By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Hip hop has greatly evolved over time. The evolution has been so big, many early hip hop fans do not even recognize what is currently being branded as hip hop. As a result, many veteran rappers and hip hop fans are disappointed in many current hip hop stars. This is not the case for all new rappers, as a select few have gained the support of the veterans.
It has been no secret of how the New York hip hop scene has struggled. Over the years, any rapper from New York to generate buzz has been hailed as the second coming. However, during the summer of 2011, French Montana truly established himself as a star. The buzz surrounding the newest Bad Boy signee has overshadowed other rappers in New York City who have also emerged.
A$AP Rocky has also been making a name for himself and has become a bigger name in recent days. Many rappers often say hip hop is in them, which is why they rap. However, this is truly the case for A$AP Rocky, as his mother is a big fan of Rakim. When A$AP Rocky was a newborn, his mother was pushing him in a stroller, when she ran across Rakim in person. A$AP’s mother rushed over to Rakim, who ended up signing one of the diapers, because they had no paper available.
Earlier this week, A$AP Rocky discussed this on “The Angie Martinez” show and Angie Martinez suprised A$AP Rocky by introducing him to Rakim, a rapper he always looked up to. A$AP Rocky told Rakim about their first meeting, when he was a newborn, and then Angie Martinez called A$AP’s mother, who was shocked to hear her son with Rakim on the line. Following the meeting of Rakim, his namesake, A$AP Rocky performed with Bun B and Waka Flocka Flame, inviting his mother on stage.
While A$AP Rocky was excited about meeting Rakim, his excitement was nothing compared to his mother’s. She said meeting Rakim made her decade and she said the best name to give her son was Rakim, since she wanted his name to start with an ‘R.’ When he decided to take rap seriously, A$AP Rocky incorporated Rakim’s name into his stage name, with ‘Rocky.’
