STEVE IRBY DROPS BTS SHOTS FROM ASAP ROCKY HELICOPTER
By Editor in Chief | Approved by Will Nichols, Editor in Chief | 1/22/2026
Future is #32 on the FO Pulse (2026-07-13 close), up 1 from the previous close.
Steve Irby documented A$AP Rocky's revolutionary Helicopter video production. BTS photos reveal cutting-edge Gaussian Splatting technology behind viral visuals.
Key Points
- Steve Irby documented A$AP Rocky's revolutionary Helicopter video production
- BTS photos reveal cutting-edge Gaussian Splatting technology behind viral visuals
- NYC photographer's signature style meets Rocky's futuristic creative vision
Steve Sweatpants Just Blessed Us With The Real Behind Rocky's Helicopter Madness
Steve Irby knows how to be in the right place when culture happens. The Brooklyn-born photographer just dropped behind-the-scenes shots from A$AP Rocky's "Helicopter" video shoot, and they're everything you'd expect from the man who turned street photography into an art form.
Rocky's "Helicopter" video has been breaking the internet since it dropped January 12th, with fans debating whether the trippy visuals were AI-generated or not. Rocky shut that down quick, but the real story is in Irby's BTS documentation. These aren't your typical set photos. They capture the intersection of old-school hip-hop culture and bleeding-edge technology.
The Tech Behind The Vision
The video used Gaussian Splatting technology through GSOPs software, transforming Rocky and his crew into digital objects within 3D space. Irby's photos show the actual D.B.D. helicopter prop from Rocky's 2025 Lollapalooza set, and the controlled chaos of a production that pushed visual boundaries.
What makes Irby's documentation special is his eye for authentic moments within manufactured spectacle. While Rocky and director Dan Streit created lifelike holograms and 3D renderings, Irby captured the human element. The sweat, the direction, the crew making magic happen.
Street Dreams Meets Future Vision
Irby has built his reputation documenting NYC's raw authenticity through his signature black and white photography. His work honors family connections and amplifies underrepresented perspectives, influenced by legends like Gordon Parks and Ricky Powell. Seeing him document Rocky's futuristic visual experiment creates a perfect cultural collision.
The photographer's Instagram @stevesweatpants has become essential viewing for anyone tracking where culture moves next. With over 216K followers watching his every post, these Helicopter BTS shots represent more than just behind-the-scenes content. They're documentation of hip-hop's visual evolution.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What technology was used in A$AP Rocky's Helicopter music video?
The video used Gaussian Splatting technology through GSOPs software, which transformed Rocky and his crew into digital objects within 3D space to create the trippy visuals.
Who documented behind-the-scenes shots from A$AP Rocky's Helicopter video?
Steve Irby, a Brooklyn-born photographer known for his street photography and signature black and white style, captured BTS photos from the production.
When did A$AP Rocky's Helicopter music video drop?
The video was released on January 12th and immediately went viral, with fans debating whether the visuals were AI-generated.
What is Gaussian Splatting in video production?
Gaussian Splatting is a cutting-edge technology that allows filmmakers to transform subjects into digital objects within 3D space, creating realistic holograms and 3D renderings without traditional CGI methods.
What is Steve Irby known for as a photographer?
Steve Irby is known for documenting NYC's raw authenticity through his signature black and white photography and his ability to capture authentic moments within manufactured spectacle.
Topics: helicopter-video, steve-irby, focus-0-36, future, lollapalooza, bts-photos, street-photography, asap-rocky