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A$AP Mob Founder A$AP Yams Dies at 26
A$AP Mob is mourning the loss of its leader. A$AP Yams has died at the age of 26.
The visionary, born Steven Rodriguez, was credited as the founder and mastermind behind the Harlem group, and helped introduce the world to A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg.
When he was a teenager, Yams interned at Diplomat Records and managed local producers and sold mixtapes (via MTV News). At the age of 17, he founded A$AP Mob in 2007 with A$AP Bari and A$AP Illz.
In a profile in The New York Times, Rocky called Yams “the mastermind behind the scenes.”
“Yams is the hip-hop encyclopedia,” he said. “He’s no joke. That’s one person I can’t front on when it comes to music.”
His fellow A$AP Mob members including Rocky and Ferg mourned their brother’s passing, while his peers also expressed their sympathy.
DEAR WORLD WE LOST OUR LEADER TODAY. PRAY FOR US WE COULD REALLY USE IT
— EL SUCIO GUAPO (@ASVPNVST) January 18, 2015
Rest in peace Yams. A$AP is family.
— Drizzy (@Drake) January 18, 2015
SLEEP IN PARADISE YAMS I LOVE YOU BRO
— Mel (@AsapTwelvyy) January 18, 2015
RIP A$AP YAMS, a true visionary and hero to many Sending my love and support to the A$AP family during this troubling time.
— Scott Mescudi (@KidCudi) January 18, 2015
Yams was a great spirit . Always wit the jokes good vibes EVERYtime #ripyams
— Wale Folarin (@Wale) January 18, 2015
A.S.A.P YAMS should be remembered as a leader, an innovator and most importantly as an important part of NYC youth culture.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 18, 2015
So sad about @ASAPYams RIP !
— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) January 18, 2015
R.I.P Yams. Fuck man. Such a good dude
— Macklemore (@macklemore) January 18, 2015
rest in peace ASAP YAMS. black out boy for real.
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) January 18, 2015