A&E
A$AP Ferg delivers memorable performance after long wait
By Jake Altman-Desole ’18
April 7, 2016
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Certain things are inevitable at a concert like last Friday’s, performers do not go on stage when they are supposed to, crowds of college students get rowdy, pushing/toe-stepping is a given and the actual performance is disappointingly brief. Taking these truths into account, the very fate of such a concert depends almost entirely on the energy of the performer and the reciprocal energy of the crowd which continues, cyclically, to produce a “lit” concert.
The opener, Playboy Carti, did not show up at all, forcing DJ Colin Day to cover for him and entertain an increasingly impatient crowd. Rumors circulating about his absence range from the death of his grandfather to a DUI to an altercation with A$AP Ferg’s entourage. Whatever the reason, Ferg was left without an opener.
Day’s performance was admirable considering how long he was forced to play and how frustrated the audience was. His skillfully produced remixes and mashups entertained the crowd but could not quell the audience’s disappointment at missing the scheduled opener. After roughly two hours, Ferg’s DJ emerged only to play other musicians’ songs on the speakers and pump up the crowd. After 15 minutes Ferg entered the stage and the previously frustrated crowd erupted.
A little about the man who kept us waiting: A$AP Ferg is a member of the A$AP Mob based out of Harlem, New York. The collective’s other members include the star, A$AP Rocky, as well as the lesser known A$AP Nast, A$AP Twelvy and others. The founder and creative director of the group, A$AP Yams, recently died, and Ferg performed a heartful song dedicated to his mentor in front of the Hamilton crowd. Ferg’s debut album, Trap Lord, was released in the summer of 2013, and launched Ferg into the spotlight alongside fellow A$AP member, A$AP Rocky.
This concert was highly anticipated by many at Hamilton, especially because A$AP Ferg’s songs drip with energy and swagger—perfect for a live concert. Casual hip-hop fans know his most famous singles, “Shabba,” “New Level,” and “Work (Remix).” These three songs alone have attained such fame that many would probably have delighted at Ferg’s performing them in a constant loop. The contingent of devoted hip-hop fans who have listened to Ferg’s debut album Trap Lord countless times and know all his lyrics by heart showed up in droves and rapped along to every line. Unsurprisingly, many students also showed up knowing just a few of his songs. Therefore, some spark was needed to make up for this gap between the audience and Ferg.
Despite confessing to having a cold, Ferg provided just that flare to bring us, as he raps, to a “New Level.” Although there were audience members who knew all or most of Ferg’s lyrics, the indisputable climax of the concert came just before the end when he performed “Work (Remix).” Ferg, obviously aware of the popularity of the remix, performed the first 20 seconds of regular “Work” before cutting the beat and telling the audience “Oh I know what y’all really wanna hear,” then subsequently performing “Work (Remix).”
Other notable performances included the aforementioned song dedicated to the founder of the A$AP Mob and Ferg’s mentor, A$AP Yams.Yams was considered the architect of the entire A$AP musical style and aesthetic, and both Rocky and Ferg have attributed their success to his mentorship. Ferg’s longing for his lost teacher and friend was evident to the crowd, who responded to his calls with severals cheers of “RIP YAMS!” Throughout the concert Ferg also made a considerable effort to energize the crowd directly, asking them if they were ready to “take this to a new level” and saying that although he was suffering a bothersome cold he felt like continuing because of the crowd’s energy. This compliment further added to the audiences zeal.
Although the crowd went the most wild during “Shabba,” “Work (Remix)” and “New Level,” the crowd’s jumping and cheering continued even during the performance of Ferg’s other songs. Those, including myself, who do not know every word to every one of Ferg’s lesser known songs still managed to revel in the ecstasy of the energetic crowd. Considering the annoyance of the long delay, this atmosphere provided a much-needed antidote. Ferg plans to release an album this summer and he performed some of his pre-released material, which impressed the crowd.
The set was about 45 minutes long, with no autograph-signing or any other type of crowd-pleasing. Some might say that a crowded concert that consists of more waiting than actual concert is not worth attending. Some audience members complained about being constantly bumped into and feeling bored by the overly long DJ set. That all happened, but any concertgoer who enjoys concerts understands that such circumstances are inevitable, especially at a show for a small college. The real reason to attend a concert like Ferg’s is the energy, the joy of bouncing around to the tenacious beat of “New Level” or screaming along to the lyrics of “Shabba” in a moshpit full of friends. Even if you only knew Ferg’s three megahits, then you still probably had a blast.