ASAP Ferg
A$AP Ferg | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Darold Durard Brown Ferguson Jr. |
Also known as | Ferg |
Born | [1] New York City, U.S. | October 20, 1988
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2007–present |
Labels |
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Member of | ASAP Mob |
Website | asapferg |
Darold Durard Brown Ferguson Jr.[2] (born October 20, 1988), known professionally as ASAP Ferg ((/ˈeɪsæp/ AY-sap; stylized as A$AP Ferg), is an American rapper from New York City's Harlem neighborhood. He is best known as a member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob, from which he adopted a record deal with Polo Grounds and RCA—the same labels that helped launch ASAP Worldwide. Two years prior, the group's cohorts ASAP Rocky and the late ASAP Yams effectively negotiated their own respective deal. Ferguson's debut studio album, Trap Lord (2013) peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200 and received positive critical reception, also marking his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 with its triple platinum certified-lead single, "Work (Remix)" (featuring ASAP Rocky, French Montana, Schoolboy Q, and Trinidad James).
In April 2016, Ferguson released his second studio album, Always Strive and Prosper to similar reception. The following year, Ferguson released the commercial mixtape Still Striving, which was preceded by the single "Plain Jane" (remixed featuring Nicki Minaj). In 2020, Ferguson released the single "Move Ya Hips" (featuring Nicki Minaj and MadeinTYO), which peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100—becoming his highest-charting single—while marking one of the largest downward movements in the chart's history the following week.[3] In 2021, Ferguson signed a management deal with Roc Nation.[4]
Outside of music, Ferguson founded the street fashion brand Traplord in 2012, which was namesake for his debut album. In 2013, he was named "Rookie of the Year" at the BET Hip Hop Awards.[5]
Early life
Darold Durard Brown was born on October 20, 1988, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City to Trinidadian parents.[6] Ferg was raised in Hamilton Heights.[7] 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.[7]
Musical career
2009–2012: Career beginnings with A$AP Mob
By 2009, he started developing an aggressive,
2012–2014: Trap Lord
Ferg's debut single "
On January 10, 2013, it was announced that he signed a record deal with
2015–present: Always Strive and Prosper and Floor Seats II
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$AP Rocky, Jeremy Scott, Les Twins, and Haim. Ferg told Rolling Stone, "With 'Dope Walk' I wanted to bring back kids dancing and having fun again. That's how it used to be in Harlem. I remember everybody Harlem-shaking and 'Chicken Noodle Soup'-ing. Those were some of the most fun and memorable times in my life."[20][21]
In late 2015, Ferg directed the music video for rapper
Since 2015, Ferg is accompanied on tour by his dj TJ Mizell,[29] who is the son of the legendary Jam Master Jay.[30]
In 2018, Ferg appeared in a video ad for
In 2020, Ferg, along with musician Matt Sweeney, he appeared on the Run The Jewels track "A Few Words for the Firing Squad (Radiation)" on the latter's fourth studio album, RTJ4. He appeared at the end of "A Few Words..." on the hidden track, "Theme Song", providing his voice with the refrain "Yankee and the Brave".[33][34]
On September 1, 2020, it was alleged that Ferg was no longer in and affiliated with A$AP Mob by members of the group.
A$AP Ferg released his fifth album, Floor Seats II, on September 25, 2020. It includes collaborations with
Discography
- Trap Lord (2013)
- Always Strive and Prosper (2016)
- Still Striving (2017)
- Floor Seats (2019)
- Floor Seats II (2020)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Animals | Bodega Cat 1 (voice) | Episode: "Flies" | |
2018 | Sugar
|
Himself | Episode: "A$AP Ferg drops in on a deserving NYC public school teacher." | |
2019 | Goldie | Tiny | ||
2020 | The Eric Andre Show | Himself | Episode: "The A$AP Ferg Show" | |
2021 | Nailed It! | Himself | Episode: "Can't Believe It's Cake!" |
Awards and nominations
Year | Awards | Nominated work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013[17] | BET Hip Hop Awards | — | Rookie of the Year | Won |
Video Director of the Year | Nominated |
References
- ^ "happy birthday traplord". happy birthday traplord. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ "Harlem Anthem". jaxsta.com. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ "Hot 100: A$AP Ferg & Nicki Minaj's 'Move Ya Hips' Suffers 80-Spot Drop in Week 2 - That Grape Juice".
- Variety.com.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg Details 'Floor Seats' EP, Plots Fall Tour". exclaim.ca. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg Talks Changing The World, Shabba Ranks And Why He Never Packs". Huffpost. June 20, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Interview: A$AP Ferg Talks About Doing Tricks On BMX Bikes & Being Called Gay". Complex. May 23, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "DJ Premier & A$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.
- ^ "New Video: ASAP Ferg "Persian Wine"". MissInfo.tv. April 23, 2013. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- ^ "A$AP Mob – Lord$ Never Worry // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. August 28, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "Watch ASAP Ferg's "Work" Remix video, featuring A$AP Rocky, ScHoolBoy Q, and more". Consequence of Sound. May 14, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg Announces "Trap Lord" Mixtape". Complex. January 28, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg Signs Solo Deal with Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records". Complex. January 10, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "iTunes – Music – Work (Remix) [feat. A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Trinidad James & Schoolboy Q] – Single by A$AP Ferg". Itunes.apple.com. May 14, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg Reveals the Release Date for "Trap Lord"". Complex. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Tardio, Andres (September 11, 2013). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/8/2013". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
- ^ a b "2013 BET Hip Hop Awards: The Complete Winners List". MTV. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ C. Vernon Coleman (October 26, 2013). "A$AP Ferg Explains Why He Skipped Out On BET Hip-Hop Awards – XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ "Listen to Ariana Grande's Hands on Me ft. Ferg". asapferg.com. August 22, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ^ "Watch A$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.
- ^ Prescod, Danielle (February 25, 2015). "Cara Delevingne stars in A$AP Ferg's New Music Video". Elle.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
- ^ "Future's Yams-Dedicated "Thought It Was a Drought" Video Is Directed By A$AP Ferg". HotNewHipHop. November 6, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg: "This Hip Hop Game Is Not Guaranteed; It's A Short Window"". The Source. January 27, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
- ^ "FERG on Twitter: "Album coming out Jan " always strive and prosper"!!!"". Twitter.com. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg Reveals Missy Elliott, ScHoolboy Q, Rick Ross & More Will Be On "Always Strive & Prosper"". HotNewHipHop. December 21, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg & Playboi Carti Announce "Turnt & Burnt" Tour". HotNewHipHop. August 24, 2016.
- ^ Powell, Karlie (June 10, 2017). "Lost Kings Drop Infectious New Track With A$AP FERG You'll Be Singing For Days". Your EDM. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "Ally Brooke Shines On Lost Kings' Fiery "Look At Us Now"". idolator. June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "TJ Mizell on DJing for A$AP Ferg, Crazy Tour Stories (Video)". DJBooth. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
- ^ "Jam Master Jay's Son TJ Mizell Talks 'Growing Up Hip Hop' Season 2 & Being A$AP Ferg's DJ". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg & Elle Fanning Feature in New Tiffany & Co. Campaign". May 4, 2018.
- ^ Rollins, Khadrice. "Watch: New Adidas World Cup ad has all the 'creators'". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 4, 2022, retrieved August 15, 2023
- ^ "A$AP Ferg | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ "ASAP Ferg Is No Longer Part of ASAP Mob, Says ASAP Illz". XXL. XXL. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ferg - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Heran, Mamo (September 17, 2020). "A$AP Ferg Sits Down With Dennis Rodman to Announce 'Floor Seats II' Album". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
External links
- Official Website
- ASAP Ferg at IMDb