Ferg is responding to A$AP Rocky’s comments about his decision to drop “A$AP” from his stage name, explaining that the change was part of his effort to establish his own identity outside the A$AP Mob collective. The Harlem rapper addressed Rocky’s earlier admission that the name change had bothered him during a recent interview with Complex.
Ferg, who previously performed as A$AP Ferg, said he understood that Rocky could have his own feelings about the decision but maintained that he needed to follow his own path. He explained that he had always been known as Ferg before becoming associated with the A$AP name through his work with the collective.
“I got ASAP tatted on me,” Ferg said, while explaining that he has always been Ferg and adopted the A$AP name after joining the Mob. He described his current identity as a return to the person he was before becoming part of the collective.
Ferg also pointed to the changes that have taken place since the early days of A$AP Mob. He noted that the members have grown older, started families and developed separate careers, adding, “We’re not mobbing anymore.” He said that creating distance from the collective allows each member to pursue individual opportunities.
The rapper said he does not want to spend his career following another artist’s path, explaining that moving with Rocky on tours and other projects could prevent him from discovering opportunities of his own. He said his current focus is on showing audiences what Ferg represents as an individual artist.
Rocky previously discussed the name change during an interview with The Jason Lee Show, saying that Ferg dropping “A$AP” from his professional name had hurt him. At the same time, Rocky said there was no bad blood between them and described Ferg as a brother, leaving the door open for the two longtime collaborators to resolve their differences.
Ferg has also previously discussed the current status of A$AP Mob, saying that the collective’s active era had largely passed because there is no recent Cozy Tapes project, A$AP Worldwide label operation or comparable group infrastructure. He said the legacy created by the collective remains, while its members have developed into separate entities.
Ferg is continuing his solo run under the shortened name. He released the new track “Cycle” on Sept. 23 and has confirmed that a new album is expected in early 2027, as he continues expanding his work beyond the A$AP Mob identity.
