Fri 28 Oct 2011
A$AP Rocky Talks About his ‘Multi-Million Dollar’ Record Deal
Posted by Mikey Fresh under New Music , Quotes[21] Comments
The A$AP Rocky movement is getting bigger by the day. In an interview with Pitchfork, he elaborated on his reported multi-million dollar deal with Polo Grounds/RCA. Rocky says he got about $3 million of out the signing. It’s sounds pretty off the wall, given the nature of the music industry today. I’m sure the specifics will slowly start to leak out shortly, but whatever the case, can’t we just be happy happy a young NYC dude is really making moves?
Pitchfork: A lot of rappers are moving away from big record deals and, as recently as last month, it seemed like you didn’t want to sign with a major, either. What changed your mind?
A$AP Rocky: About three million dollars. [Other rappers who don’t sign] are smart, but I feel like Sony/RCA is a family and the people there actually care about me. When I came to meet [Polo Grounds Music founder] Bryan Leach, I got to know him on a personal level– he would set up car service for me to go to other labels. He wanted to see me make it. He’s from Harlem.
I’m going to have creative control; there’s no bullshit. The situation is almost unrealistic. I mean, five months ago I had about $3,000 in my bank account. Now I’m worth $3 million. Nobody’s gotten a deal like that since 50 Cent.
read more after the jump…
Pitchfork: You represent A$AP as a crew pretty hard, but you’ve become the de facto leader of the group. Why is that?
A$AP: I’m not the leader [laughs]. People try and focus on me, but Clams is an impeccable producer, and so is Ty Beats, so is Spaceghost. We all became vegetarians about a month ago– that means these guys are really dedicated. They’re on this dark shit with the all-black [clothes], they want to be rebels. I respect it. It’s a cult– they even have codes. They recruited A$AP people from Vancouver, Arizona, Utah. It’s a secret society.
But don’t get scared– it’s not no Illuminati shit. But it is a brotherhood because the days of racial barriers are over. The days of sexual preference are over– if you’re gay, that’s your business. That doesn’t stop you from being my brother. If you yellow, you’re still my brother. Let’s smoke some weed.
Previously: A$AP Rocky Says He Has No Problems With Odd Future
A$AP Rocky Debuts New Music From ‘Live Love ASAP’ At The Creators Project
A$AP Rocky Announces Deal with Polo Grounds Music/RCA
Unreleased A$AP Rocky Track “Out Of This World” (Prod. By The Olympicks)
October 28th, 2011 at 11:21 am
swag
October 28th, 2011 at 11:34 am
I don’t get it… but I guess that’s not my lane to understand.
October 28th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
What’s the draw for this guy? Because I heard Purple Swag and I don’t see it at all. Plus isn’t this the second overly expensive, and probably highly inaccurate, deal we heard of Sony giving to a pretty much unproven artist (Kreayshawn being the other?)
October 28th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Unlike Kreayshawn, A$AP can actually spit! Don’t get it twisted! Secondly, his vibe is organic and unlike anything that’s bubblin’ in the industry right now. Maybe he is not your cup of tea, move on to the next one and don’t try to figure it out.
October 28th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
“I feel like Sony/RCA is a family and the people there actually care about me.”
he probably still puts out cookies and milk for santa claus, too.
October 28th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Unlike anything in the industry? Dude sounds exactly like every other “swag” rapper out right now. And if you think dude can spit, I hate to see what you consider bad lyrics.
October 28th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
@missinfo i thought i would be the last person in the world defending him, but you made me a fan
@haters but he doesn’t sound like anybody out right now, and its unique to see somebody like him out of harlem,
“i can show you my degrees, couple”A”,”B”,”C”s bad bitches double ”D”S, poppin ”E” i dont give a ”F”, told ya ima ”G”.” who said he can’t spit.
hes a young dude? how the fuck is he suppose to sound??? but i digress
October 28th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
I shouldn’t have to defend myself for my listening taste, but I’ve can honestly say I’ve been to rap music since 1983. I also have broad spectrum musically from Action Bronson to Drake to Curren$y and everything in between. Now with that being said, I feel as if I have good ear when it comes to music.
To say he sounds just like Lil’ B or Kreayshawn or Cali Swag District is unfair and unjust as they are each their own individuals with their own musical aspirations. As I aforementioned, If he is not your kind of hype, move on and do occupy your time listening to music that does not appease to you.
October 28th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
He’s the thing.Large record companies focus more on publishing these days than actual record sales. They are better equipped to place songs in a variety of media and faster than the average publicist. They don’t sell music,they lease access to the music,to which they get a hefty percentage. So…don’t think of it as a record deal per se. Think in terms of business…more of a merger or an acquisition better yet. They’re getting in on the ground floor. They’re more savvy than the standard 360 deal. That was just a scare tactic to get you to accept the deal they were REALLY pushing.
October 28th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Lol exactly dude sounds like every “swag rapper” out! Infact his flow on Purple Swag was that of Paul Wall’s circa 06/07! Ima still reserve my criticism on dude until I hear more! But I agree with others right now it seems like Sony is just in the business of signing swag!
October 28th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
“i can show you my degrees, couple”A”,”B”,”C’’s bad bitches double ”D”S, poppin ”E” i dont give a ”F”, told ya ima ”G”.” who said he can’t spit.
Like his only ill line to date! Wanna know how I know,this is the one all the people who defend him refer to when they talk of his skill! And ps why be so defensive, and why if people have constructive criticism on em they are hating? Peso the only shit I like from him thus far and as I said aside from the afformentioned bar up top,his shit is basic! Basic! And one more thing after Purple Swag and his new track Gripping Wood Grain I’m gonna need him to hop off of Houston’s dick (or move there) whichever’s better for em!
October 28th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Fam, trust I listened to two songs and that’s it. So it’s not like I’m sitting here anticipating his mixtape so I can bash it. I’m simply commenting on the whole Sony situation, this being the comments section and all. And your music “spectrum” isn’t that broad if the first three artists you name are CURRENT RAPPERS.
October 28th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
you’d thought you’d be the last person defending him, but NOW that you are, those who aren’t are haters? And that line is your proof of dude’s spit game? Stop It.
October 29th, 2011 at 6:14 am
artists are smarter and way more independent and it has nothing to do w/ the music its about finding ways to make a profit so labels ard treating artists like small companies and merging instead of taking over the music and money they let the artist do what got them noticed distribute and split profits I wish the music was better but hey it is what it is ..
October 29th, 2011 at 7:59 am
Who knows how this 3 million dollar deal is structured,but just the way he talks i know he’s getting robbed. “I’m worth 3 million” “RCA is a family and the people there actually care about me” sucka please! and if it is a 360 deal,which i’m sure it is,fagitaboutit. I’m sure Tyler saw at least 2 million this year. Big up to Mac Miller and Tech9. As if ASAP can spit or not? New rappers are no longer selling lyrics they are selling personalities. With all that said i like that Pesos song a lot.
October 29th, 2011 at 8:47 am
I feel exactly like you bruh. I’ve seen the best come and go. I grew up on Wu Tang, old Mobb Deep, seen Nas in his prime, seen DMX save the game.
Now I’m enjoying where hip hop is going. I can enjoy Kendrick Lamar one day, and be in a Curren$y or Wiz mood the other. I can vibe out to shit like Drake or Cudi and still enjoy lyricism every now and then.
Hip hop is getting diverse and the truth is that music that requires less effort will usually outsell anything else. That’s just the nature of the beast. I love me some A$AP every now and then and if I feel like bumping the lost tapes the next day, I will. At the end of the day, it’s really how music makes you FEEL that really matters.
October 29th, 2011 at 8:48 am
Yeah… I think that was sad too…
October 29th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
this is called the entertainment industry, not the talent industry, go listen to Little Brother, or some Immortal Technique, or asher roth if you want to hear some lyricism
November 3rd, 2011 at 6:25 am
So anyone have any ideas on the GameStop tablet? Like the games they announced, are they new? http://bitly.com/uqrLaK
November 6th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
i shouldnt like this guy but i kinda do for some reason; peso, wassup, purple swag etc. are gd tunes. But literally millions of people can spit so thats not even the issue.
April 8th, 2013 at 12:11 pm
ASAP Rocky he only got the deal because he laid his pipe down on them big time gay money men and obviously someone realll bigg cause he got 3 million for some fun lmao