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A$AP Rocky has long been a trendsetter in hip-hop, shaping an entire generation through his forward-thinking sound and aesthetic. His influence is still visible in the artists he has uplifted throughout his career. He signed Playboi Carti early on, recognizing his potential before most of the industry, and Carti would go on to inspire a whole new wave of artists on his own.

More recently, Rocky has continued to spotlight emerging talent, shouting out underground figures like fakemink and Molly Santana during an interview with DJ Akademiks.

That legacy has not gone unnoticed by EsDeeKid. As Rocky continues to evolve, most recently on ‘Don’t Be Dumb,’ where he experiments with soft rock, dembow, and even DMV crank, he reinforces why he remains the blueprint.

EsDeeKid acknowledged this directly, posting on X in 2024 about A$AP Rocky’s lasting impact on hip-hop and his role in shaping the sound and direction of the culture.

(📸 Slide 3: @stevecannon)