Made in Harlem

A$AP Rocky loves fashion, the neighborhood he's from, his kids, his grandmother, Rihanna, staying up late, making music, vintage luggage, the list goes on... Leah Faye Cooper meets the ever joyful Met Gala co-chair.

- Leah Faye Cooper

It's past 1 a.m. on a Tuesday in downtown Manhattan, and A$AP Rocky, in a white long-sleeve tee and relaxed jeanshis khaki Saint Laurent trench and Chanel trapper hat slung across a chair-is contemplating his next pool shot. These late weeknight hours are usually reserved for working, Lindsey, a member of his production-management team, tells me, as Rocky paces around a corner nook at Soho House, behind him a delightful display of glass candy jars situated on sage-green lacquered shelving. But it's been only eight days since the Harlem-born rapper, designer, and father to two was acquitted on assault charges. Everybody's on a post-not-guilty high.

Rocky's been at this for roughly 10 hours-by which I mean hanging out, seeing friends, family members, and business associates, and talking to me about the upcoming Met Gala over tea (chamomile for him, English breakfast for me). I've met his assistant, Marco; his photographer, Brandon; the designer Joshua Jamal; Rocky's longtime friend A$AP TyY; and his grandmother Cathy. And I've watched strangers float in and out of his orbit, including a handful at Soho House, who, after stealing glances at the self-professed "pretty boy" from Harlem, sensed correctly that he was open to them joining our group.