Harlem native A$AP Rocky is turning up the generosity as he heads into 2026. The acclaimed rapper and cultural force has partnered with rewards and payments platform Bilt to cover rent for every tenant in the Harlem apartment building where he lived as a teenager, offering residents a rare financial reprieve during a time of high housing costs.
The initiative, part of Bilt’s Rent Free campaign, will pay January 2026 rent for all tenants in the building, a gesture that reflects Rocky’s deep connection to his community and the neighborhood that shaped his early life and artistic identity.
“For me, it’s always been about your community and neighborhood,” Rocky said in a statement. “Harlem made me who I am, from uptown to downtown, and that connection to place is everything. When Bilt said they wanted to cover rent for everyone in the same building where I grew up, that hit different. That’s not just business, that’s understanding what community really means.”
The initiative coincides with the rollout of Rocky’s long‑awaited fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, set for release on January 16, 2026. As part of the collaboration, he has also designed a limited‑edition vinyl in tribute to Harlem and New York City, available exclusively through the Bilt app and website.
In addition to covering rent, Rocky appeared on a special edition of Bilt’s monthly game show Rent Free, giving members nationwide a chance to win free rent payments of up to $2,500, with top winners also receiving signed copies of the exclusive vinyl.
Ankur Jain, Bilt’s founder and CEO, praised the rapper’s involvement, saying that Rocky embodies the company’s vision of connecting residents with meaningful cultural experiences and celebrating the communities that inspire them.
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