ASAP Rocky pays homage to Hype Williams’ legendary 1998 film Belly with a striking new Ray-Ban advertising campaign starring Nas.
The campaign, which launched on February 19 in conjunction with Rocky’s Metal Collection, shows both rappers wearing signature eyewear styles, echoing the film’s iconic restaurant scene, in which the characters wear sunglasses during memorable dining moments.
As the first creative director of Ray-Ban, Rocky brought a new perspective to the eyewear brand’s marketing approach, integrating hip-hop culture with high fashion sense.
The Metal collection includes optical styles and sunglasses priced between $202 and $249, targeting consumers who appreciate the luxurious craftsmanship and street cred that Rocky has always represented.
Nas, who provided a riveting narration for the campaign video, said: “Man, I got a call from Flacco tonight. He wanted to meet up in Harlem. And the funny thing is, the last time I saw his dad before he passed away was at this restaurant. His dad was my dude.”
This personal touch connects the event’s Harlem setting with the authentic relationships that define hip-hop’s collaborative spirit.
The inspiration for “Belly” is especially fitting given the film’s status as a visual masterpiece.
Hap Williams’ directorial vision transformed a simple restaurant scene into cinematic gold, establishing an aesthetic standard that continues to influence fashion and music video production decades later.
The event showcases both performers wearing select styles from the collection, recreating Nas’ legendary scenes that originally featured DMX with stunning accuracy.
As Rocky continues his role as creative director in 2026, fans can expect to see more innovative projects with Ray-Ban.
The Metal series will be available on February 20 through Ray-Ban’s official channels and selected retail partners.
