Joe and Jada – Episode Summary

Episode Title: FERG talks A$AP Mob history, NYC fashion & NEW music on the way
Podcast: Joe and Jada (iHeartPodcasts & The Volume)
Release Date: March 5, 2026
Featured Guest: A$AP Ferg

Overview

In this lively and nostalgic episode, hip-hop legends Fat Joe and Jadakiss host Harlem's own A$AP Ferg. The trio dives deep into the history and influence of the A$AP Mob, the culture of Harlem and New York City street fashion, and Ferg's latest music and artistic projects. Ferg shares personal stories from his rise in the rap game, reflects on Harlem heritage, talks about fashion both past and present, and spotlights creative inspirations that shaped his journey.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Rucker Park & Harlem Heritage

(03:18–06:44)

• Joe opens by celebrating Ferg's connection to Harlem, especially his work redesigning Harlem's legendary Rucker Park.
• Ferg describes being tapped to redesign the iconic basketball court, sharing how he wanted the project to feel "super monumental," consulting with NBA star Jaylen Brown about the deep roots of the game.
  • "We spoke for like, four hours about just the origins of basketball... I wanted to make something super monumental, and it just came out amazing." – A$AP Ferg (04:23)
• Both hosts praise Ferg's authenticity and flair in fashion and Harlem culture.

2. New Project: "Flip Phone Shorty"

(05:30–08:02); (46:43–48:49)

• Ferg promotes his new project, "Flip Phone Shorty," a homage to early 2000s NYC street culture. The project includes both music and a companion film ("a movie that reminds me of State Property, Killer Season").
  • "Bringing back that flip phone era music, ringtone era. And I did a whole film behind it." – A$AP Ferg (05:30)
  • The film evokes nostalgia: "6x shirts, bandanas under the fitteds...all the shit I grew up seeing."
• The emotional aim: "When you see the movie and hear the music, it'll just take you back." (06:44)
• Updates on screenings (Art Basel Miami, looking to do New York) and hints at a deluxe edition on the way.

3. Harlem/New York Fashion & Street History

(08:09–15:04); (39:10–45:19)

• Discussion of Harlem’s fashion legacy—from Ferg’s legendary father (a Harlem fashion figure) to the importance of 125th/145th streets as style epicenters.
• Joe shares stories of iconic NYC clothing stores, referencing the gritty reality for young men trying to dress fresh on the streets.
  • "There was nothing else than that. The dream was, I'm gonna give me some and drive down 145th. And I'm gonna drive down 125th." – Joe (09:09)
• Laughs about old-school hustling for clothes, and how current fashion trends are cyclical.
  • "The youth feel like, 'Yo, what's ours?'… They tapping into that frequency." – Joe (06:44)
• Delancey Street and Run-DMC's influence on NYC style ("they changed the game").

4. Visual Art & Brand Collaborations

(15:04–16:36)

• Ferg details his visual art journey and getting quickly commissioned after going public with his art—especially his 'Me vs. Me' Adidas artwork.
  • "I get acknowledged for something I've always been into... it's a blessing." – Ferg (15:33)
• Discusses his time at High School of Art and Design, continuing his father's legacy.

5. A$AP Mob Origins & Yams’ Legacy

(31:36–33:10)

• Joe asks Ferg about the late A$AP Yams and A$AP Mob’s genesis.
  • Ferg explains Yams as the Mob’s creator and visionary: "He made A$AP ... like, he started A$AP, along with Juice and a few other guys.”
  • Each Mob member came from different Harlem crews that merged as others fizzled out.
  • Yams was the behind-the-scenes architect, working as A&R, connecting with Dipset, Max B, and music industry figures.
  • "He was our A&R. He was basically like, Jedi when it came to music." – Ferg (33:09)

6. The Evolution of Hip-Hop Camaraderie

(19:34–24:52)

• Joe reminisces about old-school collaborations in NYC hip-hop, contrasting it with today’s fractured industry.
  • "We loved each other in hip hop... it was competition lyrically, but we wanted to see everybody grow." – Joe (21:28)
• Ferg describes Mob sessions as "camaraderie," building together in and out of the studio.
• Joe laments increased division and clout-chasing in modern rap.

7. Therapy in Music Creation

(24:52–25:17)

• Referencing a previous guest, Lola Brooke, Joe and Ferg briefly touch on writing and recording as emotional release—affirming that for many artists, music is "therapy."

8. Influences & Era-Based Style

(39:10–39:34)

• Ferg says his fashion is less about icons than time periods—he draws from '80s-early 2000s Harlem culture, hustlers, and family (“how my moms and nuggies used to carry themselves—very classy, fly”).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Harlem's legacy in fashion:
  "There was nothing else than that... Like, the dream was, I'm gonna give me some and drive down 145th." – Joe (09:09)

• On style cycles:
  "Me, I feel old when they dressing like we was dressing when I was 20 years old...like, damn, man, we some old niggas." – Joe (06:44)

• On creative authenticity:
  "The thing I love the most about you and your career is you carved away for yourself. You earned everything yourself." – Joe (08:09)

• On A$AP Mob camaraderie:
  "Nobody's doing it right now. Nobody came together as a clique... We just wanted to put it out to the world and package it." – Ferg (19:34)

• On music as therapy:
  "As artists, it's therapy. We want to get certain shit out. We want to do certain things. So it's like therapy." – Joe (25:17)

• On giving host props:
  "I want to give you your flowers... Y'all showing all of us how to do it, how to keep our integrity, how to move and groove in the game, stay alive and thrive." – Ferg (48:08)

Timestamps of Key Moments

• 03:18 – Harlem and Rucker Park design story
• 05:30 – Ferg introduces "Flip Phone Shorty"
• 09:09 – NYC fashion, dream of "driving down 125th/145th"
• 15:04 – Adidas art commission and visual art journey
• 19:34 – Early days of hip-hop camaraderie vs. now
• 24:52 – Music as therapy
• 31:36 – Who was A$AP Yams?
• 33:09 – Yams as a "Jedi" behind the Mob
• 39:10 – Style influences and NYC fashion culture
• 46:43 – Ferg discusses deluxe edition & plays new music
• 48:08 – Ferg gives flowers to Joe and Jada

Conclusion

This episode offers a rare mix of humor, NYC street wisdom, and real talk about the evolution of hip-hop, Harlem, and hustle. Ferg’s stories give listeners insight into the birth of the A$AP Mob, the art of style, the power of community, and the importance of creative authenticity. The conversation is a slice-of-life look at how legacy, struggle, family, and ambition intersect in New York hip-hop culture.

New album/film "Flip Phone Shorty" out now – deluxe version coming soon.