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2. Kilo Kish ft. A$AP Ferg – “Love 2K”
Released: 2013
For this fusion of electronic production and hip-hop, Ferg opens proceedings with a light-hearted, melodic verse dedicated to drugs and sex. The layered synths and percussion coalesce with the vocals, giving everything (even Ferg’s slightly off-key singing during the chorus) a smoke-hazed, zoned out feel.
3. A$AP Rocky ft. A$AP Ferg – “Kissin’ Pink”
Released: 2011
A psychedelic ode to codeine, Ferg’s early features on Rocky songs are what set him up for the later success of “Work,” "Shabba," and Trap Lord in general. It’s great to see how he’s grown since this woozy, melodic feature and all that he’s now become. In other words, “they saying Ferg went from 'Kissing Pink' to a young 50 my n*gga.”
Good on you, Ferg.
4. Onyx ft. Sean Price & A$AP Ferg – “We Don’t Fucking Care”
Released: 2014
Ferg meets up with hip-hop legends Onyx and Sean Price to deliver this boom-bap powerhouse. Young Fergenstein might seem like an outcast on this bill of hip-hop veterans, but he holds his own among his partners’ aggressive flows. If you dig this, be sure to listen to Onyx's feature on Trap Lord, "Fuck Out My Face."
5. HAIM ft. A$AP Ferg – “My Song 5”
Released: 2014
This is the collaboration you never knew you needed. The star-studded music video, which features cameos from Ezra Koenig (of Vampire Weekend), Big Sean, Ke$ha, Grimes, and many more, depicts a Jerry Springer-style TV show taping session. Ferg busts in and begins ranting to his ex-girlfriend who just left him for another woman. You can’t make this stuff up, so just watch below.
6. Travi$ Scott ft. A$AP Ferg – “Uptown”
Released: 2013
Travi$ Scott and A$AP Ferg celebrate their inner monsters on this twisted track off of Travi$’s 2013 mixtape Owl Pharaoh. Ferg opens up his verse with a throwback to his “Kissin’ Pink” days, calling himself “the young Fergenstein,” and only gets more deranged from there. Halloween might be over, but you can still ride on uptown and watch the spooky music video below.
7. A$AP Rocky ft. Gunplay & A$AP Ferg – “Ghetto Symphony”
Released: 2012
Ferg holds his own alongside one of the best guest feature rappers Gunplay and an energized Rocky on this track from Long.Live.A$AP. Starting with a memorable Outkast reference (which also references Rocky's "outcast my whole life" line earlier in the song), Ferg comes with melodic flows, switch-ups, and poignant one-liners. Using imagery like, “these n*ggas got the sidewalk sipping wine,” which plays off the imagery of bloodstains on the pavement as well as pouring out liquor for the deceased, Ferg paints a vivid picture of street life.
8. Elle Varner ft. A$AP Ferg – “Don’t Wanna Dance”
Released: 2014
In a 180 from his usual style, Ferg comes through on Elle Varner’s “Don’t Wanna Dance” with something a little more romantic. spitting about skipping parties, staying home, and giving his girl a massage. Apparently when he’s not putting in work, the Trap Lord likes to stay home with his boo, "watching Martin," and "pillow talkin' until the morning.” The whole verse from Ferg is top level love song material, and although we don't see this side of the Trap Lord that often, one he pulls it off incredibly well.
Damn your pretty body I just wanna polaroid it
Blow it up, put it on my wall so we can both enjoy it
Taking it down if my friends come over so they don't focus on it
9. Young Thug, Freddie Gibbs, & A$AP Ferg – “Old English”
Released: 2014
This star-studded track released by Mass Appeal Records features three emcees at the peak of their game. Ferg’s verse tells the story of a Cuban girl who is forced to sell drugs to support her ill mother and family. It's delivered with one of Ferg's most animated flows we've ever heard over a booming beat by Salva and Nick Hook. On a track with a lineup like this, standing out can be difficult—not for Ferg. Listen below to find out how the story in Ferg's verse ends, plus get a taste of Freddie Gibbs and Young Thug's wildly varying styles.
10. Sean C and LV ft. Pusha T & A$AP Ferg – “Hand In My Pocket”
Released: 2014
This Sean C and LV beat practically oozes out of the speakers as Pusha T and A$AP Ferg trade bars about murder, fed time, drugs, and all that the Lord of the Trap and the King Push preside over. Ferg emphatically delivers the hook, which references a line from the Beastie Boys’ “The New Style," then comes in at the end to drop one of his best guest verses, packed with clever references, rapid fire spitting, and even a dash of twisted humor as he threatens to force feed his hostage "a spoon of shit."
11. Big K.R.I.T. ft. A$AP Ferg – “Lac Lac”
Released: 2014
On this laid back, Southern fried instrumental, Big K.R.I.T. invokes the spirits of Andre 3000 and Big Boi with a chorus dedicated to Cadillacs, women, weed, and higher consciousness. Even though it's not his deepest subject matter, Ferg’s melodic tones and triplet flows slide off the beat, making this a fantastic song to bump in your whip anywhere from Mississippi to Atlanta to Harlem.
Comparing this to a track like "Ghetto Symphony" really highlights Ferg's versatility, while that Bone Thugs-N-Harmony type of melodic flow works perfectly on a smooth beat like this.
