The Making Of A$AP Ferg’s “Plain Jane” With Kirk Knight | Deconstructed

Released as the first single from A$AP Ferg’s mixtape Still Striving in June 2017, “Plain Jane” eventually proved to be his biggest hit. The slow-burning track started taking off shortly after Still Striving’s August release, and continued to build momentum until it received a remix featuring Nicki Minaj four months later. In January 2018, it finally peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Read more on Genius: genius.com/a/the-making-of-as...
Read all the lyrics to "Plain Jane" on Genius: genius.com/A-ap-ferg-plain-ja...
CREDITS:
Executive Producer: Felicia Kelley
Creative Director: Andrew Oppeneer
Producer: Ndeye Thioubou
Director/Editor: Zach Cooper
Shooter: Arooj Aftab
Shooter: Sam Balaban
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[@timtale2404]

sampling a train track running at 4.AM truly highlights the beauty of music

[@tomas8946]

tim tale i opened the link

[@thescoobymike]

"sAmPLinGs nOt ArT"

[@crazydogproductions8158]

ngl tho i feel like the train would sound pretty similar at any time of the day

[@jaynonchalant7299]

@@crazydogproductions8158 not really... in NYC there is much less audio pollution at 4AM vs 4PM. there would of been much more sound picked up during the day

[@rvbxn04]

yeah man i love when producers do that shit

[@HEH8585]

Woah that train thing was amazing

[@vidDunk]

I could bang this train version as well, unique vibe.

[@MIYIAUQ]

HEH85 RIGHT

[@adamflp5091]

mac demarco 😤

[@Similee]

Straight recording the world and flipping it man

[@DeFameWRONGCROWD]

Word! Literally the sound of New York

[@reddsmoke904]

"ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS SAMPLE THE DAMN TRAIN CJ!" 😂😂😂😂 had to do it

[@Bigski33]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@normalhuman7840]

Lol

[@maxgreen7453]

Best comment ever lol

[@M0DFATH3R]

I choked on cake reading this loooooooool

[@Rdon_Ranger]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@StaySteak]

Please make "Praise The Lord (Da Shine)" with Skepta!

[@chefpap]

StaySteak It was mostly a sample of an older song so I’m not sure it would be very interesting

[@mamatony8931]

Its actually a sample of a apple loop kit but i agree, it probably wouldn't be very interesting.

[@maorus2]

This beat simple af. A vid would porbably take 1 minute

[@fresha4936]

@@babyboyalois4473 Im pretty sure it was sampled from this Roma II soundtrack: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iai9ppSinLyWsLs

[@imrealugly4960]

lmao its a whole ass sample that shit would be dumb

[@Carlos77589]

Most down to earth producer I seen here in a minute, he really looks like he loves what he does

[@justin5883]

Carlos Martinez he’s a rapper too on pro era with joey badass

[@darzaty8733]

He’s a really good rapper

[@nickcasavecchia8973]

Fire ass producer and rapper

[@hour7141]

Carlos Martinez ho listen to his album "late Knight special"

[@UNDENIABLEBarttySky]

Same too bad im starting to lose a little bit of passion to make a good beat

[@aries]

kirk the goat

[@michaelnelson5059]

Aries I

[@SurgeFYSB]

Yo i was not expecting to see you here! What a pleasant surprise!

[@Mundingo1301]

U the goat my man

[@Michael-sh7gf]

Aries aye wyd here

[@isdatbochi]

No man Aries is the GOAT!!

[@prodbp]

Bro sampled a train

[@JoeyDeucin]

Bro made 6 digits off of it

[@JoeyDeucin]

@Gonçalo Simões with your and the plays yes at least

[@bigmansuri7438]

i was your thousandth like

[@LegitMusic]

Kirk deserves a lot more credit for his creativity

[@C0D3O]

yeah 3 note piano is fucking creative

[@1vili]

@@C0D3O Lmao

[@Niahbhabii]

Real shit

[@1992s.h.i.t]

@@C0D3O make a catchy beat with 3 note piano before talk shit like that

[@dkvbeatz6937]

@@1992s.h.i.t yes......

[@oldhead2854]

these producers be creative af. he added a damn train track sound effect to the shit. its lit

[@dardan13g33]

You damn right, old head

[@djsichuan3303]

I wish he quoted RZA properly, cause what does he mean he made a mill before he could play 'one key'? a key is like a piano key, like one note, like literally touching the keyboard and pressing down on a white or black key. So either RZA explained incorrectly, or he misquoted him. If I were to assume what he meant, I'd maybe say he made a mill before he learned about 'keys' as in a song being "in the key of E minor" for example. But id prefer not to assume

[@glo1168]

DJ Sichuan lol it’s all good man I feel you haha, it didn’t make sense and you just want the accurate wisdom

[@vexxed____]

@@djsichuan3303 "key" as in not really knowing how to accurately play it smh

[@muziq99]

Old Head true indeed

[@MonkeyDLuffy-zb9cf]

A train. A freakin train. 🚈 This guy is a *GENIUS*

[@nykid1234]

U should listen to a lot of his other songs and other beats he produced a lot for joey bada$$ and he’s a rapper too

[@samplelibrary2794]

It's brilliant. I think we used the word genius too much. It loses its value. but yeah Kirk was innovative on parts of this beat

[@seb4mart]

that shit was mindblown tho

[@maxb8145]

its pretty famous in nyc to sample a train lol

[@prod.hxrford3896]

Ok it's not that amazing. As a producer I have thoughts like that all the time, like I'll just be doing shit and think "hey that might sound cool in a beat". For example I was playing BF1 while listening to music and I was like "wow these melee sounds are pretty percussive, they migth sound good in a beat". Take a listen if you want soundcloud.com/digital-14/derrierre-mon-dos

[@JoeyLuckyBoyNato]

You can't have any boundaries when you're making music

[@fabianw2k]

but you do. Technical barriers.

[@paulcimijotti4760]

Jesus Christ loves you and He died for you❤️

[@J.LucysCrib]

@@fabianw2k not really, I get what u saying but if it sounds good it don't matter how it's mixed

[@slowedreverbclassics]

This is how I always pictured producing to be. Man was sitting on a train and a muse brought him the sound. damn train tracks. so trivial that you never even listen to it. but an artist had the presence of mind to capture that living in the moment. I'm inspired Kirk!

[@reddsmoke904]

Yeah if you got a creative mind and love music, production is so fun.

[@stoned_moon_face8346]

In reality u just start over analyzing beats tho sadly

[@IPH-1212]

@@stoned_moon_face8346 lol yeah makes me very picky 😂 but its just because i know whats going on behind the scenes, and i can tell when something is really legit (production wise) and appreciate everything that goes into the song, all the different sounds and pieces- where most ppl just listen to it objectively

[@DOCTORBASSLINE]

this is why making music is so fucking good! Really inspiring video for producers out there!

[@NicotineRosberg]

"everything is a sample"

[@VICKNATIONZ]

I'm sampling that *clap* at 0:25

[@unclesam530]

+VICKNATIONZ then you gotta clear the sample

[@kubastefanik7091]

I AM DOOM NOT GROOT I mean if he can find it online to download it’s free to use right?

[@ganggang4429]

damn genius

[@wilfredynunez5263]

Ask Kirk what clap he used.

[@SpaceboyBilliards]

This thread gives me sadness. They're spouting legalities or asking where to get the clap, not realizing you linked to a literal irl clap.

[@dolanheadlinesforavengers7268]

Imagine how hard he tried to be quiet while recording the train 💀

[@Origamibeats]

My boi with the train tracks perc thats dope

[@skainst9422]

one of the best deconstructed wow, very talented producer fr fr

[@blankface1765]

He's a beast man listen to early morning hiatus

[@macon-]

talented producer and rapper. go check out some of his music. he insane.

[@thecmbgamers]

No way did he sample train tracks, what a god

[@marcomarkproductions]

sample anything my g

[@jayashthakur947]

Death grips sampled the Vancouver skytrain. Matmos made a whole album sampling only the wash cycle of a washing machine

[@PESOPIDDYGTW]

"I was passing a homeless man who was banging on the piano in a cave, so i pulled out my iphone and sampled it"

[@nate453]

BEATS 😂😂😂

[@PulzeBLND]

This is why I read comments 🤣

[@nicholusjones6243]

This is what a REAL producer does. Use the sound that's already naturally AROUND you. This kid gets it. Much respect.

[@rotisseriechickenlover-jb4cc]

That train sample is creative af well done

[@DatDaDatty]

everything a sample

[@VICKNATIONZ]

*LIFE IS A SAMPLE*

[@masicbemester]

VICKNATIONZ True

[@ondab3at720]

Maybe he just played and re_recorded the melody!!! Even if it's all sample still fire

[@simi1022]

Ain't nothing made from scratch anymo 😩

[@loremipsum7513]

wtf, u again?

[@bondbeats3151]

That one hit me...”Rza made a million before He knew how to play 1 key” damn

[@progrockmorelikefrogc0ck157]

Bond lazy niggas felt that fr

[@enriquerodriguezg3486]

"You can'y just f*cking have unseasoned turkey" XD Preach!

[@dairon8014]

He is so passionate

[@MrOrlandosmoothe]

“ Still don’t know how to play keys, and I’m triple platinum” Shows YOU DONT need to know music Theory to be capable of doing big things🔥🔥 this was hype

[@alexfvcruz]

MrOrlandosmoothe true but it’s still frustrating when you have an idea and don’t have the toolset to transcribe it from your mind to your DAW or piano

[@editexel]

True, but it'll make your life easier and give you options other than just a 3 note arp, like this beat and half the trap beats out there

[@bonnevierbeats3499]

Alex Cruz bro you’re born with the tool set, your ears, just klick it out in the piano roll if you can’t play it and use your ears to get it as you want, music is an art not an theory!

[@ArshadChengadu]

BONNEVIERBEATS nah...there's theory you could humm and make that a pattern

[@UNDENIABLEBarttySky]

True. I know how to strum an acoustic but everything else js rough. As for the general beatmaking I love it and its easy to manipulate everything.

[@user-gz9wh5kx8s]

DAMN, who knew that was a traintrack sample. This guy's creative af

[@nicotinebeats2411]

Tesla: invents the lightbulb Edison: 0:11

[@SXNDICATE]

Lmao

[@Jungz.88]

How did your brain do that?

[@sreenarajmohan2827]

Oh yes big brain time!

[@santiagorodriguez-qh9hx]

man you GENIUS

[@teardrop2399]

Hahah

[@chrisrichbeats7383]

KIRK KNEEZY ON THE BEAT

[@k4l627]

Y’all can’t lie every time y’all hear this beat or the song start out of nowhere y’all start jumping up even if you in class and start singing along.

[@elchucofried5683]

K4L only high school kids bro

[@kswisha1331]

1:59 kirk were high af when rocording the train for shure

[@ProdKamoReef]

3:05 - Genius really said Omnisphere was also used in the production of Rich The Kid's 'New Freezer' they couldve just said its used in the prodcution of every song ever

[@manicbeats9356]

Just love to see the Pro Era brothers prospering💯

[@adamreginald7673]

"You can't have unseasoned turkey." Hilarious!

[@golu_badbola]

Kirk's audio capturing sense ain't from this world fr fr.

[@abaddon416]

“You gotta throw some spice, you can’t have a turkey without no spice.” 😂😂😂 I love the fact that he sees and hears music everywhere.

[@IZMBeats]

Daaaaaaamn how hard is this !

[@thelifeofpblo2705]

I•Z•M Beats not hard at all but the creativity and thought he put into this is what's gold 🤘🙏 that's what separates good producers and bad producers

[@MarkHenryTheWrestler]

not that hard honestly, saying this 8 months into producing

[@EliasX]

Z obviously its not hard to reproduce.. Coming up with a beat like this is a whole different story. Youll learn to appreciate that sooner or later

[@MarkHenryTheWrestler]

i get you

[@hivenwiseatangan5587]

I•Z•M Beats

[@jesalgandhi]

Damn this really inspired me... Who knew all of these random sound effects would all make a great beat the flows very nicely

[@ODWILL-co1vo]

4:47 Dat sync was so sick! *S/O to Genius for bring us this shit, FR FR*

[@oldjoants]

5:06 this gives more insight into the mindset of beat makers than anything else I've seen on deconstructed (which I'm a huge fan of). Also, cool he's using Ableton and not FL Studio like in almost all the others.

[@3rdARKnight]

Lol smh what’s wrong with FL and that beat can easily be done with FL too btw

[@302beatz2]

Hands down best series on youtube 🔥💯

[@LuxuriousKoala]

The fact that he used a train makes me appreciate the song so much more

[@nachmzln1779]

This is one of the greatest deconstructed

[@YAWNlES]

this video makes me want to start producing.. it just sounds fun and therapeutic to see a beat come together

[@Heartful]

It is, but it's hard work. It's 1% what you're saying and 99% "what the fuck am I even doing" unless your ego is off the scale.

[@GrimReaper-jl6gz]

How would one start?

[@YAWNlES]

Heartful crazy i just saw this, and i started on my phone and i felt very limited so i recently copped FL studio, i have just been watching videos nonstop tryna learn shit its no joke but once i get a better grasp of the daw im sure great things will come :)

[@YAWNlES]

Grim Reaper i just started on my phone then got FL eventually, its a so much you have to learn so if you really are interested just buy it and learn as you go pretty much its not easy

[@V1CCZ3XX]

@@YAWNlES so are you still producing? btw what Heartful said is the pure truth

[@tylerdavidowitz3908]

Most "Deconstructed" videos are hella boring. But this one is lit asf cause the producer loves what he doing

[@PESOPIDDYGTW]

What you expect? Watch me explain this beat all while i juggle balls and jump rope. Fuck outta here

[@Kirbystare1992]

BEATS I feel you haha

[@prod.kashkari3075]

Deuceman Beats it’s cause it’s Kirk Knight that man is a legend

[@cancercorner2466]

and it isnt just *i LiKe tO kEeP iT sImPlE i PuT gRoSs BeAt oN iT*

[@theproducermic]

Oh yeah Genius. *We needed this one!*

[@DukeSaragono]

Deconstructed change the game, I absolutely LOVE these Episodes!!! So inspiring for us producers that sometimes feel like giving up. These shows give us that push to keep going

[@MerkhVision]

Ay this is one of the best deconstructed videos, no cap

[@Chininton]

once in a lifetime type beat fr

[@enri447]

One of the coolest producers on here

[@willemapers]

4:51 smooth

[@certification_papi4259]

Finally, the video I’ve been waiting for. They took forever to bring this together

[@aviazx1799]

Kirk grew so much as an artist and producer since those 1999 days with the era

[@intricate6602]

Bro u must be listening to Joey Badass HAHAHAAHA bro I salute you for that

[@KaelenB]

*_PRO ERA ALL DAY_*

[@bresnursery4769]

Keep dropping the fire Genius!!! I LOVE these videos🔥🔥🔥

[@CJAYGRiZtv]

Damn, the background things he's added to this just makes me appreciate this song more. DOPE PRODUCTION! I'm def on the watchout for more of this dude's work.

[@lildraco2033]

This guys dope love how passionate he is about producing and that he isn’t completely drugged out of his mind and has an actual personality unlike some of these other producers

[@yvngrvdd]

I GO CRAZY IN MY YEEZY KIRK KNEEZY ON THE BEAT

[@weardoz1point1]

Masterpiece !! Keep doing what oh doing Kirk ☄ Spreading all good vibes. Inspiring ! You really love what you do 💙

[@jknight_47]

Ive followed this man since 2012. A huge inspiration to me after hearing the beats he did with pro era and specially a beat called “Early Morning Hiatus” and “Syncopted” ive met him at tours and its just crazy to see how he has evolve and everything he has work for paid of. One of the best producers ever.

[@drewward6895]

Amazing beat, so many subtle layers that blend so well. Respect!

[@Badmoonchild]

Kirk deserves more credit smh

[@blankface1765]

Lizzy Livingston facts

[@justmyopinion1098]

At least he's starting to get a name for himself on the production side of things

[@virgilm1491]

Positive attitude man, positive attitude is everything when you’re grinding.. love it

[@Mystxry]

i fuckin love this dude. great energy, bro is very inspirational

[@yvenereugene201]

Some suggestions A$AP Rocky - Goldie by Hit-Boy Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pool by T-Minus Drake - Forever by Boi-1da Travis Scott - Days Before Rodeo : The Prayer by Wondagurl A$AP Rocky - LVL by Clams Casino Vince Staples - Jump Off the Roof by No I.D.

[@blankface1765]

Andrew Plush bruhh that beat has a life of it's own I swear

[@KitchenerLesli]

That Travis song is crazy

[@VersauceyBwoii]

This deserves to be top comment

[@changhunyang9594]

we need Big Fish Theory producers

[@mlndr8551]

Yvener Eugene i would like to see who and how he made vince staples's _Blue Suede_

[@pqpew6946]

The Most Sauce Ever Given On This Show.

[@bigblrrd4681]

Y’all need to do more of these

[@bukvanlalsailoa7317]

Best deconstructed episode yet!

[@midnightdarkchocolate]

He did a really great job conveying the energy and the feel of the beat. When I first heard the beat it made me want to get up and run around the city and have other people slowly join me like a damn Nike commercial.

[@milanthinks420]

Looking like Denzel Curry cousin.

[@bigtyronemusic]

looks like denzel and JID

[@gillesputtemans]

@@bigtyronemusic exactly

[@liltra1n941]

Or Offset

[@iannmassoud]

oh shit you right

[@lankyandhefty8836]

nah he be looking like pusha t

[@creepincav]

This show is the BEST. I love this, hearing about the producers view how music is made. Awesome. Keep doing it!!!

[@Jonara19982000]

I really wanted this video to come out. FINALLY

[@garethlosper6197]

"It's always great to talk about the struggle, but sometimes you really just gotta make people feel great" Mad love for that👌🏽

[@pico.manengo]

(Clap) *That's a sample.*

[@The3500]

Pierre Manengo We Trying start wave🤞🏽🌊, Peep the KZbin Channel 📱 We Discuss / Debate hip hop topics.

[@luckybeats8769]

waited for this !

[@akshayshetty9331]

By far, one of the best deconstructed videos.

[@BLVCK6]

Alhamdulillah!!

[@reesecups44]

*_Kirk Kneezy on the Beazy_*

[@morty1504]

I like this guy, these episodes where you can tell the producer really has a passion for what hes creating and loves showing others how fun and fulfilling making music can be is what this series is all about!

[@daylanforguson3050]

this is just so inspiring fr fr

[@tobiasdaugbjerg9627]

"Train Jane"

[@dvnychvz9757]

2:01 train tracks part sounds like one of Rey Mysterios theme when it’s about to start

[@elidisco]

Wow I love watching these because it makes me hear so much more in the beat after

[@guywhoever4518]

I love these in depths of how they made the beats like they really appreciating the producers hella put em back up the dj is the movement maker gotta make the crowd sway. And bro knows exactly what he doin

[@MaseratiShawty1]

Now this what separates a producer with a beat maker. Can make a beat out of recorded sounds outside software

[@demiladeolaleye8766]

*No FL sTudIo, nO gRoss bEat????*

[@Lenny-sy3yd]

xD

[@MATHINVOKER]

what's the problem with fl studio? Smh you buggin hahaahaha

[@demiladeolaleye8766]

mathinvoker point to where I said there was a problem with fl ?????

[@fromthe4621]

Demilade Olaleye 😂

[@EliasX]

Demilade Olaleye this is probably all these "producers" got from this video smh..

[@scraps219brownside]

this is hands down amazing !!

[@knowledgeispower5359]

These videos make me appreciate these tracks way more

[@Team51Minds]

People sleep on kirkk knight

[@hour7141]

Flxp. Big fax

[@seaneboss8913]

He can rap too

[@JEFFMAN90]

Kirk is one of the best producers from my generation. This dude is the reason why I started making beats.

[@mustafaelgohary4307]

this is one of the best videos in this series so far

[@B4NK10]

this is the most creative beat i’ve seen in a hot minute🔥

[@prodzhap1837]

Reverse kicks in the drum pattern and traintrack samples and fucking zombies 2 creative

[@bigtyronemusic]

actually, reversed kicks are quite common within underground dark trap, this beat is an example of dark trap.

[@tommywhistle]

"ghost paino" this mans haha

[@tommywhistle]

3:31

[@shldn7851]

Stumbled across this randomly whilst on the train home.. this shit hit different today fam! A1 PROD.

[@ottokalmusic1484]

From all the videos I seen a Kirk Knight on the internet, bro is super humble🙌🙏. Also he's all about the music.

[@jazzycakeup5725]

This is cool & all but Genius it’s about time you have The Beat Bully come in and tell us how he produced “Dreams and Nightmares”

[@Venenoso]

Jazzy Cakeup true

[@MikeEastBeats]

TRUUUU

[@OGKWAM]

Jazzy Cakeup Jahlil Beats Hot Nigga

[@mslovelydae]

AYYKWAM Jahlil Beats posted a video about the making of Hot Nigga already 👌👍

[@Zara-kl2ee]

Look out for Kirk! he's talent

[@daddired2196]

hella inspiring man

[@snowshow2401]

I liveee for these videos, Genius yasss