A$AP Rocky finally opens up about why he distanced himself from the legendary Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake feud, the future of A$AP Mob, his film career, and family with Rihanna
A$AP Rocky has always been the type of artist who attracts attention — whether it’s through his music, his unapologetic opinions, or his high-profile relationship with Rihanna. In a new interview, the Harlem rapper opened up about two of the hottest topics around his name right now: the legendary Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake rap beef and the future of his own crew, the A$AP Mob.
Speaking with his trademark mix of laid-back honesty and confidence, Rocky explained why he chose to step back from the feud that shook hip-hop over the past two years. While many fans expected him to take sides, he revealed that he saw the battle as entertaining but not something that involved him directly.
“It was something healthy for hip-hop, but that was between Kendrick and Drake — not Drake and everybody who happened to say something at the time,” Rocky said. “That’s why I stepped back.” He added that he didn’t like the way the beef escalated with lawsuits and legal threats: “What part of the game is that? That’s not my business.”
Of course, Rocky wasn’t completely removed. In 2024, he dropped a sharp diss aimed at Drake on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Show of Hands” — a response to the Canadian rapper’s earlier digs at both Rocky and Rihanna in 2023 tracks like “Fear of Heights.” But while he threw his bar, he refused to fuel the fire further, leaving Kendrick to carry the real battle. For Rocky, competition is good for hip-hop, but only when it stays within the music.
More personal to him, though, is the state of the A$AP Mob — the iconic Harlem rap collective that launched his career. Despite challenges, including the headline-making accusations from former member A$AP Relli who alleged Rocky shot him in 2021 (a case in which Rocky was acquitted this February), Rocky insists the Mob still exists and is working on regaining its balance.
“It’s not the politically correct answer, it’s just the truth,” he explained. “If somebody doesn’t want to be part of it anymore, that’s their choice. I don’t hold grudges. I don’t carry that kind of negativity. I’m too happy for that.”
Still, Rocky admitted he carries some scars from the early days. He recalled when he and his friends were broke, crammed into small apartments, with some sleeping on his couch. “I was like a father figure for a lot of people even though we were the same age. When you’ve got 13 people living in one small place and suddenly money comes in, things change. I didn’t have to do that for anyone, but I did. So sometimes it feels like kids rebelling against their parent.” But he quickly clarified: “I don’t play the victim. I sleep good at night knowing I never tried to hurt anybody.”
While reflecting on the past, Rocky is also focused on the future. Beyond music, his film career is taking off. In August, he appeared in Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” alongside Denzel Washington. And this October, he’s set to star in another A24 project titled “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” For him, transitioning into acting feels natural, and every project so far has proven he can command both the studio booth and the big screen.
His personal life is equally full. Together with Rihanna, Rocky is expecting their third child, which they announced in May. The couple already has two sons, and this time, Rocky admitted he’s hoping for a baby girl. For fans, their relationship is the ultimate power couple image — blending fashion, music, and lifestyle in a way that feels larger than life.
Rocky says the joy of family and the excitement of new creative projects keep him far away from toxicity. He’d rather focus on raising his kids, building his artistry, and chasing his ambitions than waste time in feuds that don’t serve him. His stance on the Kendrick vs. Drake battle shows it clearly: he knows when to step in and when to step away.
And if one thing is clear, it’s that A$AP Rocky has found balance. From Harlem apartments to high-fashion runways and now Hollywood movies, the rapper who once shared small spaces with a dozen friends has built an empire on creativity, resilience, and love. The A$AP Mob may still be healing, and hip-hop may always thrive on beef, but Rocky’s own story is about moving forward — and the brightest chapters are still to come.
