THE NEW KING OF NEW YORK
New York, the birth place of hip-hop where artists have risen and fallen in the concrete jungle where it’s survival of the fittest. But has New York's hip-hop scene lost its identity since Atlanta's trap scene has taken center stage? Without a clear leader of the craft, trap has seemed to take over the genre. New young acts hailing from New York are showing promise of an heir to the throne.
Joey Bada$$, a young rapper from Bed-Stuy, has shown hip-hop's gate keepers that lyricism is not lost. A young emcee that retains a buzz in the midst of mumble rap is an impressive feat. His albums have only increased in numbers ever since he has stepped in with his debut mixtape, 1999 and there is only room for growth. Joey has propelled himself in ways that many young artists struggle to do.
Cardi B, a Afro-Latina rapper and pop star that has made herself difficult to ignore with a strong Billboard chart presence. She has stamped her style and electrifying personality in the music industry allowing her to gain Grammy wins for her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, and features with prospering artists. Cardi B is projecting 240k copies her first week, which is an amazing milestone as many veteran artists will never hit these numbers.
But with all this being said, there is still one stand out artist that has separated himself from the pack. This particular artist possesses multitudes of skills and artistry that is unmatched by his constituents. This is Rakim Mayers, AKA A$AP Rocky of the A$AP Mob.
A$AP Rocky made waves in the music industry when a collective of designers, directors and filmmakers, skaters, and rappers decided to come together to create a stand out conglomerate. The mixtape, Live. Love. A$AP, is the project that had many hip-hop listeners tuning into Flacko. The mixtape provided New Yorkers with a new sound with southern influences and a “trippy” vibe. A$AP Rocky's flow has a stylish, cozy aesthetic that makes listeners feel like they were apart of his movement.
A$AP Rocky has also shaped Harlem's rap scene and redefined the identity of the New York rapper. A$AP Rocky's career continued to skyrocket as his influence continued to grow. The release of his two studio albums Long. Live. A$AP and At Long. Last ASAP gave Rakim the clout as a seasoned and experienced emcee.
Success was on the horizon for Rocky and the Mob but an unfortunate event occurred that was a huge hit to their fan base, community, and most importantly the group. A$AP Yams, the founder and the brains behind the A$AP collective, passed away in his apartment January 18th of 2015 .
Followers of A$AP Mob were concerned about what route the group was going to take since the mastermind of the group had passed. But a fallen leader did not stop the growth and the progression of the group. A$AP Rocky has been quoted saying, "Yams had a notebook filled with ideas, and it's up to us to follow out his dreams".
The group paid homage to their Yams by dedicating a festival to him called Yams Day, where New York-based rappers, along with hot artists in the industry, come to New York to perform and have fun to honor to A$AP Yams. The group also pushed out two successful group albums, Cozy Tapes Vol. t: Friends and Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy while also signing off on a Calvin Klein deal.
Rocky also being a big backer behind the streetwear clothing label VLONE, has given him the praise and respect in the fashion industry. A$AP Rocky has received time on the big screen co-starring in the film DOPE, where he demonstrates his propensity as an actor. Not only is he versatile in hip-hop, but he is striving in the fashion and film industries as well.
Rocky recently dropped two singles for his upcoming project, "Bad Company" and "A$AP Forever," which have been had positive feedback from his fans and listeners. The two singles have proved that Rocky is stepping into a creative realm we are usually not used to hearing. So far this line of artistry has been working well, especially with his new music video release of "ASAP Forever" in which he teamed up with longtime collaborator, Dexter Navy, for direction and visuals.
A$AP Rocky has a pretty strong resume in terms of his career and success not only in one industry, but in multiple lanes of entertainment and art. Rocky at 29, has a lot of room to blossom and claim the title, King of New York.
