A$AP Rocky Covers Rent for Residents In His Childhood Harlem Building

As Bone Thugs n Harmony once said, “Wake up, wake up — it’s the first of the month!” Except this time, A$AP Rocky has the 1st covered for some folks in his old neighborhood. The Harlem rapper is making a rare, full-circle gesture tied to both his roots and his next era. And for the residents connected to his past, 2026 is starting off with a bang — and one less bill to cover. 

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The “Purple Swag” rapper has officially teamed up with Bilt — a loyalty and payments platform that lets residents earn rewards on rent — for a “Rent Free” campaign celebrating the release of his fourth studio album, “DON’T BE DUMB,” per Complex. Through the partnership, the rapper and the platform are covering January’s rent for residents in the same building where he grew up. And according to Pretty Flacko, the grand gesture isn’t just business, it’s also understanding the importance of community. 

“For me, it’s always been about your community and neighborhood. Harlem made me who I am, from uptown to downtown, and that connection to place is everything,” Rocky stated. “When Bilt said they wanted to cover rent for everyone in the same building where I grew up, that hit different. That’s not just business, that’s understanding what community really means.”

While he’s helping to take some weight off folks’ shoulders he’s also set to release a self-designed limited-edition vinyl of his LP, exclusively available to members via special order. Plus, he’ll reportedly be featured in a monthly gameshow where he’ll offer members an opportunity to win free rent payments up to $2,500. While this is certainly commendable, it certainly is a reflection of unbearable rent costs in New York City and across the nation. That said, the rapper is stepping in and giving back. 

“This vinyl is my love letter to New York, and being able to give back to the exact place that raised me while helping people across the country with their rent is the kind of partnership that actually matters,” Rocky added. 

CEO of Bilt, Ankur Jain, is totally aware of the struggle of skyrocketing rents. And according to him, this project is important because giving back matters. A message it seems Pretty Flacko can get with. “It’s a celebration of the community that shaped one of hip-hop’s most influential artists and a reminder of why giving back to your neighborhood matters,” Jain stated per WBLS.