A$AP Rocky Shares Reason for Keeping Distance in Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s Dispute

As Elle’s latest cover star, A$AP Rocky is stepping into the spotlight not just as a style icon and chart-topping rapper, but as a man ready to open up about some of the most scrutinized chapters in his life. In an in-depth conversation with acclaimed hip-hop journalist Clover Hope, the Harlem native offered candid reflections on everything from rap rivalries to crew drama, fatherhood, acting, and his future with Rihanna. And if there’s one takeaway from Rocky’s words, it’s that he’s not just surviving — he’s thriving.

One of the topics that inevitably came up was the high-profile rap feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, a lyrical battle that dominated headlines for months. Rocky himself briefly got caught in the crossfire, tossing a jab at Drake on Future and Metro Boomin’s 2024 single Show of Hands. The moment was a response to what many interpreted as Drake taking shots at Rocky and Rihanna on tracks like 2023’s Fear of Heights. While fans speculated whether he would become more involved, Rocky made it clear he never intended to.

“It was healthy for hip-hop,” he admitted. “The battle was really between Kendrick and Drake — not Drake and everybody else who felt like chiming in. That’s why I stepped back. I just don’t like how it’s ending, with [Drake] filing lawsuits. What part of the game is that? That’s none of my business.” His comments reflect not only a respect for hip-hop culture but also a sense of maturity that comes with choosing when to engage and when to walk away.

Closer to his personal world, Rocky addressed the complex state of A$AP Mob, the Harlem rap collective that served as his launching pad. In November 2021, former member Terell “A$AP Relli” Ephron accused him of firing a gun during an altercation, a charge that cast a long shadow until Rocky was acquitted in February 2025. Despite the public tension, Rocky insists the Mob is far from broken. “I’m not bullshitting, this isn’t some politically correct answer,” he told Elle. “If anybody who used to be my protégé, my friend, my musical partner doesn’t mess with me, that’s their choice. I don’t hold grudges. I’m too happy to carry that weight.”

Yet beneath the calm, there’s a hint of unresolved emotion. Rocky described himself as a “father figure” to many members of the group, even though they were all close in age. “When you’ve got 13 people sleeping in a one-bedroom apartment — on your floor, your couch, your bed — while you’re trying to make it, it changes how you see them. So if they rebel, I look at it like children acting out. But I’m not trying to make myself a victim. I really do sleep well at night because I know I’ve never tried to hurt anyone. All I want is for everybody to come together.”

That sense of peace, he emphasized, comes from where his life is now. Rocky has been busy carving out a new lane in Hollywood, starring alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, which premiered in August, and preparing for his next role in A24’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, hitting theaters in October. At the same time, his family with Rihanna continues to grow. Already parents to two children, the couple announced in May that they’re expecting their third. And if Rocky has his way, this baby might be the daughter he’s been hoping for.

Through it all, Rocky radiates a sense of contentment that feels unshakable. Whether it’s choosing not to get dragged deeper into rap beefs, letting go of grudges with former friends, or embracing new creative challenges, he’s focused on the bigger picture. As he put it, “I just want everybody to be together.”

In a culture that often thrives on conflict, A$AP Rocky’s story is one of growth, resilience, and balance. Between music, movies, and family life with Rihanna, it’s clear he’s writing the next chapter of his career and personal journey on his own terms — and sleeping just fine while he does it.