‘Yo, This Is Nuts’: A$AP Rocky Accepts Collaboration of the Year Award With Electrifying Speech at 2024 FNAAs
Stephen Garner
Senior Editor
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A$AP Rocky delivered some of the best one-liners of the night as he accepted his Collaboration of the Year award for his work with Puma at the 2024 FNAAs on Wednesday.
“Yo, this is nuts,” Rocky said as he accepted his award from Emory Jones of Roc Nation. “You know, initially I just wanted to come up here and just talk a lot of sh*t, you know, about how lit and how handsome I am. How we the best. But honestly, I’m very humbled by this whole experience, honestly, and I would rather just say some shit from the heart that is genuine.”
The “Fashion Killa” rapper went on to acknowledge his partner Rihanna, who was also in the room Wednesday night. “Honestly, this is just like one of the best accomplishments ever,” he said. You know, I was inspired. I saw my lady receive this thing almost a decade ago. Like she inspires me a lot.”
“But besides that, you know, the thought of me being with Puma and making collaborations is a gift. I mean, I didn’t even think that was really possible. And look at us now, you know what I’m saying? It was always just like, it just felt like it was something missing in the market. And it was me, I was missing,” Rocky joked. “Even the brands that still haven’t paid me yet, I influence y’all whole sh*t, your whole catalog. I’m on your mood board. Talk about it.”
And in what was one of the evening’s most exciting moments, the rapper asked his whole crew – including Rihanna and Puma Group chief executive officer Arne Freundt – to join him on stage.
“I just want to take this moment out to thank the North American team at Puma, who [are] killing sh*t right now, we did that,” Rocky said on Wednesday night. “And I want y’all to come up here and accept this with me right now. Bring your asses up on stage.”
Rocky went on to acknowledge Freundt and his support in their ongoing partnership. “I want to point out how this man has transformed Puma in North America as CEO,” Rocky added. “I mean, just think about it, his influence alone, especially my journey. I think we got into this company together around the same time, roughly. And I mean, look at the change. And I just want to thank you all. Thank you for the opportunity.”
Since Rocky joined Puma late last year as the creative director for the brand’s F1 partnership, the rapper has incorporated motorsport design elements across all of his offerings. And with the rising popularity of F1 in the U.S., the timing of this buzzy partnership couldn’t be better.
In a series of releases this year, A$AP Rocky and Puma delivered multiple sell-out distressed versions of the Inhale sneaker and a highly imaginative, 3D-printed edition of the Mostro shoe. The music star’s latest collection featured night racing-inspired black and green colorways of the Inhale and Mostro yet again.
For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram.
