ASAP Rocky tells story of triumph and tragedy
- Published
ASAP Rocky recently performed at Radio 1's Future Festival
ASAP Rocky is explaining the reason why he made fans wait so long to hear his debut album.
He flashes a mouthful of gold teeth as he breaks into a knowing grin.
"For the past year I would give them dates to get them waiting," the 25-year-old New York rapper confesses to Newsbeat.
"I couldn't imagine coming into the game telling people they're going to wait another year for a project."
'Huge expectation'
That's because expectation for the release has been snowballing for two years - since he signed a record deal worth a reported $3 million (£1.9 million). It raised eyebrows, as record labels don't sign cheques like that any more.
Like some kind of hip hop version of Avengers, he went about assembling a huge cast, including Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz, Florence Welch and Skrillex.
Florence Welch is among the contributors on A$AP's album
He says Florence "reached out to me" because she was such a huge fan, and that Skrillex (aka Sonny Moore) are "close friends".
The album is expected to reach number one on the Billboard 200 in the US, despite the fact it leaked a month early.
"When I made Pesos is when America found out about me. I was big in America so I knew I was going to be really huge in the UK."
If that sounds boastful, then listen to him trying to sum up his talent.
"Sometimes I know it's so good that I'm like, 'People are going to say it's bad, because he's too good'", he says.
"I know the difference between good music and bad music.
"It helps me be two steps ahead of everybody else. My sound is way more advanced. It's the futuristic sound - it's what our generation are going to be making from here on out. I just made the new blueprint to hip hop."
A$AP Rocky appeared in Lana Del Rey's National Anthem video last year
Family troubles
ASAP Rocky is certainly a man who believes his own hype - and a slot supporting Rihanna suggests the music industry is prepared to back it up - but he does talk about one recent painful experience.
"My journey didn't get low until recently when I lost my dad," he admits.
"That was pretty rough coming into the year but things are shaping up now. He's up there, blessing me.
"My dad came into this country from Barbados with nothing and he had 12 children and took care of every one of them. He worked hard every day."
And Rocky has worked hard - not just on the music, but also appearing in videos like Lana Del Rey's short film for National Anthem last year. In it he played former US president John F Kennedy.
"I'm going to act man, I'm into it," he confirms.
"I'm writing the script for a short film - hopefully it'll be out by next year. I'm going to collaborate with MTV for it, and just make a short movie.
"I want to produce art and stay creative - I want to inspire other kids to be creative."
ASAP Rocky's Long.Live.A$AP is out now
- Published18 January 2013
