ASAP FERG: Always Strive and Prosper

Rapper Darold Ferguson, Jr also known as, A$AP Ferg released his second studio album entitled “Always Strive and Prosper”, this past Friday, April 22, 2016. Ferguson, besides his solo career, is a member of the hip hop collective A$AP mob, which includes Rappers A$AP Rocky, A$AP Nast, and A$AP Bari. They are all natives from Harlem, New York and known for showing their distinctive styles through their music production, music videos, fashion, and style, not to mention the lyrics that they composed. Individually, Ferguson’s music career began as what he likes to describe as “Trapping”. According to Ferguson, “Trapping” means hustling. Ferguson started out first by painting, and then transitioning to designing clothes, which he was inspired by his father, Darold Ferguson, to take up as a profession. Darold owned a Harlem boutique in where he designed shirts and logs for record labels, including Bad Boy Records and legendary artist such as Teddy Riley, Heavy D, Bell Biv DeVoe, and much more. Ferguson then launched a clothing and jewelry line at a young age all while attending art school, which prepared him for the release of his clothing line, “Devoni Clothing”. Devoni Clothing line has designed and distributed high-end belts, with the latest fashion designed at the time, and were worn by popular celebrity artist such as, Chris Brown, Swizz Beatz and Diggy Simmons. A$AP Ferg finally began his music career in the year 2009. Since they were friends in high school, rapper A$AP Rocky thought there was no doubt that Ferguson’s “impeccable hustle game”, devotion, and his ability to always seem to be perfect at what he does, demonstrated enough ability to be a part of the legendary A$AP Mob. After the start of the the group, Ferguson began his solo carrer in early 2012. His debut single produced by Chinza adn Fly, “Work”, appeared on the A$AP Mob mixtape “Lords Never Worry”, and since then he has become very popular. He signed a record deal with RCA Records, which is home to some of the greatest artist such as Whitney Houston, Brandy, Anthony Hamilton, and R. Kelly. His most recent work, “Always Strive and Prosper”, is the second album release from the artist. Every artist usually worries that their second album doesn’t do as good as the first, its often called the “Sophomore Slump”. Ferguson’s album is set to have sold over 1000 copies in the first couple of hours post release which is generally good. The album itself is consisted of 18 songs, with features artist such as Chis Brown, Ty Dolla Sign, Big Sean Future, Schoolboy Q, Missy Elliot and of course A$AP Mob. There are a few that say, maybe Ferguson will be bigger than A$AP Rocky, and this may be the album that just puts him neck to neck with his partner and friend. The album is available on ITunes, Spotify, and Apple Music, and in all retail stores that sell music.