By Aman Bhardwaj
Always Strive and Prosper finds A$AP Ferg experimenting with new sounds and ideas, while showing instances of progression in his music and lyrics. The risks taken in this sophomore effort manage to pay off for the most part, as Ferg, one of the leading members of the A$AP Mob hip-hop collective, is able to create music that doesn’t stick to the same type of sound or concept displayed on his first album, Trap Lord.
While Trap Lord was more of an aggressive, ignorant, braggadocious, and thrill-seeking type of album, Always Strive and Prosper puts more of an emphasis on uplifting and positive themes, such as family, making it out of the slums of Harlem, acquiring wealth, and building an empire.
“Beautiful People,” “Let You Go,” and “Grandma” are tracks that deviate from Ferg’s original sound, but they are successful in showcasing his introspective side as well as his evolution as an artist. Ferg is focused on success: making it out of the inferior, sub-standard conditions of the neighbourhoods in his hometown of Harlem, providing for his family the best way he can, and establishing a legacy and empire that will place him at the forefront of hip-hop in the future. He has his own American Dream of sorts and is determined to do anything to reach it, even at the cost of ending his relationship with his girlfriend in order to focus on himself and his family, while keeping his main priorities in check, as revealed in “Let You Go.”
The confident and braggadocious tracks also come into play here, as Ferg celebrates his current successes with those who are close to him. “Hungry Ham,” “Let It Bang,” “New Level,” and “Yammy Gang,” are all tracks that exude confidence. “New Level” in particular, which contains one the most infectious and catchy instrumentals of the year, showcases Ferg’s ability to flow with the beat in multiple ways and construct a chorus that is so simplistic, yet so captivating. Ferg’s lyrics in this particular track are consistent with the narrative of this album: “Daddy looking down, I know he see me blowin’ up / My grandma would be so proud / Up in heaven, Yamborghini, know my brother see me / I’ma make my bro proud.” Even in the midst of all the celebratory drinks and parties and all the wealth he has acquired, Ferg has not lost sight of what is most important to him in his quest for success — his family.
Unfortunately, there are a number of flaws that prevent Always Strive and Prosper from being a solid record all the way through.
One of the biggest issues of Always Strive and Prosper is the lack of cohesiveness. Production-wise, this album is all over the place, with tracks that sound nothing alike, although the messages in many of the tracks manage to be similar. However, at certain points throughout this 18-track album, even the focus in the messaging sometimes shifts abruptly — “Swipe Life” and “Uzi Gang” do not really tie into the concepts of “striving” or “prospering.” Instead, these two tracks delve into the concepts of violence, spending large sums of money, and having affairs with multiple women. “Swipe Life” and “Uzi Gang” may be two of some of the most uninspiring and uninteresting tracks this year, as both tracks consist of instrumentals that are overly basic and dull, which raises the question of how these tracks even made the final cut in the first place. As well, more could have been done in terms of sequencing the tracks on this album, as it makes no sense to have “Uzi Gang” followed by “Beautiful People,” a track that explores the idea of inner beauty within people, as opposed to physical features.
Although it falls victim to a lack of cohesion and filler, Always Strive and Prosper is still a good and sometimes great album that exhibits A$AP Ferg’s growth as an artist. He shows that he has a diverse musical palette, a variety of flows, charisma, and a knack for storytelling in his lyrics. Although the messaging in this album may end up being distorted at certain points, Ferg manages to pull it all together, for the most part.
