I'm getting my respect as a video director. The fashion industry

The words of ASAP Rocky ring with triumph and transformation: “I’m getting my respect as a video director. The fashion industry respects me and knows who I am.” In these words is not only the voice of an artist, but the declaration of one who has journeyed beyond the boundaries others set for him. He speaks of respect, a treasure more enduring than wealth, for respect is recognition of one’s vision, skill, and presence in the world. To be respected is to be seen, and to be known not as an imitator, but as a creator whose work leaves an imprint on the soul of his time.

From the ancients, we know that respect is never given lightly—it must be earned. Warriors earned it upon the battlefield, philosophers through their wisdom, and artists through their craft. Rocky’s rise in fashion and as a director reflects this eternal truth: that to carve a place in a new realm, one must bring not only talent, but authenticity. He did not remain confined to music, though it gave him fame. He stepped into the worlds of imagery and style, showing that his creativity was not a flame bound to one vessel, but a fire capable of many forms.

History gives us the tale of Leonardo da Vinci, who was not only a painter but an inventor, an engineer, and a visionary. Though known first for the brush, he demanded respect as one who could dream of flying machines and weapons, bridges and canals. He, too, moved across disciplines, and by doing so proved that genius cannot be caged within a single craft. ASAP Rocky’s claim echoes this spirit: to be respected in multiple domains is to show that artistry transcends labels.

The struggle for respect in the fashion industry is particularly telling. Fashion has long been a citadel where outsiders are viewed with suspicion. Yet Rocky entered it not as a pretender but as one whose style, presence, and vision demanded recognition. He wore the garments of tomorrow before others could imagine them. He turned streetwear into elegance and made elegance pulse with street energy. And in time, the industry, once guarded and proud, bowed to his influence. This is the ancient pattern: the gatekeepers resist until authenticity breaks their gates.

Respect, then, is not only about achievement but about identity. “They know who I am,” Rocky declares. He is not merely tolerated, nor politely acknowledged—he is known. To be known is to have one’s essence recognized, to have the core of who you are reflected in the eyes of others. This is a victory greater than awards or fleeting applause, for it affirms that one’s presence cannot be ignored. In every age, the deepest hunger of humanity is not only to succeed, but to be seen for who one truly is.

The lesson is clear: do not confine your gifts. If you are drawn to more than one realm, step boldly into it. If others doubt you, let your authenticity and persistence carve the way. Do not beg for respect, but let your work command it. Respect that is demanded vanishes quickly; respect that is earned endures. And know that true respect arrives not only when others praise your craft, but when they recognize your name, your identity, your essence.

Practical wisdom follows: in your own life, dare to expand your horizons. If you are skilled in one field, do not fear to step into another. Carry your authenticity with you, for it is this, more than any skill, that breaks down walls. Be patient in your striving, for recognition may not come swiftly. And when it does, let it be said not only that people admire what you do, but that they know who you are.

Thus, the words of ASAP Rocky become a teaching for all who listen. Respect is the crown of the persevering, the reward of those who bring authenticity into every realm they touch. Walk boldly, create freely, and live so fully that when others speak of you, they speak not only of your craft but of your essence. For then you will have achieved what is rarest of all—that enduring treasure called respect.