Always Strive and Prosper
by A$AP Ferg
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 85 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 85
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 85
  3. Negative: 6 out of 85
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  1. Twbfuture
    Apr 22, 2016
    8
    Asap Ferg is back...

    This album is completly different, with a broad variation in production and remarkble guests. Though not all the guests on his album are worth noticing. Psycho is an absolute banger, bringing the old school back like Asap Nast. One bad note: the collaboration with Skrillex and the one with Missy Elliot are a little bit queerly. top tracks: 1. Psycho    Asap Ferg is back...

    This album is completly different, with a broad variation in production and remarkble guests.
    Though not all the guests on his album are worth noticing.

    Psycho is an absolute banger, bringing the old school back like Asap Nast.
    One bad note: the collaboration with Skrillex and the one with Missy Elliot are a little bit queerly.

    top tracks:
    1. Psycho
    2.Beautiful People
    3. New Level    … Expand
  2. lordkarmagan12
    Apr 25, 2016
    10
    After Trap Lord (Which I loved) I was waiting on something that had a similar vibe but I could say that I was happily surprised Ferg showed his versatility but still kept it cohesive If you were still expecting the same old same old you'll bound to get disapointed by this album but have if you an open mind, I'm sure you'll find something to like.
  3. corei
    Apr 22, 2016
    8
    This album has loads of character. It's occasionally experimental, not at all lacking in the banger department, there's just not to much to complain about here. I'm feeling a decent 8 on this. Tran-
  4. israelvg49
    Apr 25, 2016
    10
    In 'Always Strive and Prosper', Ferg performs as an experimental artist, this project is almost everywhere. While having some Trap Influenced bangers involved, few songs i consider ''real hip-hop'', And overall great features in here. While knowing Skrillex would do his job on production, he did, Clams Casino jumped in, No I.D, AND! as well as Lex Luger! See, Overall this project did notIn 'Always Strive and Prosper', Ferg performs as an experimental artist, this project is almost everywhere. While having some Trap Influenced bangers involved, few songs i consider ''real hip-hop'', And overall great features in here. While knowing Skrillex would do his job on production, he did, Clams Casino jumped in, No I.D, AND! as well as Lex Luger! See, Overall this project did not disappoint at all, much more very glad he experimented different vibes in this Sophomore Project. Lastly, VERY GLAD LIL UZI VERT WAS FEATURED IN THIS, HE WILL MAKE IT BIG 2016. UZI GOT ALL THE TALENT.… Expand
  5. mlarch
    Apr 23, 2016
    8
    There is a lot to enjoy on this album. With minimum "trendy" tracks, most of this album feels authentic and genuine. I love variety like this.

    Favorites: Beautiful People, Psycho, Grandma
  6. thethoughthere
    Apr 23, 2016
    5
    I was wholeheartedly let down by this album.

    With a sparse offering of legitimately good tracks, a handful of mediocre ones and a majority of terrible songs, Always Strive and Prosper is a poor effort from an artist I quite like, A$AP Ferg. The opening tracks start this record off on a sour note, as the intro track is a surprisingly weak offering, the Skrillex-produced joint is    I was wholeheartedly let down by this album.

    With a sparse offering of legitimately good tracks, a handful of mediocre ones and a majority of terrible songs, Always Strive and Prosper is a poor effort from an artist I quite like, A$AP Ferg.

    The opening tracks start this record off on a sour note, as the intro track is a surprisingly weak offering, the Skrillex-produced joint is downright terrible and the Missy Elliot song (though admittedly more enjoyable in the context of the album than as a single) is a great example of why Ferg has a poor track record with experimentation that doesn't involve "trap" flavorings. The first quality songs come in at #5 and #6 with Psycho and Let It Bang ft. Schoolboy Q, respectively, which are both great, as Psycho is a surprisingly mellow and well-put story-telling effort and Let It Bang is a veritable "banger" of a song.

    Following these, "New Level" is decent, but nothing to write home about, and comes off as a B-Side to EVOL or Ferg Forever, "Yammy Gang" is similar, but the feature of A$AP Mob seems shoehorned, as the only one to really show his chops is A$AP Ferg prior to A$AP Yams' mother hopping in to briefly touch in on her son's untimely death, which is extremely heartfelt.

    "Swipe Left" comes with a shockingly listenable feature from the usually-inept Rick Ross, but overall the overall reaction is that the song is amazing due to its not being terrible, and if you compensate, it's really just a simplistic and boring song. Similarly, "Uzi Gang" is a great example of why Lil Uzi Vert is a joke in the industry and it's admittedly disappointing to see an artist as talented as Ferg working with someone so undeniably campy and unoriginal.

    "Beautiful People" is the first return to quality songs after a lull of 4 mediocre entries, with a well-appreciated Chuck D feature (good god, Ferg, how did you get Chuck D to make an appearance?) and a kind word at the end from Ferg's grandmother. The song is lovely, energetic and lyrically appealing. It's quickly followed by one of 4 unnecessary skits on the record, before the song "Let You Go", which is an interesting song, which has a similar feel to "Beautiful People" in terms of production, but tackles a completely different (and unique) topic. Great songs.

    However, the blessing of these two songs is quickly put to rest with the Big Sean-featured "World Is Mine", which is by and far the worst song on the project. I am appalled that Ferg left this on the project. Terrible singing, a completely generic instrumental, god-awful lyrics, lazy song structure, etc. ****

    "I Love You" is not quite as bad as "World Is Mine" but the features drag what might have been a solid track down into the abyss. Not many redeemable qualities, but it doesn't test your willingness to sit through a song quite as malevolently as "World Is Mine" which is the only plus here.

    "Grandma" is beautiful, and a great close to the project, I wish this project had maintained a stronger sense of focus, in terms of each of the big three: Lyrics, Production and Theme. Ferg still demonstrates that he is a force to be reckoned with in the industry, but not for the same positive reasons as when we were first introduced to him with Trap Lord.    … Expand
  7. DrewBrauer
    Apr 24, 2016
    7
    In preparation for Always Strive and Prosper (aka ASAP) I listened to Ferg's debut album Trap Lord and honestly I didn't get much out of that album aside from a few decent cuts, tracks like Work REMIX and Fergivicious reminded me of the worst parts of modern hip hop and made me realize that A$AP Ferg isn't for me. That being said, some of the singles for ASAP did grow on me, enough so thatIn preparation for Always Strive and Prosper (aka ASAP) I listened to Ferg's debut album Trap Lord and honestly I didn't get much out of that album aside from a few decent cuts, tracks like Work REMIX and Fergivicious reminded me of the worst parts of modern hip hop and made me realize that A$AP Ferg isn't for me. That being said, some of the singles for ASAP did grow on me, enough so that I decided to at least give this record a chance, was it enjoyable?

    Well to my surprise, ASAP improves most of the issues I had with Trap Lord, from the production to the lyrics to even A$AP Ferg himself. I won't call this album great, but it is an improvement and an album that makes me intrigued to listen to more material in the future from Ferg, even if I still have issues with him.

    Let's start off with the most improved area all across this album, and that would be the instrumentals, Ferg managed to upgrade his producers and get some big name talent on board, with Clams Casino, No I.D, Cashmere Cat, Stargate, and even DJ Mustard and Skrillex. Ferg manages to get some more creative songs on here showing off his various styles for hip hop. From the opening track Rebirth with the horror style beat that Ferg actually rides pretty well, to the insanely trap flavored bangers Hungry Ham and Let it Bang both sounding great, to even an attempt at 90's house with Strive that works a lot better than it really should, to the more experimental Yammy Gang where Cashmere Cat manages to do minimal trap better than most hip hip producers. Even some of the more downbeat songs like Let You Go and Beautiful People manage to bring out the best in Ferg, which we'll discuss more with the lyrics. That being said, there are still songs where Ferg still wants to copy instrumentals that everyone else already does and don't do it all that well, New Level may have some power with the horns but nothing all that memorable comes out of it on an instrumental level, the bright synths on Swipe Life get irritating in a hurry, and Uzi Gang sounds like a bad leftover from Trap Lord that honestly should've stayed in Trap Lord. The most disappointing of instrumentals comes with World is Mine, as No I.D creates a beat so hollow and bland that I honestly get bored with it quickly.

    Now we get to A$AP Ferg himself, now I still don't think he's a great lyrical rapper but he is improving here and has more of a presence here than he did on Trap Lord. His flows are more on point, his rhymes connect more often, and he shows off his collection of styles that he delivers all over this album. From his more slowed down and personal bars on Let You Go and Beautiful People, to some insane lines he delivers on Hungry Ham and especially on Let it Bang. And while I don't think Ferg is a good singer at all as shown on Strive, I honestly prefer it over his poor Kid Cudi attempt on World is Mine. As far as the guest stars go, Rick Ross manages to put together a solid verse on Swipe Life as the only redeeming thing on that track, Missy Elliot's brief verse on Strive was a decent one at least, but it's Schoolboy Q who manages to outshine everyone as his wild and chaotic verse on Let it Bang was pretty damn awesome. However, the rest of the guests are pretty mediocre all around, Future nearly ruins New Level with his weak verse, A$AP Mob barely contributes anything to Yammy Gang a song in dedication to A$AP Yams, Chris Brown's verse on I Love You was corny as hell which is also the same thing I can say for Lil Uzi Vert on Uzi Gang, and Big Sean's hook and verse on World is Mine is pretty embarrassing.

    Finally we have the lyrics, and unlike Trap Lord ASAP seems to be focused more on Ferg's struggle out of the hood, with the opening track Rebirth declaring Ferg as the Hood Pope. Thankfully, the tracks on here feel more personal and introspective, with the biggest examples being Let You Go and Hungry Ham. As both songs have Ferg share his beginnings as a rapper and the backlash he got from his loved ones, I honestly got more out of that than off of Trap Lord all together. Of course, Ferg does share his success out of being a rapper and really doesn't do much that makes him standout. While New Level is the more tolerable song out of the brag raps on this album, Swipe Life and World is Mine offer luxury rap that don't even attempt to come across as interesting.

    So in the end, I was surprised by ASAP from A$AP Ferg coming across as more of a finished project with creativity and flow all around. While it has it's flaws and moments that are pretty damn bad, I got a lot more out of this and enjoyed it the more I've listened to it. Which is why I give ASAP a 7 out of 10 and a recommendation for fans and newcomers, although I will say the album might not please all fans, most notably the hardcore fans, but at least give it a listen you might get something out of it.

    Best Songs: Let You Go, Hungry Ham, Let It Bang, Rebirth, Strive, Beautiful People
    Worst Songs: World is Mine, Uzi Gang    … Expand
  8. Cypher_ATL
    May 28, 2016
    6
    I was very hesitant coming into this album due to the history of hype rappers’ sophomore efforts, and alas I was right about my hesitation. This album is just so mediocre and so average that I was to personally help Ferg, but I can’t do anything about it. The first half or so is very good and enjoyable, but immediately after A$AP Yam’s mother tells us to continue her son’s legacy, FergI was very hesitant coming into this album due to the history of hype rappers’ sophomore efforts, and alas I was right about my hesitation. This album is just so mediocre and so average that I was to personally help Ferg, but I can’t do anything about it. The first half or so is very good and enjoyable, but immediately after A$AP Yam’s mother tells us to continue her son’s legacy, Ferg does the exact opposite. I feel that specific line was such bad timing in the track listing, and it could now be made into somewhat of a mockery in context of the whole project. The production has its moments, but I feel that if Yams had his hands all over this, it would’ve sounded way better sonically. It doesn’t help that ScHoolBoy Q has the best verse off of an entire 18-track album. I feel that this album is just somewhat of a joke, but it’s entirely just a huge disappointment.… Expand
  9. swagkonyjohnson
    May 12, 2016
    6
    A very different album from his debut Trap Lord, both sonically and lyrically. While the more personal lyrical approach Ferg took was generally admirable, it was the very obvious reach for the mainstream that disappoints, often substituting his riveting, off-the-wall trap brand for cliche pop sounds.

    Best tracks: "New Level", "Let It Bang", "Psycho"
    Worst track: "I Love You"
  10. mc_ryn
    Apr 25, 2016
    9
    The Trap Lord blesses us again. Ferg has always been overshadowed by Rocky in the ASAP mob. HIs music is to differ. By developing his creative sound and polishing it from Trap Lord, Ferg has released a very solid sophomore LP, where he carries harlem in his shoulders. A$AP!
  11. AlbumReviewer
    Apr 23, 2016
    9
    Fav Tracks

    Rebirth
    Strive
    Psycho
    Let It Bang
    Yammy Gang
    Swipe Life
    Uzi Gang
    Grandma

    Good Tracks

    Hungry Ham
    New Level
    World Is Mine

    Least Fav Tracks

    Beautiful People
    Let You Go
    I Love You
  12. childish
    Apr 25, 2016
    9
    The album is smooth and easy to listen to. There are no "bangers" but the album flows very nice and you can tell Ferg put all he had into this album. He took a risk in experimenting with new techniques, but it all worked out well
  13. Jensen67
    May 23, 2017
    3
    I was very disappointed in this album. I was somewhat excited going into it but I don't even think there was one song worth keeping. I expect better from you Ferg.

Awards & Rankings

71
#71 Most Discussed Album of 2016
95
#95 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    Apr 29, 2016
    60
    The problem is that Ferg fails to provide a coherent musical vision to go with these compelling reminiscences.
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  2. Spin
    Apr 29, 2016
    50
    Some songs function well as singularities, particularly “New Level” and “Grandma,” which showcase a few of Ferg’s best qualities in spurts, but as a complete work, Always Strive and Prosper is a misfire that presses to be greater than the sum of its parts.
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  3. XXL
    Apr 29, 2016
    80
    That title is the rapper’s motto for the project and he accomplishes both. Not only does he strive to become a better, more diverse artist, he definitely prospers in more ways than one as he continues to make a name for himself as one of New York’s biggest talents.
    Read full review
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