After revealing some of the guests set to appear on his forthcoming album Always Strive and Prosper late last year, A$AP Ferg has spoken in more detail about the collaborations on his sophomore LP.
In an interview with Stereogum, Ferg reveals that the album didn't include any features at first before he opted to seek out guests and friends himself "just to get a well-rounded album" without the help of industry figures or his label.
The interview reveals that working with Missy Elliott through an invitation to come work at Timbaland's studio, a collaboration with Grimes came through meeting on the set of a HAIM music video, and creating with Chris Brown came from Ferg selling the R&B star a belt he designed as a teenager.
Towards the end of last year, Ferg noted he was also at work with Big Sean, Ty Dolla $ign, Rick Ross, Schoolboy Q, Busta Rhymes and Skrillex on the record. The interview also reveals that Always Strive and Prosper will feature production from the likes of Clams Casino, Lex Luger, Stargate and DJ Khalil.
On the record as a whole, Always Strive and Prosper is reportedly quite versatile and "cleverly constructed for a leap," with Ferg putting an emphasis on projecting the personal through music.
"We saw Biggie Smalls in the lumberjack [flannel] before we saw him in Versace," he said. "He made us understand his plight and his struggle before success. But it's kind of like I'm working backwards a little bit because A$AP blew up so fast, and 'Work' came, 'Shabba' came, and blew up so fast that [fans] didn't really get a chance to get an inside look into my life. So now it's like I'm schooling all my fans and letting them know who I am. I'm giving them the lineage."
While there is still no firm release date for Always Strive and Prosper, it is expected to arrive this spring.
In an interview with Stereogum, Ferg reveals that the album didn't include any features at first before he opted to seek out guests and friends himself "just to get a well-rounded album" without the help of industry figures or his label.
The interview reveals that working with Missy Elliott through an invitation to come work at Timbaland's studio, a collaboration with Grimes came through meeting on the set of a HAIM music video, and creating with Chris Brown came from Ferg selling the R&B star a belt he designed as a teenager.
Towards the end of last year, Ferg noted he was also at work with Big Sean, Ty Dolla $ign, Rick Ross, Schoolboy Q, Busta Rhymes and Skrillex on the record. The interview also reveals that Always Strive and Prosper will feature production from the likes of Clams Casino, Lex Luger, Stargate and DJ Khalil.
On the record as a whole, Always Strive and Prosper is reportedly quite versatile and "cleverly constructed for a leap," with Ferg putting an emphasis on projecting the personal through music.
"We saw Biggie Smalls in the lumberjack [flannel] before we saw him in Versace," he said. "He made us understand his plight and his struggle before success. But it's kind of like I'm working backwards a little bit because A$AP blew up so fast, and 'Work' came, 'Shabba' came, and blew up so fast that [fans] didn't really get a chance to get an inside look into my life. So now it's like I'm schooling all my fans and letting them know who I am. I'm giving them the lineage."
While there is still no firm release date for Always Strive and Prosper, it is expected to arrive this spring.
