go Backwards. He played me a lot of amazing music that I had never heard of.
2. But Rest Assured, He Has the Respect of the Hip-Hop Game
Since breaking through in 2011, A$AP Rocky has down a masterful job of balancing his left-field taste with money-making, mainstream acceptance. His 2013 debut album Long. Live. ASAP has sold over 518,000 copies to date and featured killer posse cuts like Fuckin Problems with Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar.
Were both into a lot of obscure things that guys from our environment arent normally into, Danny Brown tells Billboard. What I love about him is he doesnt care what anyone thinks. He knows what he wants and doesnt compromise for anyone.
3. When it Comes to Fashion, Hes Fine With Being a Little Alt
By now, A$AP Rockys fashion exploits have been well-documented. Hes collaborated with Raf Simons and Jeremy Scott and when he explains his personal taste, he gives the impression that hes original enough to make a lasting impact. I dont like doing anything anyone else is doing, he tells Billboard. If leathers popular this year, Im just going to have to go with suede. If you want to consider my shit alternative, so be it. I just look at it as eclectic.
4. Hes Breaking Into Film on His Own Terms
Rocky made his film debut playing a small-time drug dealer in Rick Famuyiwas Dope, a smash at Sundance in January. Although he calls it an amazing movie, hes taking his time in choosing his next project. He scoffs at his own past as a dealer and thinks the Dope character is too typical for a rapper. I want something that gives me more of a challenge and is less cliched. Until I find something that feels right, Im going to stay my ass off the big screen.
His favorite film right now is Wes Andersons Grand Budapest Hotel. A grid of stills from the film adorn a wall of his apartment, and he says its been serving as inspiration for a short film accompanying the new disc.
5. Hes Found Inspiration in Losing One of His Closest Friends
When A$AP Yams, aka Steven Rodriguez, died in January of an accidental drug overdose, the entire A$AP crew was obviously devastated. Rocky was particularly shaken up, as Yams was the seasoned hip-hop veteran whod groomed him since he was just out of his teenage years. At the time of his Billboard interview, Rocky had been logging nightly studio sessions, trying to finish an album his mentor conceived before his death. He left his notebooks, he left his blueprint. His albums fing -incredible. I want to finish what he started.
