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March 29, 2024

News: A$AP Rocky Covers The April/May Issue of Complex Mag

Complex ASAP Rocky

A$AP Rocky covers the April/May issue of Complex Mag, in an article written by Joe La Puma. Take a look at some of the highlights from the cover story below.

Complex: You’ve been away from the spotlight a little bit. Was that a conscious decision?
Rocky: Yeah. I needed time to master my craft. You don’t rush art, and I don’t think you quickly produce fine art. You take your time. That’s not an excuse, or me trying to justify [any delays], that’s truly what I believe. I took time off and learned how to act, learned how to make beats and do production.

Complex: In the three years since we last spoke, what has changed most about you?
Rocky: I’ve matured. I’m 26. I view life way different. [Pauses.] A little more different. And I don’t give a fuck, still.

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Complex: How do you view life differently?
Rocky: I don’t take people for granted no more. Nobody’s promised tomorrow. I cherish everybody while they’re here right now.

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Complex: One of the new songs starts out: “Gentrification split the nation I was raised in.” It’s one of the more politically conscious things you’ve written. What do you see when you look at the state of America right now?
Rocky: It’s fucked up. That’s all it is. Cops killing people, people killing cops. It’s all fucked up. I think it’ll all change soon. I think people with a badge—or not—are gonna stop abusing authority across the world, and learn to appreciate one another. For real. [Smiles.] All they need is weed, some love, some good sex, some good-ass music. I’m talking about a night with something exotic. I’m talking a night with like an African-Moroccan-half-Swedish-quarter-Italian-part-French-Parisian. Mhmm. But she got the African booty, though! She got caramel skin, but you can tell that like, she got a little bit of vanilla in her, though. You feel me? [Laughs.]

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Complex: Speaking of changes, the Been Trill/Hood By Air diss in “Multiply” really made noise. What was behind that? How did they not respect you?
Rocky: The people behind the brands didn’t acknowledge me as a pioneer because I didn’t sit down and create the name Hood by Air with Shayne [Oliver]. I’m taking full credit for that brand, for anyone knowing anything. Yes. I’m taking credit for that. I liked it when I was way younger. It had a little run here and there, but nobody ever really kicked it off. I knew Shayne on a personal note. I was like: “Yo, let’s bring this shit back.” It took me years. Shayne’s stubborn. He’d give me a sweater one year, a T-shirt one year. It was like that. I have a lot of shit from back in the day, and I’d say after “Peso”—because we have Hood by Air in the “Peso” video—by the time it hit 2012, 2013, he was ready. Because I was out there in the field. I just made that shit look jiggy.

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To read the full interview, head over to Complex Mag.