Artist Spotlight: A$AP Ferg

Hip-hop surrounded A$AP Ferg from childhood. His father Darold Ferguson owned a Harlem boutique and printed shirts and logos for record labels including Bad Boy Records and luminaries such as Teddy Riley, Heavy D, Bell Biv DeVoe, and more. Even though he immersed himself in music, the younger Ferg pursued fashion at first. Launching Devoni Clothing in 2005, he designed and distributed high-end belts worn by the likes of Chris Brown, Swizz Beatz, and Diggy Simmons. Eventually, his hustle, creativity, and business acumen extended to music.

“Trapping means hustling,” he explains. “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$AP Rocky recognized that “impeccable hustle game” and pushed Ferg to get behind the mic as much as possible. In 2010, they teamed up for the viral hits “Get High,” “Kissin’ Pink,” and explosive “Ghetto Symphony” from Rocky’s chart-topping major label 2013 debut LONG.LIVE.A$AP.

“Rocky is a major reason I’m rapping,” he reveals. “He believes in me and really challenges me. We look up to each other, and I consider him a brother.”

The world got its formal introduction to Ferg on the inimitable and irresistible “Work.” His first single resounds with gutter-fabulous production from Chinza & Fly—who he actually found on tumblr while touring with Rocky on Drake’s Club Paradise Tour. His impenetrable flow charges through a smoky synth haze, rising to the forefront. Upon its release, the music video quickly racked up over 2 million online views and was dubbed one of the “50 Best Songs of 2012” by tastemaker Complex.com.

About “Work,” Ferg goes on, “Lyrically, it’s truth. It’s a motivational song. I speak where I come from. I wanted to talk about real life shit, and that’s what it does. You’ve got to put in that work.” Also in his arsenal is the sharp and slick “Dump Dump,” the rugged “Shabba,” and the ever so energetic, “Plain Jane.”

Ultimately and obviously, Ferg is beginning to leave his own legacy with Trap Lord. “I hope people take the good and the bad from what I’ve got to say,” he concludes. “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. You can’t hide from this shit though. It builds your character. I learned how to be independent. I made it out of the hood, and now I want to go to the top.”

You can catch our tarp lord and savior amongst the epicness of Phoenix Lights. He’ll be putting in that light work alongside Kaskade, Malaa, Excision, and Party Favor. Grab your tickets here.

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