By Connor Kropschot
Staff Writer
“Always Strive and Prosper” A$AP Ferg’s newest album, is his best one yet making for a great listen with deep lyrics, fun beats, and featured artists that bring the songs together.
“Always Strive and Prosper” is Ferg’s second studio album featuring artists like Skrillex and Chris Brown, which give Ferg a new sound different to the “Trap Lord” (his first studio album) he displayed when he first released his album.
Although A$AP Ferg is often seen as more of a support role and member of the A$AP Mob, his newest album breaks him out of that with a new style and taste along with the original sound that comes together to build up this album to make an amazing listen.
“Always Strive and Prosper” also gives a look into the personal life of Ferg, something most rappers would never go into and it makes the album that much more interesting as we get to learn about his “psycho” Uncle who “jumps through windows” in the song “pyscho” or his grandma who plays as a major influence in his life as he shows in the touching song “Grandma”.
Not only does ASAP Fergs newest album feature multiple songs giving us a look into his life, but he also features multiple skits, or short audio clips which set the mood in the album. Although most skits usually make albums feel rough or ruin the flow of the album, these skits are fun short tapes giving us more insight into the life of Ferg.
Even though “Always Strive and Prosper” has a deep feeling to it with the way Ferg raps about his family, he still adds the trap feeling listeners are used to with every song and skit marked explicit on the album and songs like “Uzi Gang” where it’s obvious Ferg will always be a “Trap Lord”.
Not only does Ferg do his best to add his usual trap feeling to his music, but with songs like “Hungry Ham” featuring Skrillex, Ferg opens up to a new type of music with edm and even songs like “I love you” featuring Chris Brown which move away from trap and into songs that you’d hear on the radio.
However, in these new songs with edm like features and fast electronic beats, the one of a kind feeling with Fergs distinct voice and beats is lost and some songs begin to sound indistinguishable from any other edm or electronic song.
One thing for sure is that “Always Strive and Prosper” is one to listen to. It doesn’t just feature a whole array of music from trap to edm to R&B but he displays lyrics with meaning and a personal side to Ferg connecting the listener to the artist. Although some songs drain out his original style the album as a whole brings out Ferg as an independent artist who can put out singles without his group.
“Always Strive and Prosper” was released on April 22 and is available for purchase on iTunes.
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