Trap Lord
by A$AP Ferg
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Aug 20, 2013
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
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  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    Sep 9, 2013
    60
    There’s not much sugar to sweeten the pill, meaning Trap Lord is often one-note and depressing.
  2. Consequence
    Sep 3, 2013
    70
    Originally planned as a mixtape, there’s an unfinished feeling to Trap Lord, which in turn lends a lot of promise to the eventual follow-up.
  3. Clash Music
    Aug 28, 2013
    70
    Trap Lord is an impressive outing for Ferg and another win for A$AP Mob.
  5. PopMatters
    Aug 27, 2013
    70
    Trap Lord won’t be for everyone, but it’s worth more than one listen, because beneath the trap beats and somewhat cliché storyline is a debut album that’s exciting, different, and worth a spot on the shelf.
  6. Rolling Stone
    Aug 26, 2013
    60
    Slow, silky and menacing, with twists of eccentricity, his debut is a finely constructed mood piece.
  7. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Aug 26, 2013
    60
    It’s a fun ride, to be sure, but once the high wears off and all that’s left is the darkness, you can catch a faint glimpse of oblivion. Hopefully we get to peek deeper into the chasm the next time around.
  8. The Quietus
    Aug 22, 2013
    80
    Originally conceived as a mixtape, Trap Lord rightfully exists as a proper album, with thirteen tracks totalling fifty-one marvelous and misanthropic minutes.
  9. Pitchfork
    Aug 22, 2013
    75
    Though Trap Lord's vision is refracted through split personalities--for better or for worse--A$AP Ferg still sounds like a star in the making.
  10. HipHopDX
    Aug 21, 2013
    70
    Overall, A$AP Ferg’s Trap Lord, is a solid, if an sometimes-uninspired effort.
  11. XXL
    Aug 21, 2013
    60
    The problem with Ferg’s swag raps, though, is that like any party (or after-party) that goes on for too long, it ends up just feeling overwrought and repetitive.
  12. Boston Globe
    Aug 20, 2013
    80
    Ferg reaches beyond the boroughs and borrows from various regional musical and linguistic influences to create a set of songs laced with introspection, menace, and smartly conceived verses.
  13. Fact Magazine (UK)
    Aug 20, 2013
    70
    Trap Lord’s such a tightly bound listen, however, that it jars when it misses the mark.
  14. Exclaim
    Aug 19, 2013
    70
    In contrast to comrade Rocky's music, Trap Lord succeeds largely despite its production, fuelled by Ferg's oddball enthusiasm and sincerity.
  15. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Aug 19, 2013
    75
    He still lacks the kind of technical rapping skill that made A$AP Rocky reach star status. Regardless, A$AP Ferg has constructed an album that surpasses the quality of Rocky's Long.Live.A$AP from earlier this year.
  16. The Line of Best Fit
    Aug 19, 2013
    75
    Trap Lord is not an A$AP record; it is an A$AP Ferg record, sui generis, and that is its greatest achievement.
  17. Spin
    Aug 19, 2013
    70
    There's nothing on Trap Lord to suggest Ferg will follow A$AP Rocky onto the pop charts, but it's a rewardingly dark and grounded listen.
  18. AllMusic
    Aug 19, 2013
    80
    The rapper is an excellent tour guide through this warped landscape of thrills and chills, and even if Rocky remains the A$AP Mob's most obvious and outgoing choice, there's an argument to be made that the more interesting one is Ferg, a Trap Lord if there ever was one.
  19. NOW Magazine
    Aug 19, 2013
    60
    Ferg has enough lyrical promise and personality to make him a legit trap player, if not, quite yet, a lord.

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Most Discussed Album of 2013
40
#40 Most Shared Album of 2013

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 93 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 93
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 93
  3. Negative: 6 out of 93
  1. Monduman
    Aug 25, 2013
    8
    A dark, trippy and gritty journey through Ferg's mystical yet scarily realistic world, similar to Rocky's yet more 90's hip-hop, Reggae, trapA dark, trippy and gritty journey through Ferg's mystical yet scarily realistic world, similar to Rocky's yet more 90's hip-hop, Reggae, trap and gothic inspired. Rocky manages to greatly balance two sides of hip-hop. Modern day trap with 90's rugged style, coming out complicated yet addicting. While Ferg follows many modern day rap trends on the album (gold, cars and women), he still manages to shine and stand out from the crowd as his own man with his own style that is hard to explain but can be seen thoroughly through out the album. Although it would have been nice to see Ferg spit over some more 90's hip-hop beats, he still widely attracts an audience with his flexible flow and sometimes Jamaican reggae sounding voice. This can be seen mainly and impressively on tracks like "Let It Go' and the "Work Remix" where, in both, we can hear him slightly tweaking his voice and flow to match with the beats, giving the audience an adventurous vibe. During a full cohesive listen, Ferg will most definitely take you into his dark haunted world, were you can almost see the murders and other gruesome events happening right in front of you. A world were gritty rappers like Method Man and Biggie would fit right into and what Nas would describe as the "Dungeons Of Rap". Ferg has legendary old-timers and new-comers alike, all who (except for French Montano) really add to the depth of the album. Ferg may not be one of the best rappers out right now, but when it comes to Trap and the underground side, he sure does have a serious suggestion for being considered "Lord".… Full Review »
  2. Spangle
    Aug 21, 2013
    4
    I am stunned that I am not calling this a complete and utter failure. As a whole, is it a good album? Nah, but is pure hot unadulteratedI am stunned that I am not calling this a complete and utter failure. As a whole, is it a good album? Nah, but is pure hot unadulterated trash? Nah. It is actually ok for what it is, much like Stay Trippy. I am slightly impressed by A$AP Ferg, though I wish he focused on making more songs like "Cocaine Castle".… Full Review »
  3. dayquan1998
    Aug 21, 2013
    7
    A$AP Ferg's Trap Lord is probably the best A$AP Mob project since A$AP Rocky's unforgettable 2011 mixtape, Live. Love. A$AP with goodA$AP Ferg's Trap Lord is probably the best A$AP Mob project since A$AP Rocky's unforgettable 2011 mixtape, Live. Love. A$AP with good production and great features from A$AP Rocky and from legendary rappers, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony & Onyx and many more. The album is very hype and delightfully lyrical but it doesn't set the bar high for Ferg as the album cuts short at 13 tracks and falters with sour tracks like 4:02 and Dump Dump. Although the album is still a solid listen especially 4 A$AP fans.… Full Review »
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