ASAP Mob (stylized as A$AP Mob) is an American hip hop collective formed in 2006, in Harlem, New York, by members ASAP Yams, ASAP Bari and ASAP Illz The Mob is a collective of rappers, record producers, music video directors and fashion designers, who share similar interests in music, fashion, style and art. The collective mainly consists of New York-based rappers, most of whom carry the "ASAP" moniker, such as ASAP Rocky, ASAP Ferg, ASAP Twelvyy, ASAP Nast and ASAP Ant. The collective's resident record producer, ASAP Ty Beats, also carries the moniker and has produced several songs for his ASAP Mob cohorts, most notably Rocky's solo debut single "Peso."
On August 28, 2012 the collective released their first full-length project together, a mixtape titled Lords Never Worry, which received mixed reviews by critics. In August 2013, ASAP Mob began working on their debut studio album, subsequently releasing their debut single, "Trillmatic", in December 2013. The song, performed by ASAP Nast, is an ode to '90s hip hop and features a guest verse from Method Man.[4][5][6] Their debut album, titled Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends, was a dedication to ASAP Yams, and was released in October 2016.
Formation and early beginnings (2006–12)
In 2006, Steven Rodriguez, professionally known as A$AP Yams, formed the collective internationally known as A$AP Mob, with fellow New Yorkers, now known as A$AP Bari, A$AP Kham and A$AP Illz.[2] Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky joined after Bari had kept bringing him up to Yams, who eventually took interest. In the summer of 2011, the group began to gain major recognition after the respective music videos for Rocky's singles "Peso" and "Purple Swag" (both produced by A$AP Ty Beats), went viral on YouTube. Rocky followed up with his breakout mixtape Live.Love.A$AP in October, which was praised by critics and fans alike.
In October 2011, Rocky signed a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment worth $3 million. $1.7 million of that money was earmarked for his solo work and $1.3 million to fund his company A$AP Worldwide, along with A&R and executive producer ASAP Yams.Rocky said that he sought a "bigger platform" for him and his collective with the deal.
In 2011, A$AP Dom, the collective's designer, who worked on the design of the iconic "VSVP" pieces for streetwear brand Black Scale, wanted to venture out and do his "own thing." He subsequently left the Mob and changed his moniker to Dominic Lord and is now a songwriter and producer.
Lords Never Worry (2012–14)