A$AP Rocky is one of the newest, truest faces in Hip-Hop; partly rebellious, yet meek. Jeremy Scott is one of the latest, greatest faces in Hip-Hop; stylishly rebellious, yet familiar. Rocky’s a lover of the other’s contributions to fashion, Scott’s a fan of Hip-Hop and gushes at Rocky and the “average joe” supporting his designs.

The two pair up for a feature in Complex magazine’s February/March issue and talk everything from cross-influences in Hip-Hop and fashion, their break-through moments, homophobia in Hip-Hop and perseverance. Read the deets and peep more pics below…

A$AP has been known to drop rhymes about Jeremy Scott’s designs in many of his verses, here he talks about first discovering the brand…

“Around 2008. We started doing the whole thing. He used to come out with Mickey Mouse shit, three tongues, African patterns and shit. I started getting exclusive shit from France. I liked it so much because the only way you can find it is if you go on eBay, and you’re paying double. There’s no way an average person is gonna have it.”

He then goes on to explain the meaning behind his rap name…

“It stands for “Always Strive and Prosper.” Which is cool, because it’s a positive thing. It’s constructive. People forget how important the youth is sometimes. They determine the future, you know? We respect our elders, so it’s an honor for us to have recognition from you guys. Rick Owens, Raf Simons, Jeremy Scott—that means a lot to us. Just like Jay-Z, Nas, and 2Pac—you guys mean that to us. Seriously.”

Jeremy Scott explains how it feels to be embraced by A$AP and the Hip-Hop culture…

“I’m very appreciative. I love hearing the stories about what my work means—not only to him, but to the kids he came up with. His friends, all of Harlem. For me that’s my ultimate goal: to touch people’s lives. The real people on the street. Of course I love having accolades from the fashion world and I’m thrilled with Rihanna and Gaga and Katy and everyone wearing my clothes. But when the real kids are using their money—”

On the cross-influence of Fashion and Hip-Hop…

A$AP: “As black people it was our thing to show that we’re not living in poverty and that we can afford extravagant things—that kind of stuck with us. So when our great-grandparents were putting on their favorite outfits, it was to put on a front for the hard times. And hip-hop is a bunch of people that never had nothing. Fashion is just an expression. It’s an art. It expresses your taste. Good taste is important in hip-hop. I wake up saying I’m going to look the best I can and do what the fuck I want to do. And that’s what it’s all about. I don’t know if I articulated it good because I’m pretty high right now—and I have a lisp and I’m going to Mars right now.”

Jeremy: “The thing is hip-hop is one of the only communities that really started its own trends. That’s why I’ve always been inspired by hip-hop artists, because they transform things—even just the jean, turning it around, inside out, sagging it—all these different things. Yes, of course we get little things from other music movements, but hip-hop has been like, Pow! It’s really inspiring and it’s the only new music that has come along in eons. Rock and roll has been around—it’s changing forms. But hip-hop is major.”

On Hip-Hop and homophobia…

A$AP: “I’m not homosexual. That’s not where I’m at with my life. But I can still be greatly inspired by a homosexual. It has nothing to do with their sexuality. If I start discriminating against people, that will stop me as a person. That’s ignorant. What the fuck does that have to do with anything? It’s not like I want to date this motherfucker—I’m inspired by this dude. This isn’t about fashion, it’s what he personally did for me. I’m not saying I’m going to be an activist. I want to enlighten those brothers. I used to be like them, but I’m a grown-ass man. I don’t care what another man does with his time.”

Jeremy: “Why does it exist in the world? I don’t know. It’s just one of those things. I don’t know why people care about what other people do. When this becomes an issue in politics, that’s the thing that boggles my mind. I heard on CNN that Republicans won’t get behind Mitt Romney because of abortion and gay marriage. Why do you care?”

It’s pretty dope to see the cultural exchange between the two revered artists. Can we expect a collaboration of some short from the two…who knows?

Look. I don’t know if Scott was going for the whole A$AP Jeremy look, but these struggle braids won’t make anyone happy. They just won’t.

What are your thoughts?