ASAP Ferg Talks Doe-Active Video, “Growth” On Upcoming Album, Harlem Pride & Lessons From ASAP Yams [Video]

A$AP Ferg gave us some insight into his upcoming sophomore album, and shared some words of wisdom from A$AP Yams. A couple days ago, Ferg gave us a tour of his favorite Bodega in Harlem where both A$AP Rocky’s breakout video for “Peso” and his own recent “Doe-active” clip were filmed. After taking a look at the corner store, Ferg talked to us a bit about his upcoming Trap Lord follow-up, which he promised would be out before the summer. Fergenstein expressed that he’d been through a lot of growth since his debut, and that his experiences seeing much of the world on tour have informed his music in a new way. The Harlem rapper closed with some thoughts on his friend and mentor, A$AP Yams, who passed away earlier this year. According to Ferg, he wouldn’t be rapping if it were not for Yams’ encouragement.

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Rapper Big Pooh – Augmentation [Video]

Beat box this is back to the block, before every rapper sold rocks, before everybody needed rocks in their watch just watch, now it’s all about board rooms and stocks, words paint pictures, i’m an artist non-stop, raw beats, raps, this is called Hiphop. “Sometimes you have to destroy and rebuild in order to augment an idea. Augmentation is me destroying the idea that a lot of young cats have about a career in Hip Hop/Rap. We are trained to look at the exceptions and accept them as the standard. I just wanted to share some real game with up and comers, spectators, and those looking to make their mark.” – Rapper Big Pooh

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SESSIONS: Fashawn’s “The Ecology” [Video]

You never truly know when your big break is going to come. For young veteran MC, Fashawn, that came from a legendary fan who he now calls his boss. “When Nas says he’s going to buy you a ticket to Texas or anywhere for that matter, you should take that,” Fashawn mentions about his meeting with Nas that led him to performing at South By Southwest last year. It was that initial meeting that led Nas to sign Fashawn to Mass Appeal records and to release his first solo album in nearly six years in The Ecology, which is out now. The former XXL Freshmen made a splash with his debut, Boy Meets World, but readily admits that the person who put that out is much different than the man he is now. “The artist that put out Boy Meets World was a lot more immature,” reveals the Mass Appeal artist. “He thought he knew everything about the world before he even met the world. I say the difference on this one is that I’m a lot more humble, a lot more wiser. Wise enough to know that I don’t know much, that I’m forever learning every day.” In this sit-down with Fashawn, he breaks down what went into the making of his new album, The Ecology, meetings with Hip-Hop legends and which songs mean the most to him on this project. Check out the STASHED exclusive up top.

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The-Dream Talks Leaving Def Jam & Current State Of R&B [Video]

In this VladTV exclusive with DJ Heat, critically acclaimed singer/songwriter The-Dream speaks about leaving Def Jam to release his solo material on Capitol Records. “The reason I went to Def Jam in the first place is because Jay [Z] was there.” Following Hov’s departure and after the bulk of the people with whom he started working with at Def Jam had left, The-Dream believes, “it was time to move on.” Refreshing candor introduces Dream’s insight into the current state of major record labels. The “Falsetto” vocalist asserts, “I think we [the producers and songwriters] do more developing with the artists than even the labels could do. The labels right now just pick out singles.” The-Dream asserts artist development is an archaic practice, “They’re not developing the artists, because if they was then it wouldn’t be just one hit and you’re out. They would be here for the long-term.” Evident frustration is expressed on topics like the current state of R&B. “Everything started out being aligned with R&B. All of these [Hip-Hop] records are just R&B records produced another way. Like regardless of what you want to say, if it touches you in an emotional capacity it’s probably an R&B record.” He continues, “It’s just unfortunate that the, true, what we would call R&B artists can’t be themselves. They feel like they have to be and do what Rap is doing in order to keep up…Along the lines we at radio kinda got fickle with what was going on with a

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