The Rundown: A$AP Ferg, Trap Lord

A track-by-track review of the Harlem-bred rapper's debut.

The Rundown: A$AP Ferg, Trap Lord - As the next man up from A$AP Mob, Ferg comes into his own with Trap Lord, making a convincing Scottie Pippen to Rocky's Michael Jordan. Still just his debut album, the 24-year-old Harlem-born Ferg shows no fear on Trap Lord, offering you, the listener, a full-fledged account of the graphic novel that was and is his life: sex, drugs and money mixed with those beats that make your chest thump.(Photo: Courtesy of A$AP Worldwide)

1 / 14

The Rundown: A$AP Ferg, Trap Lord - As the next man up from A$AP Mob, Ferg comes into his own with Trap Lord, making a convincing Scottie Pippen to Rocky's Michael Jordan. Still just his debut album, the 24-year-old Harlem-born Ferg shows no fear on Trap Lord, offering you, the listener, a full-fledged account of the graphic novel that was and is his life: sex, drugs and money mixed with those beats that make your chest thump.(Photo: Courtesy of A$AP Worldwide)

A$ap Ferg, @asapferg - Tweet: "Trap lord the album August 20th is when the truth begins."Harlem upstart A$AP Ferg sent the Internet into a frenzy after announcing the release date for his highly anticipated debut, Trap Lord, which hits stores next month.  (photo: John RicA$AP Rockyd / BET)

2 / 14

"Let It Go" - "Trap Lord season begins, now repent your sins," says the A$AP Mob star, borrowing from an early Nas line to start the experience. By now Ferg has already foregone the standard intro and instead offers an overture of sorts, rapping about murder, Molly and Maybachs for the first of many times over drums that quickly break into a sonic 3D movie.(Photo: John Ricard/BET)

"Shabba" featuring A$AP Rocky - What do you get when you combine eight gold rings, four gold chains, one gold tooth and two bad females? You get this tribute to dancehall legend Shabba Ranks (who also makes an appearance in the video). A$AP Rocky lends his talents to the lowrider-friendly track, which serves as the album's lead single, adding his hot 16 to one of this summer's top bangers.(Photo: Brook Bobbins via twitter/ASAPMOB)

3 / 14

"Shabba" featuring A$AP Rocky - What do you get when you combine eight gold rings, four gold chains, one gold tooth and two bad females? You get this tribute to dancehall legend Shabba Ranks (who also makes an appearance in the video). A$AP Rocky lends his talents to the lowrider-friendly track, which serves as the album's lead single, adding his hot 16 to one of this summer's top bangers.(Photo: Brook Bobbins via twitter/ASAPMOB)

"Lord" featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Like Eazy-E's hologram, this song takes Bone back to '95 as they take turns with Ferg dropping rapid-fire verses over a beat reminiscent of that sound that helped Bone rise to fame in what might be every members' best cameo since 1997's "Nototorious Thugs."(Photos: John Ricard/BET/Getty Images; Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

4 / 14

"Lord" featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Like Eazy-E's hologram, this song takes Bone back to '95 as they take turns with Ferg dropping rapid-fire verses over a beat reminiscent of that sound that helped Bone rise to fame in what might be every members' best cameo since 1997's "Nototorious Thugs."(Photos: John Ricard/BET/Getty Images; Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

"Hood Pope" - Rappers trying to sing may not be the most exciting trend in hip hop right now, but Ferg makes it work, doing his best Future impression over a deliberately stripped down beat which mostly consists of snare and keys. Ferg's chopped and screwed alter ego — a technique also employed by A$AP Rocky — makes an appearance as the Harlem native recounts his days on the corner he grew up on.(Photo: Courtesy of A$AP Worldwide)

5 / 14

"Hood Pope" - Rappers trying to sing may not be the most exciting trend in hip hop right now, but Ferg makes it work, doing his best Future impression over a deliberately stripped down beat which mostly consists of snare and keys. Ferg's chopped and screwed alter ego — a technique also employed by A$AP Rocky — makes an appearance as the Harlem native recounts his days on the corner he grew up on.(Photo: Courtesy of A$AP Worldwide)

ADVERTISEMENT
Trinidad James and A$AP Ferg - Trinidad James and A$AP Ferg also hit the stage during A$AP Rocky's set to perform the "Work" remix with ScHoolBoy Q. (Photos: Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)

6 / 14

"Fergivicious" - Ferg flexes his muscles on this one, showing off his faster flow over the track, which is melodic but still has that thump. The MC details his "nightmares of being broke" and offers a tribute of sorts to the groupie love that greets every young star on the come up.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images)

Photo By Photos: Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images

"4:02" - In case you were wondering what the perfect soundtrack to a ménage á trois with someone else's girl would sound like, look no further. Laced with a story in between verses and a psychedelic track that builds as the narrative heats up, Ferg gets his Biggie on, painting a picture of a night laden with sex, drugs and Henny.(Photo: Courtesy of A$AP Worldwide)

7 / 14

"4:02" - In case you were wondering what the perfect soundtrack to a ménage á trois with someone else's girl would sound like, look no further. Laced with a story in between verses and a psychedelic track that builds as the narrative heats up, Ferg gets his Biggie on, painting a picture of a night laden with sex, drugs and Henny.(Photo: Courtesy of A$AP Worldwide)

Who New?: Rookie of the Year - A$AP Ferg - A well-received mixtape (Lords Never Worry), debut (Trap Lord) and 10 million views of his "Work" single prove that A$AP Ferg is a rap rookie to watch. A$AP Mob's burgeoning member isn't afraid to experiment, blending rhymes based on his dueling perspectives of New York City life. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

8 / 14

"Dump Dump" - Not straying too far from the idea of the previous song, Ferg is boasting and toasting some of his favorite pastimes, which include stealing your girl and "ridin' round in my city," while the 808's make the track flow.(Photo: John Ricard/BET)

"Work (Remix)" featuring A$AP Rocky, French Montana, ScHoolBoy Q and Trinidad Jame$ - The stars shine bright on the remix to the joint that put the "Trap Lord" on the map in the first place. The subject matter needs little explanation on this, the album's club hit.(Photo: Courtesy of A$AP Worldwide)

9 / 14

"Work (Remix)" featuring A$AP Rocky, French Montana, ScHoolBoy Q and Trinidad Jame$ - The stars shine bright on the remix to the joint that put the "Trap Lord" on the map in the first place. The subject matter needs little explanation on this, the album's club hit.(Photo: Courtesy of A$AP Worldwide)

Who Know? Rookie of the Year: A$AP Ferg - You can't say this newcomer didn't put in any work. The latest star to emerge from the A$AP Mob, Ferg is looking to succeed 2 Chainz (last year's winner) and bring the award up North. His hit single "Work" puts him in strong contention. (Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

10 / 14

"Didn't Wanna Do That" - More street tales and retaliatory rhymes make up this song, which takes you inside the conscience of a hood soldier who's trepidatiously plotting revenge. This is the track to ride out to.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
"Murda Something" - The "something" in question here is the beat, which got murdered from the jump with Flockavelli offering up his signature mosh pit raps and Ferg turning up to match the heavy metal-type intensity. "We don't dial 911, we don't f--k wit' the cops/1-8-7 to the f----n' ops" shouted both over the Down South sounding smasher. Where's Lil Jon when you need him?(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

11 / 14

"Murda Something" - The "something" in question here is the beat, which got murdered from the jump with Flockavelli offering up his signature mosh pit raps and Ferg turning up to match the heavy metal-type intensity. "We don't dial 911, we don't f--k wit' the cops/1-8-7 to the f----n' ops" shouted both over the Down South sounding smasher. Where's Lil Jon when you need him?(Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

"Make a Scene" featuring Maad Moiselle - Ferg tones it down (relative to the rest of the album) on this, the Trap Lord's only track to feature a female vocalist, once again taking the listener on a surprisingly harmonic journey through the Harlem streets he came up on.(Photos: Sony/RCA Records; MAAD Moiselle via Twitter)

12 / 14

"Make a Scene" featuring Maad Moiselle - Ferg tones it down (relative to the rest of the album) on this, the Trap Lord's only track to feature a female vocalist, once again taking the listener on a surprisingly harmonic journey through the Harlem streets he came up on.(Photos: Sony/RCA Records; MAAD Moiselle via Twitter)

"F--k Out My Face" featuring B-Real, Onyx and Aston Matthews - Yes, THAT Onyx! It's attack of the bald heads 2013 as mad face rappers-turned-actors Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Star jump on the track along with B-Real, who continues to pay homage to his beloved California sticky green. It's nice to see Ferg always show love to the OGs.(Photos: John Ricard/BET/Getty Images for BET; Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images; Larry Busacca/Getty Images; Aston Matthews via Twitter)

13 / 14

"F--k Out My Face" featuring B-Real, Onyx and Aston Matthews - Yes, THAT Onyx! It's attack of the bald heads 2013 as mad face rappers-turned-actors Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Star jump on the track along with B-Real, who continues to pay homage to his beloved California sticky green. It's nice to see Ferg always show love to the OGs.(Photos: John Ricard/BET/Getty Images for BET; Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images; Larry Busacca/Getty Images; Aston Matthews via Twitter)

Cocaine Castles - Ironically this might be the slowest track on the album. Ferg does his singing thing again over a beat that sounds like it could just as easily have been a church song as he recalls the chilling details of things that go on in a drug house, including mothers with their kids, "needles in fiends" and "babies in pampers."(Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

14 / 14

Cocaine Castles - Ironically this might be the slowest track on the album. Ferg does his singing thing again over a beat that sounds like it could just as easily have been a church song as he recalls the chilling details of things that go on in a drug house, including mothers with their kids, "needles in fiends" and "babies in pampers."(Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)