[Interview] A$AP Rocky: This Is Chill
RubyHornet: Welcome to Chicago, it feels like you’re here every couple of weeks now. Do you feel at home?
A$AP Rocky: For some strange reason, I do feel at home when I’m out here. It feels natural and I feel welcomed every time I come here. There’s always friendly faces and family. At the end of the day, it’s nothing for me to be out here.
RubyHornet: I was watching some of your old interviews, and you talked to Angie Martinez about your fan base. You mentioned that you have a cult-like following that’s your own, with unique demographics. Have you gained any insight from them on this tour, going around the country and doing events like this in-store?
A$AP Rocky: I feel appreciated. They get it. They actually get it. There are a lot of artists that do what I do, or at least try, but half of the time people don’t get it and they’re not connected to it. With me, people actually get it and they appreciate it for what it’s worth.
RubyHornet: You said in the BET Cipher, “Bitches only like me for my status.” Do you feel like some of your actual music is slid over based on the other stuff, that the fashion and outer layer things are more often highlighted?
A$AP Rocky: I wouldn’t know. For the most part I’m satisfied. The reason I said that is because it is what it is. Certain times, 9 times out of 10, girls don’t know anything about me. All they know is that I’m famous or something. They only like me cause of that. They only want to fuck me cause I got money or some other shit, because I’m famous.
RubyHornet: One of my favorite videos from you is “Wassup” where it’s all lavish and then at the end you wake up and you’re still on the couch. Do you ever wake up now like, ‘holy shit, I can’t believe this and tomorrow it could be gone?’
A$AP Rocky: Yeah. I always think it could be gone, but I’m not going to let it go. I’m here for a reason, my reason is supposed to inspire people. I’m just inspiration, that’s all I am. We could really do what the fuck we want. If I did it, anybody could do it, I’m telling you.
RubyHornet: Does your youth and childhood help you handle any of the day to day madness or give you a different perpsective?
A$AP Rocky: This is madness? haha.
RubyHornet: To some people. Not even this event specifically, but going from when your mixtape came out to SXSW to Pitchfork to here, it seems like it’s been a whirlwind, from the outside looking in. I would say 2 years ago most of chicago had no idea who you were.
A$AP Rocky: No! A year ago Chicago didn’t have any idea! Think about it, I’ve only been on for a year now.
RubyHornet: Last October right?
A$AP Rocky: Yeah. A year ago Chicago didn’t know who the fuck I was, nobody knew who the fuck I was. New York didn’t know who the fuck I was a year ago.
