With last year's head-nodding "Work" A$AP Ferg became the most visible member of A$AP Mob not named Rocky or A$AP Yam's birthmark. Now, the remix is here, and it, as they say, go hard. How hard? Well, at one point "Pakistan" is rhymed with "Columbine." We'll let you guess whose stroke of genius that is. Listen to the track after the jump.

See also: A$AP Ferg Wants Harmony Korine to Direct His Next Video

More »

Rap has always had a dividing line between the rapper and the guy that yells out things on stage because it's America, damn it. That man used to be the DJ, who'd spin records for the rapper and rap along to his verses to get the crowd hype. As the years went by and quality DJing became more rare, the sidekick became some guy the rapper grew up with who had comparatively marginal talent, but who made for a great hypeman.

Eventually, though, the sidekick would eventually make one major mistake: He'd try to make his own way as a rapper, to less than stellar results. Memphis Bleek hasn't come out of Jay-Z's shadow after 15 years. Spliff Star has seemingly disappeared after trying his hand at something more than being Busta Rhymes' energetic rapping Smeagol. The less said about the non-Eminem members of D12, the better.

But every once in a while, they put together music that's not an embarrassing reminder that most of their success comes from being a friend of a superior rapper. This week, we focus on a few of those people: Method Man's marijuana-holder Streetlife; A$AP Mob; and Fat Joe (who, while not a weed carrier, was Big Pun's less talented homie).

More »

No city in the world can assemble a musical motley crew of disorderly young gents like New York, although simply forming a quartet isn't enough. Wu Tang Clan, Boot Camp Clik, The Diplomats—we're talking wolf pack numbers.

The A$AP Mob's A$AP Rocky has been getting worldwide attention this year, directing a handful of videos, living the presidential life with Lana Del Rey, and releasing music. His official debut LongLiveASAP, comes out in the fall. In the meantime, though, the rest of the A$AP Mob—Yams, J. Scott, Fergy, Twelvy, Ant, and Nast—have been working on their own music, and today their collaborative project Lords Never Worry is out.

Each member of the crew has a vision—and the hunger to realize it—that promises to make the A$AP brand a dynasty, and not just a one-man show. In a rap world where too many rap crews are made up of one frontman and scores of talentless hanger-ons, it's reassuring to see so much talent in one collective.

Ferg has perhaps the most polished songs; J. Scott is a quiet yet active officer, with more side projects than perhaps any other member. Original ASAP member Twelvy has a rep as a wild boy but a good head for business, as does Yams. Ant and Nast are bonkers on the mic, each with a distinct, dark style. SOTC took some time to examine the individuals who make up the nefarious A$AP Mob.

More »

Smoke DZA/SPACEGHOSTPURRP
Highline Ballroom
Monday, January 23

Better than: Emphysema, among many other things.

Monday night's show was originally Smoke DZA's: the poster for the Highline Ballroom said so, even. He walked across the stage with hands extended, resplendent in his bubbly yellow Polo parka, a heavyweight champion's belt slung over his shoulder. It looked too hot to be wearing a ski cap; its wool proved an effective tool in mopping up the sweat that it also produced. He yawled his catchphrase ("Riiiight!") like some use commas and periods, like others breathe: "Riiiight!" over the piano tinkerings of "Christmas in the Trap"; "Riiiight!" over the rumbling "What's Goodie?" It filled up empty moments, sometimes as an afterthought, a cough or a hiccup; sometimes he doubled the "Riiiight!" that was playing on the audio track.

It was weird, the New York stop on the "Kushed & Purrp" tour. For a night celebrating mind-warping indulgence, there were few Ziplocs in the building, a scant amount of clouds in the air. (Harlem's Smoke DZA, a member of the Smoker's Club, rites love songs about marijuana; SPACEGHOSTPURRP stirs Three 6 Mafia in with his Sprite.) "Why am I the only one smoking?" G.R.A.M.Z., an opening artist, asked the crowd. "They took y'all weed? Fuck." (I didn't get patted down, but then again, I didn't bring any weed in.) When asked what they were drinking, a couple of Coronas went up, maybe three, definitely less than four. The bar seemed pretty empty. "Coronas are cool," said G.R.A.M.Z.

More »