Always Strive and Prosper

Last updated

Always Strive and Prosper
ASAP Ferg Always Strive and Prosper.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 22, 2016
Recorded2015–16
Genre Hip hop
Length47:28
Label
Producer
ASAP Ferg chronology
Ferg Forever
(2014)
Always Strive and Prosper
(2016)
Still Striving
(2017)
Singles from Always Strive And Prosper
  1. "New Level"
    Released: December 18, 2015
  2. "Back Hurt"
    Released: June 28, 2016

Always Strive and Prosper is the second studio album by American rapper ASAP Ferg. It was released on April 22, 2016, by A$AP Worldwide, Polo Grounds Music and RCA Records. [1] [2] The album was supported by two singles: "New Level" featuring Future, and "Back Hurt" featuring Migos. Other appearances include Missy Elliot, A$AP Mob, Chris Brown, Ty Dolla $ign, Rick Ross and Schoolboy Q, among others.

Contents

Singles

On December 18, 2015, ASAP Ferg released the album's first single, titled "New Level". The song features a guest appearance from Southern hip hop recording artist Future, with the production that was handled by Honorable C.N.O.T.E. [3] On January 19, 2016, the music video was released for "New Level" featuring Future. [4]

On June 28, 2016, the bonus track "Back Hurt" featuring Migos, was sent to urban radio as the album's second single.[ citation needed ] The following day, the music video was released. [5]

Promotional singles

"Let It Bang" featuring Schoolboy Q, was released as the album's promotional single on March 24, 2016. [6] The following day, the music video premiered for "Let It Bang" featuring Schoolboy Q. [7] "World Is Mine" featuring Big Sean was released as the album's second promotional single on April 1, 2016. [8] The official video for the song was released on June 26, 2016. [9] The audio for "Hungry Ham" featuring Skrillex and Crystal Caines, was released as the album's third promotional single on April 7, 2016. [10] The audio for "Strive" featuring Missy Elliott, was released as the album's fourth promotional single on April 14, 2016. [11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 74/100 [12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The A.V. Club B+ [14]
Consequence of Sound C [15]
Exclaim 8/10 [16]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
NME 3/5 [18]
Pitchfork Media 7.3/10 [19]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [20]
Spin 5/10 [21]
XXL Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg(XL) [22]

Always Strive And Prosper has received generally positive reviews. At Metacritic which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received a score of 74 based on 15 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [12]

Commercial performance

In the United States, the album debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 units in its first week. [23]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Rebirth"2:15
2."Hungry Ham" (featuring Skrillex and Crystal Caines)Skrillex3:35
3."Strive" (featuring Missy Elliott)
2:50
4."Meet My Crazy Uncle (Skit)"BrownTodd Bee0:22
5."Psycho"
  • Brown
  • Barsh
  • Abdul-Rahman
  • Volpe
  • Tannenbaum
  • Seeff
  • DJ Khalil
  • Clams Casino
2:58
6."Let It Bang" (featuring Schoolboy Q) Lex Luger 2:31
7."New Level" (featuring Future) Honorable C.N.O.T.E. 4:24
8."Yammy Gang" (featuring ASAP Mob and Tatianna Paulino)2:33
9."Swipe Life" (featuring Rick Ross)
VERYRVRE3:13
10."Uzi Gang" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert and Marty Baller) TM88 3:32
11."Beautiful People" (featuring Chuck D and Mama Ferg)
  • DJ Khalil
  • Clams Casino
3:15
12."Damn Not Again (Skit)"BrownTodd Bee0:21
13."Let You Go" StarGate 3:16
14."World Is Mine" (featuring Big Sean) No I.D. 3:45
15."Phone Call With Breezy (Skit)"BrownTodd Bee0:41
16."I Love You" (featuring Chris Brown and Ty Dolla Sign)
  • Hagler
  • Jordan Lewis
3:47
17."Grandma (Skit)"BrownTodd Bee0:20
18."Grandma"
DJ Khalil3:50
Total length:47:28
Best Buy deluxe edition (bonus tracks) [24]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
19."Don't Mind" (featuring French Montana and Fabolous)
3:00
20."Back Hurt" (featuring Migos)
  • Danny Wolf
  • Soldado
3:34
Total length:54:02

Notes

Charts

References

  1. "Always Strive and Prosper by A$AP Ferg on iTunes". iTunes. April 14, 2016. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  2. Platon, Adelle (March 22, 2016). "A$AP Ferg Announces 'Always Strive And Prosper'". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  3. "New Music: A$AP Ferg feat. Future – 'New Level'". Rap-Up. December 17, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  4. "Video: A$AP Ferg feat. Future – 'New Level'". Rap-Up. January 19, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  5. "A$AP Ferg - Back Hurt ft. Migos". YouTube. June 29, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  6. "New Music: A$AP Ferg feat. ScHoolboy Q – 'Let It Bang'". Rap-Up. March 24, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  7. "A$AP Ferg & ScHoolboy Q Bring A$AP Mob & TDE Together for 'Let It Bang' Video". Billboard. March 25, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  8. "A$AP Ferg Teams With Big Sean for New Song "World Is Mine:" Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  9. "A$AP Ferg & Big Sean Load Up on Ambition in 'World Is Mine' Video". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  10. "A$AP Ferg - Hungry Ham (Audio) ft. Skrillex, Crystal Caines". YouTube. April 7, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  11. "A$AP Ferg - Strive (Audio) ft. Missy Elliott". YouTube. April 14, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Reviews for Always Strive And Prosper by A$AP Ferg". Metacritic. April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  13. Jeffries, David (April 22, 2016). "Always Strive And Prosper - A$AP Ferg | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  14. Rytlewski, Evan (April 22, 2016). "Always Strive And Prosper · A$AP Ferg · Music Review A$AP Ferg raps from the heart on Always Strive And Prosper". Avclub.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  15. Madden, Michael (April 22, 2016). "ASAP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  16. "ASAP Ferg: Always Strive And Prosper". Exclaim. April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  17. Petridis, Alexis. "A$AP Ferg: Always Strive And Prosper review – more than just Rocky's supporting man". The Guardian. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  18. "NME Reviews - A$AP Ferg - 'Always Strive And Prosper' Review". Nme.Com. April 27, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  19. Iandoli, Kathy (April 26, 2016). "A$AP Ferg: Always Strive And Prosper Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  20. Spanos, Brittany (April 22, 2016). "ASAP Ferg's New Album: Always Strive And Prosper". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  21. "Review: A$AP Ferg, 'Always Strive And Prosper'". SPIN. April 22, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  22. "ASAP Ferg Rises to New Levels on 'Always Strive and Prosper'". Xxlmag.com. April 28, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  23. Caulfield, Keith (January 5, 2016). "Beyonce Earns Sixth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Lemonade'". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
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