Playboi Carti's self-titled album, released earlier this year, is a good indication of what rap sounds like in 2017. On "Mad Man," he finds the overlap between that sound and A$AP Ferg's triplet-heavy New York rap. Coming from Ferg's new Still Striving project, it finds Ferg adopting a flow that'll be familiar to anyone's who's been following the "SoundCloud Rap" moment. In fact, it's more or less the same rhythm that Drake controversially used on "KMT," which proves the style has come a long way in terms of popularity. Ferg brings his unique energy to the style, contrasting Carti's high register ad-lib-heavy delivery with a bassier vocal.
It all takes place over a sample from Three 6 Mafia, an influence that has found its way both into the work of ASAP and Atlanta trap. The flip comes from Honorable C.N.O.T.E., an Atlanta beatmaker who's contributed to many notable Atlanta rap records, and in his own way shaped the sounds of today.
Still Striving finds Ferg being pulled in many stylistic directions with his most collaborative project yet. With more features than tracks on the project, Ferg is joined by hitmakers like Migos, buzzing newcomers like Famous Dex, Lil Yachty and NAV, and many eras of New York rappers including Cam'ron, Dave East, and Busta Rhymes. The project follows Ferg's 2016 sophomore album Always Strive & Prosper, and was envisioned as a more light-hearted companion piece to the deeply personal album. “With Still Striving, I wanted to hit the clubs. I wanted to have some fun, since we were so serious on Always Strive and Prosper," said Ferg. The project precedes a new A$AP Mob album Cozy Tapes Vol. 2, which is due out August 25th.
You can listen to Still Striving in its entirety here. Ferg listed "Mad Man" as one of his two favorite songs from the album on Twitter. Do you agree?
Quotable Lyrics:
Fergie 'gone blow like Omega
This ain't no game, ain't no SEGA
Even though that beef old I don't care
I will not fuck with the Raiders
Second deal out with Adidas
Fergie done got him a sneaker
Making a bitch sing like Aretha
