ASAP Rocky is riding high these days, in that he’s actually high and he was acquitted of gun charges earlier this year. He’s moving onward and upward, following the path of many other hip-hop artists before him: branching out into acting and designing as major side-gigs. Rocky covers the latest issue of Variety, which is a preview of the Cannes Film Festival. Rocky has a big role in new Spike Lee’s new joint, Highest 2 Lowest, alongside Denzel Washington. Rocky, Spike and Denzel are headed to Cannes… maybe? The film will definitely premiere at Cannes, I just don’t know if Denzel will make it (he’s on Broadway right now). Did you guys know that none of Denzel’s films have ever premiered at Cannes? Denzel has also never been nominated for a BAFTA. Weird little (racist) quirks of his career. Anyway, Rocky’s interview with Variety was really funny and charming. Some highlights:

Whether he was nervous working with Denzel: “Nah, I was born for this. I’m not gonna waste nobody’s time. This is what I do — this is the same approach you would take to making an album or to directing or designing anything: You’ve got to give it your all. People judge you by integrity; that’s how you can measure someone’s principles and morals. If somebody don’t got integrity, and they’re just doing it for the check or the look or the next opportunity, it never works out for them. I promise you. That’s where the phrase “Cheaters never win” comes from. When you cheat yourself in life, you never win in the end.

What it’s like to work opposite Denzel: “It was like a f–king dream come true. But trust me, it was difficult to not fan the f–k out every millisecond of the f–king duration. It was crazy — it’s f–king Denzel, man. I don’t give a f–k how successful [I am]: I’m always gonna be a student and a fan of certain people, and I’m always going to give them their flowers. I’m never going to be too big to be able to say that I had to hold my composure from not fanning out. The first movies I really loved were “Juice,” “Malcolm X” and “Michael Jackson: Moonwalker.” The first time I saw him, I was watching “Malcolm X.”

On Denzel’s taste in music: “Yo, Denzel plays more Memphis rap than anybody I know. He’s just like, “Alright, so what you f–k with, kid?” [I’m like,] “Pardon me?” I tried to sound all old school and sh-t like, “I like Slick Rick…” and he’s like, “Oh, I f-ck with Rick, of course. Rick the Ruler.” Then, he started saying Nas lyrics out of nowhere. Then Pac, then DMX, and then he starts talking about the young cats — Moneybagg Yo, NLE Choppa, NBA YoungBoy and these guys. I’m like, “What is this man doing?!” But I’m here for it, like I f-ck with it. I was shocked. He’s an OG. You would expect him to listen to Miles Davis all day. Nah, he said, “Throw on NLE Choppa,” [then Washington rapped] “I don’t do drive-bys no more, I walk ’em down.” That’s verbatim. I was like, “This is gonna be lit. It’s on now.”

Rocky wants to do some movies for kids: “I want to do something for my children. Everybody’s doing “Despicable Me” and “SpongeBob” and sh-t like that. I want to do an original DreamWorks/Pixar-ass film, like “Soul.” I like the internet stuff too, like “Gracie’s Corner.” I hate “Cocomelon.” “Cocomelon” is bad for the kids, man, but “Gracie’s” is hittin’. I just hope my kids don’t grow up and think that sh-t was lame. So, whatever I do, it’s gonna be cool and timeless.

[From Variety]

There’s that famous interview Jamie Foxx did with Denzel – people always quote “I’m leaving here with something” – but I remember being pleasantly surprised when Denzel started rapping Cardi B (who was very new at the time). He probably likes to keep up with music in general, but I bet his kids also introduce him to new music too. Or maybe John David is the one listening to Miles Davis, all while Denzel is turning up NLE Choppa. Anyway, it’s really cool that Rocky got to work with one of his idols and that they bonded about music.

This week's Variety cover story:

A$AP Rocky, Movie Star: The Rapper on Method Acting With Denzel Washington, Planning a Film With Rihanna and Being ‘Blessed to Work’ After Assault Trialhttps://t.co/dfj7IiuqV3 pic.twitter.com/Plxul3AFjV

— Variety (@Variety) May 6, 2025

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.