People are just realizing what A$AP Rocky's name stands for – it's not what you think

He was christened after a rap legend , so it's no surprise he ended up being a star himself.

A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, was named in honor of American rapper Rakim , known for his chart-topping hits such as When I Be On Tha Mic, Guess Who's Back and It's Been A Long Time.

A$AP Rocky began his own rap journey at the tender age of nine, under the guidance of his older brother. However, when he was just 13, his brother was tragically killed in Harlem, New York , which spurred him to take his rapping career more seriously.

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In 2007, he joined the A$AP Mob crew, a collective of rappers, producers, music video directors, and other creatives. All members of the crew adopted A$AP as part of their stage names, leading some fans to question what A$AP stands for and why he chose to be known as Rocky.

According to American Songwriter: "The name was conjured up when the rapper was back home in New York City. His entire crew had A$AP preceding their name . The collective of rappers, directors, fashion designers, and other artists was dubbed the A$AP Mob. The acronym stands for 'Always Strive and Prosper.'

"Rocky was a nickname his mother gave him when he was younger. Put the two together and you have an unforgettable rap alter ego."

After his single Peso was leaked online in 2011, A$AP Rocky signed with Polo Grounds Music and released his debut mixtape, Live. Love.A$AP.

The statement reveals: "The mixtape was met with critical acclaim so much so that he landed a $3 million record deal with Polo Ground Music. His debut studio album, Long. Live. A$AP, was released in 2013 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album has since been certified gold by the RIAA.

"The next few years would be a whirlwind of releases, features, tours and more as Rocky rose in the rap ranks thanks to his stellar debut. His most recent album, Testing, was released in 2018, debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart."

He went public with his romance with megastar Rihanna in a GQ interview back in 2021, and the couple have welcomed two children into the world RZA Athelston Mayers and Riot Rose Mayers.

Talking about his moniker, one eagle-eyed Reddit user confessed: "It took me way too long to realize ASAP stands for Always Strive And Prosper." Another added: "Just now realised this too."