[DELISA] Since 2011, the Harlem collective A$AP Mob has been running through hip-hop
with style and grace bringing the sounds of 125th and Lennox worldwide.
The group was founded in the mid aughts by A$AP Illz, Bari and Yams with the goal of
building on, but being different from, the Harlem crews that came before them.
[BARI] A$AP is just like...we all grew up around each other to keep it funky with you
we was just outcasts, keep it funky, of Harlem.
What you don’t expect of Harlem.
[DELISA] The group had a New York flare in a sea of other collectives like LA’s Odd
Future and the Miami-centric Raider Klan.
The collective mobbed in the lineage of other NYC teams like Wu-Tang Clan and the Ruff Ryders,
but they derive directly from Harlem rap crews, Children of the Corn and later, The Diplomats.
[ROCKY] When we discovered The Diplomats they totally influenced our generation.
Everybody wanted to be DipSet at that time.
[DELISA] In the early aughts The Diplomats, including Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones
and Freaky Zeeky, had a string of hits.
A$AP Yams learned from the crew directly as a DipSet Records intern.
[YAMS] My first experience in the music industry is dealing with Jim Jones, being around him
everyday.
He taught me everything I needed to know I just stayed around him and completely the whole
scenery.
[DELISA] Through local connections, Yams, Illz and Bari tapped Ferg, Twelvyy, Nast,
Ant, Rocky and the producer Ty Beats amongst others.
The entire crew put A$AP in front of their names, which had a variety of meanings.
[YAMS] Alright this is what A$AP is - we always strive and prosper.
Accumulate status and power.
Always stackin always paper chasin but it's still we assassinating snitches and police.
[DELISA] The internet saavy Yams had a popular website called “Real Nigga Tumblr,” which
he used to promote the group’s music.
One of the first songs to pop was Rocky’s Houston inspired cut, “Purple Swag.”
[ROCKY] The culture in Texas is crazy.
I love it, I’m inspired by it, I live for it, I wanna enjoy all of that shit, that’s
what I’m here for.
[DELISA] Part of Rocky’s appeal was that he did not sound like a ‘typical’ New
York MC - something Ferg told Genius.
[FERG] I would have to say ASAP started a lot of that early on with this internet era
of music...because we was like receiving music from Houston and rapping over Beautiful Lou
beats and things like that
[DELISA] Rocky’s sound was also inspired by the Raider Klan, then led by SpaceGhostPurrp,
who had production credits on A$AP Rocky’s “Pretty Flacko.’”
The pair were fast friends before they fell out.
Rocky’s success led to major label attention and eventually a multi-million dollar deal
with a chunk carved out for the A$AP Mob.
In October 2011, he released his first mixtape ‘Live.Love.A$AP'
with the group’s mixtape ‘Lords Never Worry’ following in 2012 including
cuts like “Full Metal Jacket...”
...as well as A$AP Ferg’s monster hit “Work,” which certified him as the next up.
[FERG] We put Rocky on a pedestal to go kick the door down for us so whoever came second
had to be creative and when I was looking at the A$AP Mob, we wasn’t in the club so
I was like ‘Imma be the one that’s in the club.’
[DELISA] In 2013, Rocky released his debut album “Long Live A$AP” including his Billboard
Top 10 hit “Fuckin’ Problems,” featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar.
That same year, Ferg delivered his debut album ‘Trap Lord,’ including a “Work” remix
and the boisterous, “Shabba.”
Meanwhile, the group plugged away at their debut album then called ‘LORD$,’ releasing
the *very* New York single, “Trillmatic” featuring Method Man.
But ‘LORD$’ would never see the light of day.
In January 2015, in the midst of promotion for Rocky’s second album ‘At Long Last A$AP,’
Yams passed away at 26.
The death sent the group reeling but they were grateful for his legacy.
[ANT] Yams taught me for real like.. it can be anybody and you just gotta have your own
style.
[DELISA] Rocky pressed on planning the mob’s future using old writings from Yams.
In 2016, he told Genius quote, It’s a composition notebook...Inside, it
got plans of what he wanted to do for 2015 and who he wanted to fuck with, who he wanted
us to fuck with, what artists he was interested in.
This vision came true in 2016, with the A$AP Mob’s debut album, ‘Cozy Tapes Vol. 1’,
with Yams’ baby picture gracing the cover.
It includes the Yams tribute, “Yamborghini High.”
…and “Runner” with Lil Uzi Vert.
Cozy Tapes Vol. 2 dropped in 2017, featuring a heavy roster and a standout verse from the
singer, Frank Ocean.
The Mob also pays homage to Yam’s legacy with a yearly concert called “Yams Day.”
[ROCKY] Happy Yams Day!
[DELISA] And as Ferg shared with us, this was all part of the vision he had for the
group.
[FERG] He took all of these different materials which was A$AP mob and weaved it into one
[DELISA] A$AP Mob was also influential with their fashion choices, thanks to A$AP Bari.
[BARI] Yo this is A$AP Bari explaining the A$AP jackets. As you see right here, the Public Enemy.
Target. The A$AP is a target.
[DELISA] Though he dabbled with rap, Bari settled into his role as creative director,
starting the fashion label VLone, with the help of Rocky and CLOT’s Edison Chen.
Following a collection with Off White and a partnership with Nike, VLone was everywhere,
quickly establishing itself as a staple in streetwear, being referenced in lyrics over
200 times.
However in 2017, a video surfaced of Bari sexually abusing a woman, prompting Nike to
cut ties with the designer and rifts within the Mob.
[FERG] You know we don’t condone that kind of behavior.
It’s fucked up, it’s a fucked up thing. I don't condone it that shit.
I was raised by a bunch of females, my moms and I wouldn’t want to see that happening with nobody
in my household or anybody I know.
[DELISA] On the other hand, A$AP Rocky made a name for himself in the fashion industry.
From donning Raf Simmons sneakers in his “Peso” music video in 2011 to becoming the face of
Dior and Calvin Klein, the self-proclaimed jiggy rapper established himself as a fashion icon.
[ROCKY] I like just shopping for myself.
I would go to thrift stores, I would go to Ebay. I'm one of those type of niggas.
It makes me happy like music does.
They sayin' I only want to do fashion.
They sayin' I only want to fuck bitches.
They sayin' I only want to be pretty and jiggy, man.
That's true.
I only kind of want to do that but I do a lot of things that are in addition to that.
[DELISA] Along with the crew’s span across industries, the mob added more affiliates
like Smooky MarGielaa, Playboi Carti and Key!
[CARTI] You know Flacko dropped a lot of jewels
throughout my career, he just always tell me stay ten toes.
[DELISA] As for the future, in April 2019, A$AP Ant teased that Cozy Tapes Vol. 3 is
on the way.
As for the group’s influence, Ferg believes that A$AP was at the forefront of today’s
centralized hip-hop sound.
[FERG] We got a lot of swag from all regions and that's whats happening right now
I’m Delisa with Genius News bringing you the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.
[ROCKY] We still have a long way to go. We're just trying to build a legacy right now...
...trying to make a legacy and we pray for longevity.