A$AP Yams, real name Steven Rodriguez, was found dead at the age of 26. According to Rolling Stone he died from unspecified causes, but BET reported that he struggled with drug abuse in the past.
Reportedly, his drugs of choice were codeine and Xanax and he checked into rehab to battle his addiction in July of last year. However, his last tweet on Jan. 17 read: "Bodeine Brazy," which is reportedly a reference to the drug.
Around Christmas, Yams who founded A$AP Mob Worldwide and helped launch the careers of A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg, tweeted: "Good riddance to 2014 my worse year ever" and "2015: become a more reliable friend to my homies and stop speedin on the dr_gs."
RCA Records confirmed the death, saying it was "shocked and saddened" about the news.
"All of us at RCA Records are shocked and saddened to hear of the death of A$AP Yams. As one of the creative forces behind A$AP Worldwide, Yams' vision, humor and dedication to the members of A$AP Mob will always be remembered," the record company's statement read. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."
Members of the hip-hop community, like Drake and Wiz Khalifa, have been expressing their condolences and sadness via social media.
"You will be missed Bro. We done touched a lot of ground together, landed on a lot of different soil," A$AP Ferg wrote on Tumblr. "You will always be loved & your spirit will live on!"
"A.S.A.P. YAMS should be remembered as a leader, an innovator and most importantly as an important part of NYC youth culture," rapper Azealia Banks tweeted.
In 2013, the New York Times ran a profile on Yams. In an article announcing his death, the newspaper called him "a crucial modern-day tastemaker thanks to his Internet presence."
"He helped shape the taste of a generation, be it the rappers and producers he was working with through ASAP Worldwide or his own fledging Yamborghini Records imprint, or the thousands of readers who hung on his every word and recommendation," the New York Times wrote. "History doesn't mean much if there's no on there to remember it, retell it and use it as a steppingstone to new heights."
