ASAP Mob (stylized as A$AP Mob) is an American hip-hop collective formed in 2006 in Harlem, New York City,[1] that consists of rappers (most of whom carry the "ASAP" moniker; except Chynna and Playboi Carti), record producers, music video directors, and fashion designers.[2]
In 2006, Steven Rodriguez, professionally known as ASAP Yams, formed the collective with fellow New Yorkers ASAP Bari and ASAP Illz.[1]Harlem rapper ASAP Rocky joined later.[1] The "ASAP" name was always understood as the familiar acronym for "as soon as possible", but it has also been explained as a backronym for other ideas including "Always Strive and Prosper",[2] "Assassinating Snitches and Police", and "Acronym Symbolizing Any Purpose", the latter reportedly the favorite of ASAP Rocky.[6] In the summer of 2011, the group released music videos for Rocky's singles "Peso" and "Purple Swag", produced by ASAP Ty Beats. Rocky followed up with his mixtapeLive.Love.ASAP in October, signing a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment that month.[7][8]
Lords Never Worry (2012–2014)
Members of ASAP Mob with Joey Badass (left) at the Under the Influence Tour in Toronto in August 2013
On August 27, 2012, ASAP Mob released their debut project, a mixtape titled Lords Never Worry, as a free download.[9] From September to November, Rocky toured with opening acts Schoolboy Q, Danny Brown, and ASAP Mob in support of his solo debut album.[10]
Rocky's debut album Long. Live. ASAP, was released on January 15, 2013,[13] debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 139,000 copies in the United States.[14]
ASAP Ferg announced that ASAP Mob would release their debut album after the release of his solo debut album Trap Lord,[15][16] on August 20, 2013.[17] The album peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 and number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first-week sales of 32,000 copies in the United States.[18] In November 2013, ASAP Rocky announced that the Mob's debut album would be titled Lords.[19] On December 4, 2013, the album's first single, entitled "Trillmatic."[20] The album title was then changed to L.O.R.D.[21][22] On January 13, 2014, the single "See Me" by ASAP Ant was released.[23]
On September 26, 2014, ASAP Yams revealed that L.O.R.D. had been shelved.[24]
Cozy Tapes series (2015–2025)
On January 18, 2015, ASAP Mob revealed that ASAP Yams had died[25] of acute mixed drug intoxication.[26] On October 15, 2016, ASAP Rocky confirmed that the group's compilation album Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends was completed.[27] Dedicated to ASAP Yams, the album was released on October 31, 2016, and featured several artists, including Playboi Carti, who had signed to the Mob's AWGE imprint that year, Skepta, and Tyler, The Creator.
On January 13, 2019, ASAP Ant announced that he was leaving the collective to focus on his solo career.[29] He returned in April, confirming that the collective had begun work on their third studio album, Cozy Tapes 3.[30]
On April 20, 2022, ASAP Rocky was arrested by LAPD officers at the Los Angeles International Airport for a shooting incident which took place four months beforehand in Hollywood on November 6, 2021;[39] he was released on bond shortly after that.[39] It was reported that the person shot, who survived the incident, was ASAP Relli, whose real name is Terell Ephron.[40]
