Rapper A$AP Ferg, often seen in concert wearing his signature grill, has come a long way since his late-‘80s youth in the Hamilton Heights area of Harlem. Born Darold Ferguson, Jr., the ticket-selling hip-hop performer acknowledged “success is the only option” for him in a March 2013 interview with Complex magazine. Before becoming part of the A$AP Mob hip-hip collective in 2007, Ferguson followed in the fashion footsteps of his screenprinting father. He developed his own clothing line, Devoni Clothing, designing and distributing high-end belts purchased by tour superstars like Chris Brown and Swizz Beatz.
But his love for music took over just a couple years later, with A$AP Mob—an acronym for “Always Strive and Prosper”—releasing their first full-length mixtape, “Lords Never Worry,” in 2012. A$AP Ferg signed his own record deal in early 2013 with Polo Grounds and RCA and unleashed his solo debut, “Trap Lord,” in August of that year. His gritty, explicit rap style is clearly expressed in tracks like “Work” and “Shabba,” from the album, which features guest appearances by A$AP Rocky, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Waka Flocka Flame, among others.
