Beauty and A$AP Rocky have always gone hand in hand. In 2012’s “Pretty Flacko,” one of his breakout singles, the rapper delivered a line that would go down in hip-hop history: “I be that pretty motherfucker.”
The descriptor stuck. Fast forward to 2020, when Rihanna tapped A$AP Rocky as the face of Fenty Skin. A year later, GQ crowned him the Prettiest Man Alive. It might seem like Rocky, born Rakim Athelaston Mayers, has carefully cultivated his “pretty boy” image – but according to the artist, who stars on the cover of Highsnobiety’s Winter 2023 issue, looking good comes naturally: “All jokes aside, I wake up like this,” he told us.
In honor of A$AP Rocky’s new Highsnobiety spread, we’re taking a look back at his best beauty moments.
Statement nails
Sitting front row at Prada’s Spring/Summer 2020 runway show, A$AP Rocky showed off a spot-on manicure: painted-on eyeballs referenced the label’s Frankenstein-themed collection.
Fashion Week isn’t the only time A$AP Rocky has sported statement nail art. At the 2023 Oscars, he showed his support for Rihanna, who performed “Lift Me Up” at the ceremony, by enlisting celebrity nail artist Kim Truong Cao to paint tiny gold statues on his pinky fingers. And for the Met Gala later that year, Cao decorated Rocky’s nails with tiny dummy symbols – a reference to his 2018 album Testing.
A$AP Rocky x Fenty Skin
Rihanna and Rocky go way back. Before A$AP officially confirmed their relationship in 2021, he lent his face to Rih’s inaugural Fenty Skin campaign. Later, the two appeared together in a promotional video for the skincare line. In the clip, Rih asks what his skin type is. His response: “handsome.”
Next-level grillz
A$AP Rocky has sported a slew of impressive grillz, both gold and diamond. In 2021, he upped the ante with an unorthodox grill by Tetsuya Akiyama. Encrusted with gold and yellow diamonds, the masterpiece features two teeth sporting real, preserved flowers.
A year later, Rocky’s grillz made headlines again when he appeared to propose to Rihanna in his “D.M.B.” music video. Instead of a ring, the rapper flashes a grill that reads “Marry Me?” Rihanna’s matching double caps confirm: “I Do.”
Gucci braids
When it comes to his hair, A$AP Rocky never shies away from switching things up. From cornrows to box braids, Rocky has, well, rocked it all. At Gucci’s Fall/Winter 2023 show in Milan, the rapper took head-to-toe dressing to the next level. Matching his Gucci skirt to his braids, woven in the shape of the label’s “G” logo, Rocky stayed totally brand loyal.
Blinged-out hair clips
A$AP Rocky never passes up an opportunity to accessorize, as demonstrated by his impressive bag collection (highlights of which include an Hermès Kelly and a bubblegum pink Bottega Veneta Andiamo). Back in July, he brought his penchant for statement accessories to Rolling Loud, where he adorned his cornrows with pearl-encrusted hair clips.
Since the performance, Rocky has made the barrettes something of a signature, donning them on outings with Rihanna and in the campaign for his Puma x F1 collaboration.
