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Discover America with American Mosaic!

A$AP Rocky “Long.Live.A$AP”

This week, rapper A$AP Rocky released his first studio album, called “Long.Live.A$AP.” His 2011 mixtape of the “Live.Love.A$AP” received praise from critics and was popular on the Internet. As a result, A$AP Rocky’s name became well known, at least among hip-hop lovers. Mario Ritter has more on the rapper and his new record.

A$AP Rocky’s real name is Rakim Mayers. His mother named him after famed rapper Rakim, who got his start in the 1980s. So maybe A$AP Rocky was born to rap.

The 24 year old was born in New York City and raised mostly in the Harlem neighborhood. His childhood was not easy. His father was jailed when Rakim was 12. When he was 13, his brother was shot and killed. And his mother struggled financially. She, Rakim and his sister moved in and out of homeless shelters.

Rocky does not generally rap about the bad times in his life. For example, the first real single from “Long.Live.A$AP” is about his interest in sex. The name of the single is probably too dirty to say on our show, but here is a little sound.

A$AP Rocky has found the support he may have lacked as a boy. He is part of a group called the A$AP Mob. It includes producers, directors, designers, managers and other rappers. One of the founders, A$AP Bari, says the group is like a real family. In his words, “we look out for each other.” He says A$AP Mob has no room for selfishness.