On Air Now
Robert Bruce & Shayna Marie 6:30am - 10am
When did they form? Who is in A$AP Mob? Here's all the facts you need about A$AP Mob.
Meet A$AP Mob. Picture: Instagram
A$AP Bari, one of the group's founding members, recalled the day that the name A$AP Mob was born in an interview with Complex. "One day, we were all in Wendy's in SoHo. [I said] We should just be called PIF Unit.' The s**t was like, Paid In Full, something. So one day, Yams was like, 'F**k that. We're called A$AP.' I was like, 'What the f**k that mean?' He was like, 'Always Strive And Prosper.' I was like, 'You know what, Yams? That s**t is too hard.' Picture: Instagram
A$AP Mob are a hip-hop collective that were formed in 2007 in Harlem, New York. There are several members of the group, some newer than others and amongst them there are rappers, producers, fashion designers, managers and more. Picture: Instagram
Possibly the most famous member of A$AP Mob is A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers. Although he was not one of the founding members of the group, Rocky has found the most commercial success since releasing his debut mixtape Live. Love. ASAP, in 2011 to critical acclaim
After releasing his mix tape, Rocky was offered (and took) a two-year, $3 million record deal with RCA Records and Polo Grounds Music. $1.7 of that money went to his solo work and the other $1.3 funded his and A$AP Yam's new label ASAP Worldwide. Since then Rocky has released his debut album, supported Drake's Club Paradise Tour alongside Kendrick Lamar and released his ASAP clothing brand.
A$AP Yams - real name Jesus Steven Manuel Rodriguez Paulino - was one of the founding members of A$AP Mob. He managed A$AP Rocky and formed label A$AP Worldwide alongside him. "I want A$AP to be the next Def Jam or Universal or LaFace Records" said Yam, who also has a musical influence on the rappers in the group, helping to pick out beats. He was died in January 2015 aged 26. Picture: Instagram
A$AP Bari - real name Jabari Shelton - was born and raised in Harlem alongside most members of A$AP Mob. He is the man that's credited with starting ASAP and with introducing Rocky and Yams. He doesn't rap, but is the fashionista of the group and has launched his own fashion line called Vlone. Picture: Instagram
A$AP Ferg - real name Darold Ferguson - was a childhood friend of A$AP Rocky. He describes his role in A$AP Mob as being "A brother, an innovator, motivator and family." He first got big after featuring on 'Kissin' Pink' on A$AP Rocky's 'Live. Love. ASAP' mix tape and has since signed a solo record dealwith Polo Grounds and RCA, releasing his debut album 'Trap Lord' in 2013. But before he was making music he was focused on fashion. studying art and creating his own belt designPicture: Instagram
A$AP Ty Beats - real name Tyshaun Holloway' strangely enough met A$AP Rocky after getting in touch with him on Facebook. As the youngest of the mob he says he's always looking up to the other members, but ultimately he's the resident producer for the group, having produced Rocky's debut dingle 'Peso.' Ty's dream is to A) get rich and B) build his own college. Picture: Instagram
A$AP Nast - real name Tairiq Devega - is a distant cousin on A$AP Rocky's. The two were close as kids but lost touch for a long time until they reunited through mutual people in A$AP Mob. He was on 'Trilla' in Live.Love.A$AP and was responsible for 'Trillmatic', the first single from the ASAP Mob's debut album L.O.R.D. Picture: Instagram
A$AP Ant - real name Adam Kirkman - is known for his clothing line 'Marino' and for rapping on tracks such as 'Cole and White B*tches.' Yams introduced Any to Rocky and they would talk through Facebook. He told Complex, "He'd be like, 'Yo, I want some shirts. I want to support it. I want a way to get each other out there, and you do the same with me. We'll help each other out.' It was genuine respect and love." Picture: Instagram
A$AP Twelvy - real name Jamel Phillips - was also featured on 'Trilla' but ultimately considers himself "the general," saying he is a networker with a business head. Twelvy would like to work with Nike to release a new trainer line one day. Picture: Instagram