ASAP Ferg

Darold Durard Brown was born on October 20, 1988, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City to Trinidadian parents.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/06/20/asap-ferg-interview_n_5511432.html|title=A$AP Ferg Talks Changing The World, Shabba Ranks And Why He Never Packs|newspaper=Huffpost|date=June 20, 2014}} Ferg was raised in Hamilton Heights. His father, Darold Ferguson, owned a small Harlem boutique and printed shirts and logos for record labels; including Bad Boy Records and performers Teddy Riley, Heavy D and Bell Biv DeVoe. Before starting his music career, Ferg initially aspired to start his own clothing line.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/interview-asap-ferg-bmx-bikes-being-a-weirdo |title=Interview: A$AP Ferg Talks About Doing Tricks On BMX Bikes & Being Called Gay |publisher=Complex |date=May 23, 2013 |access-date=June 3, 2013}} Inspired by his father, who died of kidney failure, Ferg launched clothing and jewelry lines at a young age and attended art school.{{Cite news|url=http://ambrosiaforheads.com/2017/11/asap-ferg-father-bad-boy-logo-video/|title=DJ Premier & A$AP Ferg's Conversation Shows Rap's Generations Have More In Common Than Not (Video)|date=November 18, 2017|work=Ambrosia For Heads|access-date=September 9, 2018|language=en-US}} 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.

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. 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).{{cite web |url=http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/asap-ferg-persian-wine-video/ |title=New Video: ASAP Ferg "Persian Wine" |publisher=MissInfo.tv |date=April 23, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2013 |archive-date=May 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529084927/http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/asap-ferg-persian-wine-video/ |url-status=dead }}

File:ASAP Ferg Live In Concert (cropped).jpg in Toronto]]

Ferg's debut single "Work", produced by Chinza and Fly, appeared on the A$AP Mob mixtape Lords Never Worry, released on August 28, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.datpiff.com/AAP-Mob-Lord-Never-Worry-mixtape.389380.html |title=A$AP Mob – Lord$ Never Worry // Free Mixtape @ |publisher=Datpiff.com |date=August 28, 2012 |access-date=June 3, 2013}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/05/watch-asap-ferg-work-remix-video-featuring-asap-rocky-schoolboy-q-and-more/ |title=Watch ASAP Ferg's "Work" Remix video, featuring A$AP Rocky, ScHoolBoy Q, and more |publisher=Consequence of Sound |date=May 14, 2013 |access-date=June 3, 2013}} On January 10, 2013, he announced Trap Lord would be the title of his debut album.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/asap-ferg-announces-trap-lord-mixtape |title=A$AP Ferg Announces "Trap Lord" Mixtape |publisher=Complex |date=January 28, 2013 |access-date=June 3, 2013}} 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."

On January 10, 2013, it was announced that he signed a record deal with RCA Records and Polo Grounds.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/asap-ferg-signs-solo-deal-with-polo-grounds-musicrca-records |title=A$AP Ferg Signs Solo Deal with Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records |publisher=Complex |date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=June 3, 2013}} On May 14, 2013, the remix to "Work", featuring fellow American rappers A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, French Montana and Trinidad James, was released to digital retailers.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/work-remix-feat.-a$ap-rocky/id647455059 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805185711/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/work-remix-feat.-a$ap-rocky/id647455059 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 5, 2013 |title=iTunes – Music – Work (Remix) [feat. A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Trinidad James & Schoolboy Q] – Single by A$AP Ferg |publisher=iTunes |date=May 14, 2013 |access-date=June 3, 2013}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/06/asap-ferg-reveals-the-release-date-for-trap-lord |title=A$AP Ferg Reveals the Release Date for "Trap Lord" |publisher=Complex |access-date=June 3, 2013}} The album debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart, with total album sales of 46,000 copies in the United States.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25400/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-9-8-2013|last=Tardio |first=Andres | title=Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/8/2013|magazine=HipHopDX |date=September 11, 2013| access-date=September 11, 2013}} On October 15, he was named "Rookie of the Year" at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1715658/bet-hip-hop-awards-2013-winners.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016111413/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1715658/bet-hip-hop-awards-2013-winners.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 16, 2013 |title=2013 BET Hip Hop Awards: The Complete Winners List |publisher=MTV |access-date=May 23, 2014}} However, he was not there to accept the award as he did not think he was going to win.{{cite web|author=C. Vernon Coleman |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/10/asap-ferg-explains-why-he-skipped-out-on-bet-hip-hop-awards/ |title=A$AP Ferg Explains Why He Skipped Out On BET Hip-Hop Awards – XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=October 26, 2013 |access-date=May 23, 2014}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.asapferg.com/listen-to-ariana-grandes-hands-on-me-ft-ferg/ |title=Listen to Ariana Grande's Hands on Me ft. Ferg |publisher=asapferg.com |date=August 22, 2014 |access-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-date=October 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005102649/http://www.asapferg.com/listen-to-ariana-grandes-hands-on-me-ft-ferg/ |url-status=dead }}

File:ASAP Ferg Veld festival 2017.jpg

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$AP Rocky, Jeremy Scott, Les Twins, and Haim. Ferg told Rolling Stone, "With 'Dope Walk' I wanted to bring back kids dancing and having fun again. That's how it used to be in Harlem. I remember everybody Harlem-shaking and 'Chicken Noodle Soup'-ing. Those were some of the most fun and memorable times in my life."{{cite web|title=Watch A$AP Ferg Teach Haim, Cara Delevingne How to 'Dope Walk' |publisher=RollingStone.com |date=February 25, 2015 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/watch-asap-ferg-teach-haim-cara-delevingne-how-to-dope-walk-20150225 |access-date=February 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227063643/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/watch-asap-ferg-teach-haim-cara-delevingne-how-to-dope-walk-20150225 |archive-date=February 27, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Prescod |first=Danielle |title=Cara Delevingne stars in A$AP Ferg's New Music Video |publisher=Elle.com |date=February 25, 2015 |url=http://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/news/a27000/cara-delevingne-stars-in-aap-fergs-music-video/ |access-date=February 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227004021/http://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/news/a27000/cara-delevingne-stars-in-aap-fergs-music-video/ |archive-date=February 27, 2015 |url-status=live }}

In late 2015, Ferg directed the music video for rapper Future's "Thought It Was a Drought".{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/futures-yams-dedicated-thought-it-was-a-drought-video-is-directed-by-asap-ferg-news.18556.html |title=Future's Yams-Dedicated "Thought It Was a Drought" Video Is Directed By A$AP Ferg|publisher=HotNewHipHop |date=November 6, 2015 |access-date=November 6, 2015}} In an interview with The Source, Ferg stated that his "...new album is my best work yet. I put my all into it. I always tell people I really don't know what I'm going to do after this album, because I'm bearing so much truth with this album."{{cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2016/01/27/aap-ferg-this-hip-hop-game-is-not-guaranteed-its-a-short-window/ |title=A$AP Ferg: "This Hip Hop Game Is Not Guaranteed; It's A Short Window" |date=January 27, 2016 |publisher=The Source |access-date=July 22, 2016}} On April 22, 2016, Ferg released his second studio album, which is titled Always Strive And Prosper.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ASAPferg/status/658722063151144960 |title=FERG on Twitter: "Album coming out Jan " always strive and prosper"!!!" |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=April 7, 2016}}{{cite news|url=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 |title=A$AP Ferg Reveals Missy Elliott, ScHoolboy Q, Rick Ross & More Will Be On "Always Strive & Prosper"|newspaper=HotNewHipHop |date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=December 24, 2015}} The album's first single, "New Level" featuring Future was certified gold by the RIAA on August 11, 2016. In 2016, he and Playboi Carti embarked on the "Turnt & Burnt" tour which had 23 stops.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/asap-ferg-and-playboi-carti-announce-turnt-and-burnt-tour-news.23673.html|title=A$AP Ferg & Playboi Carti Announce "Turnt & Burnt" Tour|website=HotNewHipHop|date=August 24, 2016}} On June 9, 2017, Lost Kings released "Look At Us Now" as a single featuring Ferg and singer Ally Brooke.{{Cite news|url=http://www.youredm.com/2017/06/10/lost-kings-look-us-now-ft-ally-brooke-aap-ferg-guilty-pleasure-summer-lyric-video/|title=Lost Kings Drop Infectious New Track With A$AP FERG You'll Be Singing For Days|last=Powell|first=Karlie|date=June 10, 2017|website=Your EDM|access-date=June 22, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.idolator.com/7664417/ally-brooke-look-at-us-now-lost-kings-review|title=Ally Brooke Shines On Lost Kings' Fiery "Look At Us Now"|date=June 8, 2017|work=idolator|access-date=June 22, 2017|language=en-US}}

Since 2015, Ferg is accompanied on tour by his DJ TJ Mizell,{{Cite news|url=https://djbooth.net/features/2015-04-23-tj-mizell-asap-ferg-dj|title=TJ Mizell on DJing for A$AP Ferg, Crazy Tour Stories (Video)|work=DJBooth|access-date=October 26, 2018|language=en}} who is the son of the legendary Jam Master Jay.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7540942/jam-master-jay-tj-mizell-growing-up-hip-hop-asap-ferg-dj|title=Jam Master Jay's Son TJ Mizell Talks 'Growing Up Hip Hop' Season 2 & Being A$AP Ferg's DJ|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 26, 2018}}

In 2018, Ferg appeared in a video ad for Tiffany's with Elle Fanning remixing "Moon River"{{Cite web | url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/asap-ferg-elle-fanning-tiffany-campaign/ |title = A$AP Ferg & Elle Fanning Feature in New Tiffany & Co. Campaign|date = May 4, 2018}} and later that year, he also narrated the Adidas World Cup advert 'Creativity is the Answer'.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/06/04/adidas-new-world-cup-commercial-creators-video|title=Watch: New Adidas World Cup ad has all the 'creators'|first=Khadrice|last=Rollins|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

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".{{Citation |title=Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 4 |date=2022 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/23842250-Run-The-Jewels-Run-The-Jewels-4 |access-date=2023-08-15 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=A$AP Ferg {{!}} Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/aap-ferg-mn0003043775/credits |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}

On September 1, 2020, it was alleged that Ferg was no longer in and affiliated with A$AP Mob by members of the group.{{cite web |title=ASAP Ferg Is No Longer Part of ASAP Mob, Says ASAP Illz |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/asap-ferg-not-part-of-asap-mob-asap-illz/ |website=XXL |date=September 2, 2020 |access-date=September 2, 2020}} This was later redacted by A$AP Nast on Twitter, with his statements retweeted by the official A$AP Mob Twitter account.{{cite tweet|user=asvpnvst|author=A$AP Mob|title=THE trap lord was not and will not be kicked out of A$AP|number=1301049951204458496|date=September 2, 2020|access-date=September 2, 2020}}

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.{{Cite web|title=Ferg - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/c/asapfergofficial/featured|access-date=July 1, 2021|website=www.youtube.com}}

Ferg released his fifth album, Floor Seats II, on September 25, 2020. It includes collaborations with Marilyn Manson, Dennis Rodman, and Mulatto, among others.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/hip-hop/9451283/asap-ferg-floor-seats-ii-album-announcement-dennis-rodman|title=A$AP Ferg Sits Down With Dennis Rodman to Announce 'Floor Seats II' Album|magazine=Billboard|last=Heran|first=Mamo|date=September 17, 2020|access-date=September 24, 2020}}

In October 2021, FERG announced that he would be dropping the "A$AP" from his name and would henceforth be known simply as FERG for his solo career.{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2021-10-21 |title=A$AP Ferg Signs With Roc Nation, Neptunes-Produced Single Due Next Week (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/asap-ferg-roc-nation-neptunes-jay-z-1235094417/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} 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”.{{Cite web |last=SoMajor |first=Kim |date=2021-10-23 |title=A$AP Ferg Signs With Roc Nation and Announces His Name Will Be Just "Ferg" - The Source |url=https://thesource.com/2021/10/23/aap-ferg-signs-with-roc-nation-and-announces-his-name-will-be-just-ferg/,%20https://thesource.com/2021/10/23/aap-ferg-signs-with-roc-nation-and-announces-his-name-will-be-just-ferg/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |language=en-US}} His first single under the new moniker, "MDMX," was released in May 2024.{{Cite web |last=SoMajor |first=Kim |date=2021-10-23 |title=A$AP Ferg Signs With Roc Nation and Announces His Name Will Be Just "Ferg" - The Source |url=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/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |language=en-US}}

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.

{{main|ASAP Ferg discography|ASAP Mob discography}}

• Trap Lord (2013)
• Always Strive and Prosper (2016)
• Still Striving (2017)
• Floor Seats (2019)
• Floor Seats II (2020)
• Darold (2024)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180113001355/https://traplord.com/ Official Website]
• {{IMDb name|6672600}}

{{ASAP Ferg}}

{{ASAP Mob}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferg, ASAP}}

Category:1988 births

Category:American rappers of Trinidad and Tobago descent

Category:Living people

Category:People from Harlem

Category:Rappers from Manhattan

Category:ASAP Mob members

Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians

Category:Gangsta rappers

Category:21st-century American rappers

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:RCA Records artists

Category:American trap musicians