Always Strive and Prosper

Always Strive and Prosper
Studio album by ASAP Ferg
Released	April 22, 2016
Recorded	2015–16
Genre	Hip hop
Length	47:28 (Standard) 54:02 (Best Buy deluxe editon)
Label	A$AP Worldwide, Polo Grounds, RCA
Producer	A$AP Ferg (exec.) Bryan Leach (exec.) Geno Sims (exec.) A$AP Rocky (exec.) DJ Khalil Clams Casino Skrillex DJ Mustard Stelios Phili Todd Bee Lex Luger Honorable C.N.O.T.E. Cashmere Cat Lido VERYRVRE TM88 StarGate No I.D. Jordan Lewis YEEZY808
ASAP Ferg chronology
Ferg Forever (2014) Always Strive and Prosper (2016)
Singles from Always Strive and Prosper
"New Level" Released: December 18, 2015

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]

Singles

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

Promotional singles

"Let It Bang" featuring Schoolboy Q was released as the album's promotional single on March 24, 2016.^[5] The music video for the song premiered the next day.^[6] The audio for "Hungry Ham" featuring Skrillex, was released as the album's second promotional single on April 7, 2016.^[7] The audio for "Strive" featuring Missy Elliot, was released as the album's third promotional single on April 14, 2016.^[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	74/100[9]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
The A.V. Club	B+[11]
Consequence of Sound	C[12]
Exclaim	8/10[13]
The Guardian	[14]
NME	3/5[15]
Pitchfork Media	7.3/10[16]
Rolling Stone	[17]
Spin	5/10[18]
XXL	(XL)[19]

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".^[9]

Commercial performance

In the United States, the album debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first week.^[20]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Rebirth"	Darold Brown, Khalil Abdul-Rahman, Michael Volpe, Daniel Tannenbaum, Sam Barsh, Daniel Seeff	DJ Khalil, Clams Casino	2:15
2.	"Hungry Ham" (featuring Skrillex & Crystal Caines)	Brown, Sonny Moore, Crystal Caines	Skrillex	3:35
3.	"Strive" (featuring Missy Elliott)	Brown, Dijon McFarlane, Stelios Phili, Missy Elliott, Kevin "YEEZY808" McCord	Phili, DJ Mustard, YEEZY808	2:50
4.	"Meet My Crazy Uncle (Skit)"		Todd Bee	0:22
5.	"Psycho"	Brown, Abdul-Rahman, Volpe, Tannenbaum, Barsh, Seeff	DJ Khalil, Clams Casino	2:58
6.	"Let It Bang" (featuring Schoolboy Q)	Brown, Lexus Lewis, Quincey Hanley	Lex Luger	2:31
7.	"New Level" (featuring Future)	Brown, Carlton "Honorable C.N.O.T.E" Mays, Nayvadius Wilburn	Honorable C.N.O.T.E	4:24
8.	"Yammy Gang" (featuring ASAP Mob & Tatianna Paulino)	Brown, Magnus August Høiberg, Peder Losnegård, Rakim Mayers, Jamal Phillips, Tariq Devega	Lido, Cashmere Cat	2:33
9.	"Swipe Life" (featuring Rick Ross)	Brown, Jeff "VERYRVRE" Washington, Tashfiqur "VERYRVRE" Patwary, Chris "VERYRVRE" Basham, William Roberts	VERYRVRE	3:13
10.	"Uzi Gang" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert & Marty Baller)	Brown, Bryan Simmons	TM88	3:32
11.	"Beautiful People" (featuring Chuck D & Mama Ferg)	Brown, Abdul-Rahman, Volpe, Barsh, Carlton Ridenhour, Marvin Gaye	DJ Khalil, Clams Casino	3:15
12.	"Damn Not Again (Skit)"		Todd Bee	0:21
13.	"Let You Go"	Brown, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen	StarGate	3:16
14.	"World Is Mine" (featuring Big Sean)	Brown, Ernest Wilson, Sean Anderson	No I.D.	3:45
15.	"Phone Call With Breezy (Skit)"		Todd Bee	0:41
16.	"I Love You" (featuring Chris Brown & Ty Dolla Sign)	Brown, Jordan Lewis, Chris Brown, Tyrone Griffin, Jr.	Lewis	3:47
17.	"Grandma (Skit)"		Todd Bee	0:20
18.	"Grandma"	Brown, Abdul-Rahman, Barsh, Sid Sriram	DJ Khalil	3:50
Total length:				47:28

Best Buy deluxe edition (bonus tracks)[21]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
19.	"Don't Mind" (featuring French Montana & Fabolous)		The Mekanics, Burd & Keyz	3:00
20.	"Back Hurt" (featuring Migos)		Danny Wolf, Soldado	3:34
Total length:				54:02

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[22]	16
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[23]	102
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[24]	11
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[25]	77
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[26]	35
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[27]	34
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[28]	38
UK Albums (OCC)[29]	67
US Billboard 200[30]	8
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[31]	2

References

1. "Always Strive and Prosper by A$AP Ferg on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
2. Adelle Platon (2016-03-22). "A$AP Ferg Announces 'Always Strive and Prosper'". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
3. "New Music: A$AP Ferg feat. Future – ‘New Level’". Rap-Up. 2015-12-17. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
4. "Video: A$AP Ferg feat. Future – ‘New Level’". Rap-Up. 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
5. "New Music: A$AP Ferg feat. ScHoolboy Q – 'Let It Bang'". Rap-Up. March 24, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
6. "A$AP Ferg & ScHoolboy Q Bring A$AP Mob & TDE Together for 'Let It Bang' Video". Billbaord. March 25, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
7. "A$AP Ferg - Hungry Ham (Audio) ft. Skrillex, Crystal Caines". YouTube. 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
8. "A$AP Ferg - Strive (Audio) ft. Missy Elliott". YouTube. 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
9. "Reviews for Always Strive and Prosper by A$AP Ferg". Metacritic. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
10. David Jeffries (2016-04-22). "Always Strive and Prosper - A$AP Ferg | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
11. Rytlewski, Evan (2016-04-22). "Always Strive And Prosper · A$AP Ferg · Music Review A$AP Ferg raps from the heart on Always Strive And Prosper". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
12. Madden, Michael (2016-04-22). "ASAP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
13. "ASAP Ferg: Always Strive and Prosper". Exclaim. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
14. Alexis Petridis. "A$AP Ferg: Always Strive and Prosper review – more than just Rocky's supporting man". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
15. "NME Reviews - A$AP Ferg - 'Always Strive And Prosper' Review". Nme.Com. 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
16. Kathy Iandoli (2016-04-26). "A$AP Ferg: Always Strive and Prosper Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
17. Spanos, Brittany (2016-04-22). "ASAP Ferg's New Album: Always Strive And Prosper". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
18. "Review: A$AP Ferg, 'Always Strive and Prosper'". SPIN. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
19. "ASAP Ferg Rises to New Levels on 'Always Strive and Prosper'". Xxlmag.com. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
20. Keith Caulfield (2016-01-05). "Beyonce Earns Sixth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Lemonade'". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
21. "A$AP Ferg - Always Strive and Prosper [PA] (Only @ Best Buy) - CD". Best Buy. 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
22. "Australiancharts.com – A$AP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
23. "Ultratop.be – A$AP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
24. "A$AP Ferg – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for A$AP Ferg. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
25. "Offiziellecharts.de – A$AP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
26. "Charts.org.nz – A$AP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
27. [{{{url}}} "{{{title}}}"] Check |url= value (help). Retrieved April 30, 2016.
28. "Swisscharts.com – A$AP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
29. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
30. "A$AP Ferg – Chart history" Billboard 200 for A$AP Ferg. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
31. "A$AP Ferg – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for A$AP Ferg. Retrieved May 3, 2016.