Why Is ASAP Rocky Not So Famous?
Remember when A$AP Rocky was that dude? The one who had everyone and their mother rocking black skinny jeans and gold grills? The Harlem rapper who seamlessly blended high fashion with street culture before it became the industry standard? Yeah, that guy. But lately, it seems like Pretty Flacko’s star power isn’t quite as blinding as it once was. So what happened? Is A$AP Rocky truly not as famous as he used to be, or are we just not paying attention?
Let’s dive into this musical mystery and figure out why one of hip-hop’s most innovative artists might be fading from the spotlight despite having all the ingredients for superstardom.
The Meteoric Rise That Set Expectations Sky-High
After releasing Purple Swag back in 2011 and later, the equally as infamous Peso many people in the music sphere took notice at Rocky. Here was this Harlem kid taking a new breed of dynamic, Houston roots rap and introducing it to the Manhattan streets clad in pricey threads and sharp style but never losing sight of the block.
The boy rose to fame with his first mix tape namely “Live.Love.A$AP” with which many found him as the next hope of hip hop. Then arrived the major label contract for $3 million and the first album, Long Live A$AP, with such hits as F**kin’ Problems with Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar.
By this time, Rocky had not only begun the process of climbing, but also, he could be referred to as flying. He was being wooed by the fashion houses and his face was on the covers of all magazines and his videos were performances of high fashion drama that raised a new benchmark. He roamed the world as his largest storehouse of creativity and ideas was creatively realised in this masterpiece.
The Fashion Distraction: When Your Side Hustle Becomes Your Main Hustle
One cannot talk about A$AP Rocky without mentioning fashion since this is one of the ways through which the rapper has made a name for himself. The man lives in expensive gowns like others do in the air. While in the first two albums, he appeared dressed in rather fitting clothes for a musician, in the subsequent albums, clothing began to dominate over music.
From that point on, Rocky became the face of Dior, modelled for Guess, sashayed through fashion weeks in the world and established his own creative agency AWGE. Still, some of the style point cannot be doubted, they traced his direction to the icon who one of the flavors can say that he influenced the dressing code of an entire generation.
But here is the truth on that: while Rocky was appearing as a fashion-conscious boxer, his musical ventures were not as frequent. Subsequent albums took even longer to come out and, Sad, they did not mirror his earlier output. There is a very peculiar feeling in which fashion accepted him in ways music could not, so he embraced it.
The Experimental Phase: Artistic Growth or Commercial Suicide?
However, in his second and third album that was released in 2015 aptly titled “At.Long.Last.A$AP” and “Testing” respectively, opened the door for an innovative and creative minded Rocky. Admirable? Absolutely. Commercially viable? Not so much.
In that regards, “Testing” could not have been named any better because one truly felt that Rocky was testing everyone’s patience and ability to flow with him through excessively trippy wormholes. It was evident that the album had its fair share of ideas, which were rather inspired, albeit not as close to the heart and easy to digest as the earlier works of the artist. It was as if he wanted us to go for an art gallery opening, when people were looking forward to housewarming party.
Considering this, one could not say that it was successful over the top of the copy-book, though, indeed, it is critical Trusteeship received rather warm and it commercially could not be compared with Hedy’s prior works. In an ecosystem where ‘Attention’ is the new ‘Money’, Rocky appeared awfully elusive which was rather baffling. Making the provocative move of having a teenaged Boba Fett embark on his bounty hunting endeavors, but arguably unwise if the aim was to stay popular among the masses.
The Rihanna Effect: When Your Relationship Becomes Your Identity
It is impossible to ignore the fact that the general public knows him more as Rihanna’s partner rather than as a designer. As long as his affairs became known and especially after they had children, Rocky seems to be as legitimate tabloid darling – mostly for being associated with one of the world’s biggest pop stars.
That is not to underrate the feat of ‘bagging’ RiRi (good job, my guy!) but it also buried his career in the process. When was the last time you found folks debating about a new song from A$AP Rocky in the same way fans argue over latest, topless paparazzi shots of him and Rihanna being baby stroller parents?
The bitter truth is that he is more popular for whom he associated himself with, than the products he produces. What could be good for building and maintaining his public profile didn’t map perfectly with sustaining the culture of music.
The Legal Troubles: Sweden Was Not a Vibe
Do you recall the scandal that occurred in the late 2019 in Sweden’s coastal waters? For three weeks for an offense that involved a brutality and fight in the streets, Rocky was arrested and detained.? Although it was a major scandal at the time – even then, President Trump himself got involved – but it had the effect of derailing his career at exactly the worst time.
As for Rocky, after he ‘ got out’ and ‘ got caught’ he was found guilty and even though he did not have to serve time behind the bars, he seemed to have retreated somewhat as a public figure. The legal issues as well as the strain arising from possible imprisonment hamper the development, and the music that was produced was infrequent and of considerably less confidence.
Such interruptions could be disastrous to artists who need to constantly assert themselves given the brevity of the times where relevancy leads to exclusion as soon as the itch is evidently absent.
The Long Gaps: Music Industry Is Not a Patient Lover
In the streaming era, consistent output is key to maintaining relevance. Artists who disappear for years between projects risk being forgotten or, worse, replaced by the next hot thing. Rocky’s release schedule has been glacial compared to many of his peers:
- “Live.Love.A$AP” (2011)
- “Long.Live.A$AP” (2013)
- “At.Long.Last.A$AP” (2015)
- “Testing” (2018)
- “Don’t Be Dumb” (2023)
Five years between “Testing” and “Don’t Be Dumb” is practically an eternity in hip-hop. While artists like Drake, Future, and even his close collaborator Tyler, The Creator, have remained culturally relevant through consistent releases, Rocky has allowed himself to fade from the conversation.
The Changing Hip-Hop Landscape: Getting Lost in the Shuffle
The hip-hop genre that A$AP Rocky affiliated himself with in 2011 is very different from the current hip-hop market. SoundCloud rap, the total control of trap music in the mainstream, the rise of drill, and various scene changes have therefore altered the looks and outlook of the genre.
Rocky tries to carve as unique and fashionable artist who almost exclusively channeling psychedelic subgenre, yet he somehow ends up in a strange territory of being too outcast to be mass appealing, but at the same time, too popular to be considered an outsider artist. This is an ironic predicament for any artist, and it is all the more difficult for an artist who has been attributed to being postmodern years ago.
Is There Hope for a Rocky Renaissance?
However, all these factors notwithstanding, it will be considered unwise to write off A$AP Rocky off completely. His 2023 album “Don’t Be Dumb” contained hints of the genius that such an artist as Lurch deliver but failed to return Lurch and his music to top charts.
Rocky has what it takes to come back with the talent, the contacts, and the ethnicity to bring two shows back to Broadway. This is what he requires; to be focused and dedicate more time in his musical career. The question then is whether he wants that level of fame again or whether he is happy and satisfied with what he currently is now; a style god, and sometimes musician, and a husband.
The Bottom Line
Must we now say that A$AP Rocky is no longer as popular as he used to be? The answer is complicated. Recently however, it is quite possible that his name may have become more popular with the release of his works in relation to Rihanna. But in terms of musical relevance and cultural impact as an artist? Indeed, he is far from what he used to be: he has slowed down a lot.
Fortunately for Rocky fans, talent does not evaporate the same goes for good taste. As he explains in the intro of the mixtape, Pretty Flacko might be wondering why he lost much of his influence, which is rather strange since if he were to start focusing on music again and strike the right balance between experimental and catchiness, he’d be back to where he was before getting lost in a matter of days.
Otherwise, we’ll be content to watch him make occasional guest appearances and appreciate whats Musical talent he has yet to waste on the fashion world, bad relationships and legal issues.
What do you think? Is A$AP Rocky up to par with his previous work, or do you rarely listen to this artist anymore is hip hop? Use the comments section to share your thoughts with us – civil please, guys. We are here for the debate not to underestimate the existing knowledge.
This piece reflects personal opinions and cultural observations. ArtistHeat aims to provide honest commentary while respecting the artists we critique.
