A$AP Rocky Is Ray-Ban’s First-Ever Creative Director
StyleThree days after being acquitted of two felony assault counts in Los Angeles, the musician-designer already has a new gig.By Eileen CartterFebruary 21, 2025Courtesy of Ray-BanSave this storySaveSave this storySaveLook closely at A$AP Rocky’s carefully curated wardrobe during his three-week trial—which ended on Tuesday, when a Los Angeles jury found the rapper-designer not guilty on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm—and you’ll notice a thread of brand-loyal continuity. Amid the steady parade of elegant Saint Laurent suits and strong-shouldered Gucci overcoats, Rocky shielded his eyes from paparazzi flashbulbs outside the courthouse in a rotating selection of sunglasses by Ray-Ban.Today, just three days after his acquittal, the eyewear brand announced A$AP Rocky as its first-ever creative director, with a special focus on its music-centric subdivision, Ray-Ban Studios.“I’ve always admired Ray-Ban’s ability to stay true to its roots while constantly evolving,” Rocky said in a press release. “I’m excited to be part of the strong heritage and develop the next chapter for an iconic brand like Ray-Ban.”A$AP Rocky arriving to court in Los Angeles on February 3. DUTCH/Bauer-GriffinIn the same press release, Ray-Ban included eight paparazzi photos of Rocky arriving at the LA courthouse during this month’s trial. The portfolio showcases a range of their product offerings, from wire-rimmed eyeglasses to their classic Wayfarers.While Rocky’s court wardrobe appeared to align with a number of his current business dealings—this Ray-Ban partnership included—his longtime stylist Matthew Henson maintained that the gravity of the trial was their primary consideration.“This was not a stunt, this was not a flex,” Henson told GQ this week. (It’s easy to see why one might assume so; in 2023, Rocky posed for faux-candid paparazzi shoots that became a meta-style ad campaign for the luxury label Bottega Veneta.) “As much as our industry is a huge business and there's so much planning, this was not one of those moments,” said Henson. “You see Rocky at Fashion Week, it's a bit different. But this was real life.”During closing arguments, Rocky wore a pair of the label's wire-framed spectacles. ALLISON DINNER/Getty ImagesNonetheless, Rocky’s appointment at Ray-Ban reflects his continued professional evolution from music (he released his last studio album, Testing, in 2018) into fashion. Aside from his recent partnership with Bottega Veneta, he also designs shoes in collaboration with Puma and has staged runway shows for his own fashion line, AWGE, at Paris Fashion Week.As their fans well know, both Rocky and his partner Rihanna—who herself maintains several beauty and clothing lines, as well as her own partnership with Puma—have leaned into alternate revenue streams in the last decade. In the press release, Ray-Ban describes Rocky’s new appointment as arriving “on the heels of his fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb,” a project he first teased in 2022. Another thing Rocky and Rihanna are aligned on? Doing absolutely everything except releasing new music.
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Look closely at A$AP Rocky’s carefully curated wardrobe during his three-week trial—which ended on Tuesday, when a Los Angeles jury found the rapper-designer not guilty on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm—and you’ll notice a thread of brand-loyal continuity. Amid the steady parade of elegant Saint Laurent suits and strong-shouldered Gucci overcoats, Rocky shielded his eyes from paparazzi flashbulbs outside the courthouse in a rotating selection of sunglasses by Ray-Ban.
Today, just three days after his acquittal, the eyewear brand announced A$AP Rocky as its first-ever creative director, with a special focus on its music-centric subdivision, Ray-Ban Studios.
“I’ve always admired Ray-Ban’s ability to stay true to its roots while constantly evolving,” Rocky said in a press release. “I’m excited to be part of the strong heritage and develop the next chapter for an iconic brand like Ray-Ban.”
In the same press release, Ray-Ban included eight paparazzi photos of Rocky arriving at the LA courthouse during this month’s trial. The portfolio showcases a range of their product offerings, from wire-rimmed eyeglasses to their classic Wayfarers.
While Rocky’s court wardrobe appeared to align with a number of his current business dealings—this Ray-Ban partnership included—his longtime stylist Matthew Henson maintained that the gravity of the trial was their primary consideration.
“This was not a stunt, this was not a flex,” Henson told GQ this week. (It’s easy to see why one might assume so; in 2023, Rocky posed for faux-candid paparazzi shoots that became a meta-style ad campaign for the luxury label Bottega Veneta.) “As much as our industry is a huge business and there's so much planning, this was not one of those moments,” said Henson. “You see Rocky at Fashion Week, it's a bit different. But this was real life.”
Nonetheless, Rocky’s appointment at Ray-Ban reflects his continued professional evolution from music (he released his last studio album, Testing, in 2018) into fashion. Aside from his recent partnership with Bottega Veneta, he also designs shoes in collaboration with Puma and has staged runway shows for his own fashion line, AWGE, at Paris Fashion Week.
As their fans well know, both Rocky and his partner Rihanna—who herself maintains several beauty and clothing lines, as well as her own partnership with Puma—have leaned into alternate revenue streams in the last decade. In the press release, Ray-Ban describes Rocky’s new appointment as arriving “on the heels of his fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb,” a project he first teased in 2022. Another thing Rocky and Rihanna are aligned on? Doing absolutely everything except releasing new music.
