Asap Rocky

ASAP Rocky is a musician and entertainer based in New York City. Real name Rakim Mayers, he has earned a reputation as both a director and a rapper. Apart from writing, recording and performing his own songs, he directs music videos for other artists as well. He is a relatively new artist who has recently scored his first major record deal and is gearing up to release his debut album later this month. So if you are a hip hop fan and wish to get acquainted with this brand new talent, get your ASAP Rocky tickets now.
 
Mayers grew up in the neighborhood of Harlem, a place rich in the hip hop culture. He was named after Rakim, a popular rapper and part of “Eric B. and Rakim”. He had a difficult childhood, living amidst crime, which would often put his own life in danger. When he turned 12, his father was sentenced to prison on account of drug dealing. While their family was still dealing with this setback, his brother was killed. But these traumatic experiences were just what happen to motivate Mayers to peruse rapping. Prior to this, he had shown signs of his talent at the age of eight when he would perform songs by his favorite artists on the streets. His go to band was “The Diplomats” and they continue to be the artists that have inspired him the most. A major reason why he connected with their background was the fact that they too came from Harlem and had similar experiences in their youth. Other people who have had a significant influence in his singing style and music are the “Wu-Tang Clan”, “Bone Thugs n Harmony” and the “Three 6 Mafia”.
 
Growing up was a tough time for Mayers as well. After the hardships and experiences that he had gone through, his mother believed they could no longer stay at Harlem. Thus he spent most of his teen years moving from one homeless shelter to the other. They also spent some time in Manhattan without a real home before they shifted to New Jersey in Elmwood Park.
 
By the time he was 18, he had began to work hard to build a career and give himself a better life. So come 2007, he decided to put together a hip hop group by the name of ASAP Mob. It was an entity that consisted of an entire crew, be it rappers, directors, producers or other creative personnel. It was here that he decided to adopt this stage name and begin a recording career. ASAP has been explained to mean multiple things; the most popular description is “Acronym Symbolizing Any Purpose”, and it is the one the artist often uses. Other meanings include “Always Strive and Prosper” and the more rebellious, “Assassinating Snitches and Police”. Once he had the name, he would record videos of his freestyle rapping and post them to YouTube. He was noticed by people all over the world and gained a significant audience in that manner. His following was small but loyal. In 2011, a French fan decided to compile his performances from his YouTube channel and post them online. This compilation was called “Deep Purple” and it allowed people to listen to his “greatest hits”. Although this “album” was unofficial, it might have been the deciding factor for many recording companies to sign him.
Mayers thus began to record some songs in order to gain more credibility with the potential producers. His first single was planned to be “Peso”, but it was leaked online long before its actual release date. But this proved to be a good thing for the artist as by the time it was being played on radio, people were already familiar with it. Within a week of the release, it became amongst the top requested hip hop song on the “Hot 97” radio station in New York. Mayers also recorded a music video for the song which further generated buzz. He even made a music video from one of his older songs, “Purple Swag”, which became a YouTube hit with nearly 18 million views to date. This feedback from the fans resulted in his $3 million recording deal with RCA and Sony Records. By October, he had released a mixed tape by the name of “LiveLoveASAP”.
 
Now, days before the release of his debut album, the singer is gearing up for his first major live tour as well. His fans can now buy ASAP Rocky tickets online.