A$AP Rocky quietly paid everyone's rent in his grandma's building. All because of a childhood ticket

A$AP Rocky recently celebrated the release of his fourth studio album, "Don't Be Dumb," in the most humble way you can think of. The rapper, whose full name is Rakim Athelston Mayers, appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (@fallontonight) on January 20, four days after the release. Fallon congratulated him on his SNL performance, his new baby girl, and the new album, before turning to something far more personal. Fallon brought up how Rocky chose to give back without any fanfare, paying the rent for everyone in his grandmother’s building. Rocky revealed that the gesture was shaped by his childhood and shared one experience that led him to give back to the community. 

Rocky shared that he grew up in a homeless shelter when he was younger, and now that he is doing well for himself, he wants to give back. But what truly inspired him stemmed from a meeting with a random lady while he was in the shelter, the Volunteers of America. He recalled that the Harry Potter movie came out, but he could not afford the ticket. He also said that random volunteers would come to the shelter to donate or do some activities with the kids. 

Luckily, one lady took some of the kids to go see the film, and Rocky was ecstatic. While they were walking back home, he asked if the woman was really rich enough to afford the tickets. He was surprised when she told him that she was just a substitute teacher who could barely make ends meet. When he asked why she did it if that was her situation, she said, "beacuse it just feels great to do something like that," and that stuck with him.

Rocky decided to partner up with Bilt and join their "Rent Free" campaign by paying everyone's rent on his grandmother's building in Harlem on 140th and Lennox. He did not want to make it "flashy" or involve the media because he thinks the idea is pretentious, and it could embarrass the people on the receiving end. 

Paying it forward or doing a random act of kindness has a positive effect not only on the doer but on the receiver as well. A study done by the University of Ohio on people who had symptoms of depression and anxiety asked them to engage in acts of kindness, social activities, and join an intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy. Out of all three interventions, the acts of kindness showed the biggest benefits for social connection. This attests to what the lady told Rocky all those years ago.

On another note, the act of volunteering can contribute to a lower risk of early death. A study done by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2020 took 13,000 volunteers over the age of 50 and studied them for four years. The results showed that people who volunteered over 100 hours every year had a 44% lower risk of early death. 

Rocky has always been well-loved by his fans, and this act of kindness just multiplies their love for him. His altruism is being talked about all over the internet, including Leah Sherman, the producer of NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact). She used Rocky's example to prove the point that "one simple act of kindness" can change a person's life.

You can subscribe to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (@fallontonight) on YouTube for more celebrity interviews.

More on Scoop Upworthy

A$AP Rocky being Rihanna's biggest fan at the Super Bowl is the cutest thing ever

Stranger donates $1 million to US hospital with only one rule: Help nurses erase their student loans

Paul Walker secretly gave military vet and his wife with the 'most generous' gift of their lives