A$AP Rocky, Freshly Acquitted in Gun Case, Named Creative Director for Ray-Ban
A freshly acquitted A$AP Rocky isn’t wasting any time in getting back to work.
The rapper and fashion magnate, found not guilty at a jury trial in Los Angeles on Tuesday of firing a handgun amid a beef with former friend A$AP Relli in 2021, has been named Ray-Ban’s first creative director. Per the leading eyewear brand, the role will find Rocky taking on the task of bringing “his distinctive vision to Ray-Ban Studios, guiding creative projects and shaping the future of the brand’s image and design.”
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Under his leadership, Ray-Ban is set to roll out the Blacked Out Collection in April. The range is said to be a redesign of the Mega Icons line complete with a new lens type. More designs are expected in the coming months as Rocky puts his stamp on creative projects. Ray-Ban Studios, the creative platform that launched in 2016, focuses a lens on mixing the power and influence of music and artist’s stories.
“I’ve always admired Ray-Ban’s ability to stay true to its roots while constantly evolving,” Rocky said in a statement. “I’m excited to be part of the strong heritage and develop the next chapter for an iconic brand like Ray-Ban.”
The company’s president, Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, praised Rocky and said “let the future begin,” a statement that holds more weight in the wake of his acquittal. Said Del Vecchio: “For nearly 80 years, the brand has been on the faces of the most iconic musicians, artists, actors and heroes — shaping and re-shaping the status quo, leading cultural revolutions of all the times. Today, we are welcoming A$AP Rocky into our family; he’s a visionary artist and creator. His ability to push the boundaries of the diverse worlds he explores, aligns with the Ray-Ban DNA. We are reinforcing the brand’s values of innovation, pioneering spirit, and courage.”
During his Los Angeles trial, Rocky, who was born Rakim Mayers, was spotted outside the courthouse wearing Ray-Bans and many ensembles by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. The longtime partner of global superstar Rihanna, Rocky has other fashion gigs on the horizon. He will serve as a Met Gala co-chair at the A-list event on May 5 alongside Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, Anna Wintour and honorary chair LeBron James. He’s also poised to release a new album, Don’t Be Dumb.
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