A$AP Rocky Speaks Out on A$AP Yams' Death

After A$AP Yams died earlier this week, many performers took to social media to praise Yams' talent and innovation. That included A$AP Rocky, who declined to speak for much of the week.

As previously reported, Yams was one of three Harlem residents (along with A$AP Illz and A$AP Bari) who founded the now huge hip-hop collective during 2007. Rocky, the rapper who brought the group international prominence, joined during 2008.

Rocky recently played a short two-song set at a film premiere party and dedicated his second cut to Yams.

"That performance -- that was just going to stop me from crying," Rocky told Billboard in his first interview since Yams' death. "I had to address it, because the whole time I was rapping and I wasn't into it, which is sad, but I just gotta keep it real. I can't front. It's even harder knowing that I gotta fly out in less than an hour just to go bury him. That's the part that eats at me."

The cause of death has not yet been determined.

"People were saying that Yams overdosed on drugs -- he didn't overdose on any drugs," Rocky said. "I feel like people feel that way because that's all he's in pictures doing. When you see A$AP Yams you see Hennessey or purple drink, you see some type of controlled substance or illegal narcotic."

As he showed by playing a set just days after Yams' death, Rocky is going to continue hustling toward greatness.

"I'm a happy spirit, man, and I feel like time heals," he said. "It's all about good people with good energy, and the universe keeps producing them to me. I'll be fine. God is good and I keep all hope and faith."