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ASAP Ferg
American rapper from New York

Darold Durard Brown Ferguson Jr., known professionally as ASAP Ferg, is an American rapper from Harlem and a lead member of the hip hop collective ASAP Mob. Signed to Polo Grounds and RCA Records, he gained fame with his 2013 single "Work (Remix)", which went triple platinum and entered the Billboard Hot 100. His debut album, Trap Lord, and follow-up Always Strive and Prosper both charted in the Billboard 200. The 2017 hit "Plain Jane" featuring Nicki Minaj reached the Hot 100 top 40. Beyond music, he founded the streetwear brand Traplord and won "Rookie of the Year" at the BET Hip Hop Awards.

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Early life

Darold Durard Brown was born on October 20, 1988, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City to Trinidadian parents.5 Ferg was raised in Hamilton Heights.6 His father, Darold Ferguson, owned a small Harlem boutique and printed shirts and logos for record labels; including Bad Boy Records and performers Teddy Riley, Heavy D and Bell Biv DeVoe. Before starting his music career, Ferg initially aspired to start his own clothing line.7 Inspired by his father, who died of kidney failure, Ferg launched clothing and jewelry lines at a young age and attended art school.8 In 2005, Ferg began launching the "Devoni Clothing", that he designed and distributed high-end belts, which have been worn by Chris Brown, Swizz Beatz and Diggy Simmons.9

Musical career

2009–2012: Career beginnings with A$AP Mob

By 2009, he started developing an aggressive, trap style of hip-hop. "Trapping means hustling," he explained. "I went from painting to making clothes to rapping. I always put myself into everything I do one hundred percent. It doesn't matter what I'm working on. I want to perfect everything I do. Success is the only option. They call me 'Trap Lord' because my hustle game is impeccable." Friends since high school, A$AP Rocky recognized that Ferg had an "impeccable hustle game" and pushed Ferg to continue rapping as much as possible. They later joined the hip hop collective A$AP Mob, from which they both adopted their respective monikers.10 Since 2010, they collaborated on various songs such as "Get High," "Kissin' Pink" and "Ghetto Symphony", the latter being from Rocky's chart-topping major label debut, Long. Live. A$AP (2013).11

2012–2014: Trap Lord

Ferg's debut single "Work", produced by Chinza and Fly, appeared on the A$AP Mob mixtape Lords Never Worry, released on August 28, 2012.12 The song's music video quickly earned over 2 million online views and was dubbed one of the "50 Best Songs of 2012" by Complex Magazine.13 On January 10, 2013, he announced Trap Lord would be the title of his debut album.14 When speaking on his debut album Trap Lord, Ferg said: "I hope people take the good and the bad from what I've got to say, I've seen so much shit in my life. There were times I ducked bullets at a basketball game, and then I went to a fashion show. I've experienced depression. I've experienced triumph. I've experienced hate. I've experienced love. I learned how to be independent. I made it out of the hood, and now I want go to the top."15

On January 10, 2013, it was announced that he signed a record deal with RCA Records and Polo Grounds.16 On May 14, 2013, the remix to "Work", featuring fellow American rappers A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, French Montana and Trinidad James, was released to digital retailers.17 On June 2, 2013, while revealing Trap Lord would feature guest appearances from hip hop groups Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Onyx, Ferg announced that the album would be released on August 20, 2013.18 The album debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart, with total album sales of 46,000 copies in the United States.19 On October 15, he was named "Rookie of the Year" at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards.20 However, he was not there to accept the award as he did not think he was going to win.21 In 2014, Ferg appeared as a featured artist on the track "Hands on Me" by Ariana Grande, from her second album My Everything. The album was released on August 22, 2014.22

2015–present: Always Strive and Prosper, Floor Seats II, and Darold

On February 25, 2015, Ferg released the video for the single "Dope Walk", a track from his Ferg Forever (2014) mixtape in which he coined a viral dance of the same name. Composed entirely of iPhone footage shot during New York Fashion Week, the video starred fashion model Cara Delevingne and featured cameos from a host of other celebrities, including Kris Jenner, Kanye West, Diddy, Alexander Wang, Russell Simmons, Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Jeremy Scott, Les Twins, and Haim. Ferg told Rolling Stone, "With 'Dope Walk' I wanted to bring back kids dancing and having fun again. That's how it used to be in Harlem. I remember everybody Harlem-shaking and 'Chicken Noodle Soup'-ing. Those were some of the most fun and memorable times in my life."2324

In late 2015, Ferg directed the music video for rapper Future's "Thought It Was a Drought".25 In an interview with The Source, Ferg stated that his "...new album is my best work yet. I put my all into it. I always tell people I really don't know what I'm going to do after this album, because I'm bearing so much truth with this album."26 On April 22, 2016, Ferg released his second studio album, which is titled Always Strive And Prosper.2728 The album's first single, "New Level" featuring Future was certified gold by the RIAA on August 11, 2016. In 2016, he and Playboi Carti embarked on the "Turnt & Burnt" tour which had 23 stops.29 On June 9, 2017, Lost Kings released "Look At Us Now" as a single featuring Ferg and singer Ally Brooke.3031

Since 2015, Ferg is accompanied on tour by his DJ TJ Mizell,32 who is the son of the legendary Jam Master Jay.33

In 2018, Ferg appeared in a video ad for Tiffany's with Elle Fanning remixing "Moon River"34 and later that year, he also narrated the Adidas World Cup advert 'Creativity is the Answer'.35

In 2020, Ferg, along with musician Matt Sweeney, he appeared on the Run The Jewels track "A Few Words for the Firing Squad (Radiation)" on the latter's fourth studio album, RTJ4. He appeared at the end of "A Few Words..." on the hidden track, "Theme Song", providing his voice with the refrain "Yankee and the Brave".3637

On September 1, 2020, it was alleged that Ferg was no longer in and affiliated with A$AP Mob by members of the group.38 This was later redacted by A$AP Nast on Twitter, with his statements retweeted by the official A$AP Mob Twitter account.39 On September 18, A$AP Ferg's official YouTube account was changed to only say FERG, implying that he has departed A$AP Mob, but this has been unconfirmed.40

Ferg released his fifth album, Floor Seats II, on September 25, 2020. It includes collaborations with Marilyn Manson, Dennis Rodman, and Mulatto, among others.41

In October 2021, FERG announced that he would be dropping the "A$AP" from his name and would henceforth be known simply as FERG for his solo career.42 Roc Nation clarified, “Ferg is very much still part of the Mob, and is A$AP Ferg within A$AP Mob… Ferg as an individual artist and with his solo career is Ferg”.43 His first single under the new moniker, "MDMX," was released in May 2024.44

Ferg released his sixth album Darold, on November 8, 2024. The album features artists such as Future, Denzel Curry, Mike Will Made It, and Mary J. Blige.

Discography

Main articles: ASAP Ferg discography and ASAP Mob discography

Filmography

Film and television roles
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2016AnimalsBodega Cat 1 (voice)Episode: "Flies"
2018SugarHimselfEpisode: "A$AP Ferg drops in on a deserving NYC public school teacher."
2019GoldieTiny
2020The Eric Andre ShowHimselfEpisode: "The A$AP Ferg Show"
2021Nailed It!HimselfEpisode: "Can't Believe It's Cake!"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsNominated workAwardResult
201345BET Hip Hop Awards—Rookie of the YearWon
Video Director of the YearNominated

References

  1. "Harlem Anthem". jaxsta.com. Retrieved August 2, 2019. https://jaxsta.com/release/8bf301d4-ad2c-4c9e-b219-1b75828585ea/ae3f7d9e-b4d7-4223-95d1-a5f7c9971a70/overview ↩

  2. "Hot 100: A$AP Ferg & Nicki Minaj's 'Move Ya Hips' Suffers 80-Spot Drop in Week 2 - That Grape Juice". https://thatgrapejuice.net/2020/08/hot-100-aap-ferg-nicki-minajs-move-hips-suffers-80-spot-drop-week-2/ ↩

  3. Asawd, Jem (October 21, 2021). "A$AP Ferg Signs With Roc Nation, Neptunes-Produced Single Due Next Week (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.com. https://variety.com/2021/music/news/asap-ferg-roc-nation-neptunes-jay-z-1235094417/ ↩

  4. "A$AP Ferg Details 'Floor Seats' EP, Plots Fall Tour". exclaim.ca. Retrieved July 22, 2020. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/a_ap_ferg_details_floor_seats_ep_plots_fall_tour ↩

  5. "A$AP Ferg Talks Changing The World, Shabba Ranks And Why He Never Packs". Huffpost. June 20, 2014. https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/06/20/asap-ferg-interview_n_5511432.html ↩

  6. "Interview: A$AP Ferg Talks About Doing Tricks On BMX Bikes & Being Called Gay". Complex. May 23, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/interview-asap-ferg-bmx-bikes-being-a-weirdo ↩

  7. "Interview: A$AP Ferg Talks About Doing Tricks On BMX Bikes & Being Called Gay". Complex. May 23, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/interview-asap-ferg-bmx-bikes-being-a-weirdo ↩

  8. "DJ Premier & A$AP Ferg's Conversation Shows Rap's Generations Have More In Common Than Not (Video)". Ambrosia For Heads. November 18, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2018. http://ambrosiaforheads.com/2017/11/asap-ferg-father-bad-boy-logo-video/ ↩

  9. "Interview: A$AP Ferg Talks About Doing Tricks On BMX Bikes & Being Called Gay". Complex. May 23, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/interview-asap-ferg-bmx-bikes-being-a-weirdo ↩

  10. "Interview: A$AP Ferg Talks About Doing Tricks On BMX Bikes & Being Called Gay". Complex. May 23, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/interview-asap-ferg-bmx-bikes-being-a-weirdo ↩

  11. "New Video: ASAP Ferg "Persian Wine"". MissInfo.tv. April 23, 2013. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130529084927/http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/asap-ferg-persian-wine-video/ ↩

  12. "A$AP Mob – Lord$ Never Worry // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. August 28, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.datpiff.com/AAP-Mob-Lord-Never-Worry-mixtape.389380.html ↩

  13. "Watch ASAP Ferg's "Work" Remix video, featuring A$AP Rocky, ScHoolBoy Q, and more". Consequence of Sound. May 14, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/05/watch-asap-ferg-work-remix-video-featuring-asap-rocky-schoolboy-q-and-more/ ↩

  14. "A$AP Ferg Announces "Trap Lord" Mixtape". Complex. January 28, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/asap-ferg-announces-trap-lord-mixtape ↩

  15. "Interview: A$AP Ferg Talks About Doing Tricks On BMX Bikes & Being Called Gay". Complex. May 23, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/interview-asap-ferg-bmx-bikes-being-a-weirdo ↩

  16. "A$AP Ferg Signs Solo Deal with Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records". Complex. January 10, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/asap-ferg-signs-solo-deal-with-polo-grounds-musicrca-records ↩

  17. "iTunes – Music – Work (Remix) [feat. A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Trinidad James & Schoolboy Q] – Single by A$AP Ferg". iTunes. May 14, 2013. Archived from the original on August 5, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130805185711/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/work-remix-feat.-a$ap-rocky/id647455059 ↩

  18. "A$AP Ferg Reveals the Release Date for "Trap Lord"". Complex. Retrieved June 3, 2013. http://www.complex.com/music/2013/06/asap-ferg-reveals-the-release-date-for-trap-lord ↩

  19. Tardio, Andres (September 11, 2013). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/8/2013". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 11, 2013. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25400/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-9-8-2013 ↩

  20. "2013 BET Hip Hop Awards: The Complete Winners List". MTV. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016111413/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1715658/bet-hip-hop-awards-2013-winners.jhtml ↩

  21. C. Vernon Coleman (October 26, 2013). "A$AP Ferg Explains Why He Skipped Out On BET Hip-Hop Awards – XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved May 23, 2014. http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/10/asap-ferg-explains-why-he-skipped-out-on-bet-hip-hop-awards/ ↩

  22. "Listen to Ariana Grande's Hands on Me ft. Ferg". asapferg.com. August 22, 2014. Archived from the original on October 5, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141005102649/http://www.asapferg.com/listen-to-ariana-grandes-hands-on-me-ft-ferg/ ↩

  23. "Watch A$AP Ferg Teach Haim, Cara Delevingne How to 'Dope Walk'". RollingStone.com. February 25, 2015. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/watch-asap-ferg-teach-haim-cara-delevingne-how-to-dope-walk-20150225 ↩

  24. Prescod, Danielle (February 25, 2015). "Cara Delevingne stars in A$AP Ferg's New Music Video". Elle.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015. http://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/news/a27000/cara-delevingne-stars-in-aap-fergs-music-video/ ↩

  25. "Future's Yams-Dedicated "Thought It Was a Drought" Video Is Directed By A$AP Ferg". HotNewHipHop. November 6, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015. http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/futures-yams-dedicated-thought-it-was-a-drought-video-is-directed-by-asap-ferg-news.18556.html ↩

  26. "A$AP Ferg: "This Hip Hop Game Is Not Guaranteed; It's A Short Window"". The Source. January 27, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016. http://thesource.com/2016/01/27/aap-ferg-this-hip-hop-game-is-not-guaranteed-its-a-short-window/ ↩

  27. "FERG on Twitter: "Album coming out Jan " always strive and prosper"!!!"". Twitter.com. Retrieved April 7, 2016. https://twitter.com/ASAPferg/status/658722063151144960 ↩

  28. "A$AP Ferg Reveals Missy Elliott, ScHoolboy Q, Rick Ross & More Will Be On "Always Strive & Prosper"". HotNewHipHop. December 21, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015. http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/asap-ferg-reveals-missy-elliott-schoolboy-q-rick-ross-and-more-will-be-on-always-strive-and-prosper-news.19284.html ↩

  29. "A$AP Ferg & Playboi Carti Announce "Turnt & Burnt" Tour". HotNewHipHop. August 24, 2016. https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/asap-ferg-and-playboi-carti-announce-turnt-and-burnt-tour-news.23673.html ↩

  30. Powell, Karlie (June 10, 2017). "Lost Kings Drop Infectious New Track With A$AP FERG You'll Be Singing For Days". Your EDM. Retrieved June 22, 2017. http://www.youredm.com/2017/06/10/lost-kings-look-us-now-ft-ally-brooke-aap-ferg-guilty-pleasure-summer-lyric-video/ ↩

  31. "Ally Brooke Shines On Lost Kings' Fiery "Look At Us Now"". idolator. June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017. https://www.idolator.com/7664417/ally-brooke-look-at-us-now-lost-kings-review ↩

  32. "TJ Mizell on DJing for A$AP Ferg, Crazy Tour Stories (Video)". DJBooth. Retrieved October 26, 2018. https://djbooth.net/features/2015-04-23-tj-mizell-asap-ferg-dj ↩

  33. "Jam Master Jay's Son TJ Mizell Talks 'Growing Up Hip Hop' Season 2 & Being A$AP Ferg's DJ". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2018. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7540942/jam-master-jay-tj-mizell-growing-up-hip-hop-asap-ferg-dj ↩

  34. "A$AP Ferg & Elle Fanning Feature in New Tiffany & Co. Campaign". May 4, 2018. https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/asap-ferg-elle-fanning-tiffany-campaign/ ↩

  35. Rollins, Khadrice. "Watch: New Adidas World Cup ad has all the 'creators'". Sports Illustrated. https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/06/04/adidas-new-world-cup-commercial-creators-video ↩

  36. Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 4, 2022, retrieved August 15, 2023 https://www.discogs.com/release/23842250-Run-The-Jewels-Run-The-Jewels-4 ↩

  37. "A$AP Ferg | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 15, 2023. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/aap-ferg-mn0003043775/credits ↩

  38. "ASAP Ferg Is No Longer Part of ASAP Mob, Says ASAP Illz". XXL. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020. https://www.xxlmag.com/asap-ferg-not-part-of-asap-mob-asap-illz/ ↩

  39. A$AP Mob [@asvpnvst] (September 2, 2020). "THE trap lord was not and will not be kicked out of A$AP" (Tweet). Retrieved September 2, 2020 – via Twitter. https://x.com/asvpnvst/status/1301049951204458496 ↩

  40. "Ferg - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/c/asapfergofficial/featured ↩

  41. Heran, Mamo (September 17, 2020). "A$AP Ferg Sits Down With Dennis Rodman to Announce 'Floor Seats II' Album". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2020. https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/hip-hop/9451283/asap-ferg-floor-seats-ii-album-announcement-dennis-rodman ↩

  42. Aswad, Jem (October 21, 2021). "A$AP Ferg Signs With Roc Nation, Neptunes-Produced Single Due Next Week (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 13, 2024. https://variety.com/2021/music/news/asap-ferg-roc-nation-neptunes-jay-z-1235094417/ ↩

  43. SoMajor, Kim (October 23, 2021). "A$AP Ferg Signs With Roc Nation and Announces His Name Will Be Just "Ferg" - The Source". Retrieved May 13, 2024. https://thesource.com/2021/10/23/aap-ferg-signs-with-roc-nation-and-announces-his-name-will-be-just-ferg/,%20https://thesource.com/2021/10/23/aap-ferg-signs-with-roc-nation-and-announces-his-name-will-be-just-ferg/ ↩

  44. SoMajor, Kim (October 23, 2021). "A$AP Ferg Signs With Roc Nation and Announces His Name Will Be Just "Ferg" - The Source". Retrieved May 13, 2024. https://thesource.com/2021/10/23/aap-ferg-signs-with-roc-nation-and-announces-his-name-will-be-just-ferg/,%20https://thesource.com/2021/10/23/aap-ferg-signs-with-roc-nation-and-announces-his-name-will-be-just-ferg/ ↩

  45. "2013 BET Hip Hop Awards: The Complete Winners List". MTV. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016111413/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1715658/bet-hip-hop-awards-2013-winners.jhtml ↩