| "Purple Swag" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by ASAP Rocky | ||||
| from the album Live. Love. ASAP | ||||
| Released | December 5, 2011 | |||
| Genre | Cloud rap | |||
| Length | 1:58 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | ASAP Ty Beats | |||
| ASAP Rocky singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Purple Swag" on YouTube | ||||
"Purple Swag" is a song by American rapper ASAP Rocky. It premiered as a music video on July 5, 2011, before being released as the second single from his debut mixtape Live. Love. ASAP (2011) on December 5, 2011.[1] Produced by ASAP Ty Beats of ASAP Mob, the song samples "Still Tippin'" by Mike Jones (featuring Slim Thug and Paul Wall), "Stay with Me" by Clint Mansell (featuring Kronos Quartet and Mogwai) and the video game Mortal Kombat 3.[2]
The song became one of ASAP Rocky's breakout hits, alongside his song "Peso". It attracted the attention of numerous record labels within a week of its video's release, including Polo Grounds Music, which he eventually signed to.[3][4] It was also certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for equivalent sales of 500,000 units in the United States.
Background
[edit]According to ASAP Rocky, he recorded the song in a small closet while high on lean and marijuana. He described seeing his surroundings as appearing purple during the process.[5]
Composition and lyrics
[edit]The song is influenced by Houston hip hop[6] and finds ASAP Rocky expressing his love for its culture, including purple drank and candy paint.[2] It contains a heavy bass and slowed down vocals. Steve "Flash" Juon of RapReviews described it as a "New Yorker's version of DJ Screw music".[7]
Music video
[edit]The music video debuted in July 2011. It features ASAP Rocky and a woman named Anna Trill, both wearing gold grills and lip-syncing the song.[8][9][10] Rocky is seen smoking blunts, in the company of fellow ASAP Mob members and riding on the handlebars of a BMX.[10]
The video received some criticism for Trill mouthing "nigga" despite being white. Rocky defended her in an interview with HipHopDX, saying "She's cool. She's fun. That's really the person she is. She does use the [word 'nigga'] all the time – you know, she's cool like that. She smokes. She drinks. She's cool... she's sexy. She's cute."[11]
Remixes
[edit]An official remix of the song titled "Purple Swag: Chapter 2" appears on Live. Love. ASAP. It features American rappers SpaceGhostPurrp and ASAP Nast. A second remix, featuring Houston rappers Paul Wall, Bun B and Killa Kyleon, appears as a bonus track on ASAP Rocky's debut studio album Long. Live. ASAP (2013).[2]
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[12] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Purple Swag [Explicit]: A$AP Rocky". Amazon. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ a b c Morel Jr., Jacques; Hill, Tia; Steele, Lesley; Fu, Eddie (December 12, 2018). "Looking Back At A$AP Rocky's "Purple Swag"". Genius. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Jon Caramanica (October 12, 2011). "Thinking Globally, Rapping Locally". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Ramirez, Erika (November 4, 2011). "A$AP Rocky Talks Upcoming Projects, $3 Million Deal & A$AP WorldWide Signings". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Baker, Ernest (November 13, 2012). "A$AP Rocky Breaks Down His 15 Most Essential Songs". Complex. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ David, Charles (July 13, 2011). "ASAP Rocky – Purple Swag". Earmilk. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (January 10, 2012). "A$AP Rocky's "LiveLoveA$AP"". RapReviews. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Noz, Andrew (July 6, 2011). "music / Hip-Hop Video: ASAP Rocky, "Purple Swag"". The Fader. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Lyons, Patrick (October 29, 2021). "LIVE.LOVE.A$AP Turns 10". Stereogum. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ a b Beattie, Ele (November 23, 2011). "Review of A$AP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP". BBC Music. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
- ^ E., Brandon (November 29, 2011). "ASAP Rocky Says Deluxe Version Of "LiveLoveA$AP" Is Coming, Reveals Identity Of "Purple Swag" Video Girl". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 5, 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "American single certifications – A$AP Rocky – Purple Swag". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 2, 2026.