🎶 Young Thug - "Again"
Trap music isn’t my number one forte, but my playlists are filled with enough of it to know something special when I hear it. Cue Young Thug. The Atlanta rapper is currently the talk of the town due to recent RICO charges that I won’t get into here. But whichever side of the legal discussion one falls on, there is no debate when it comes to his artistic vision and talent.
The flow is impeccable. As is the delivery, cadence, and overall confidence. A GQ article once compared Thug’s performance to a Jackson Pollock painting. The comparison isn’t too far fetched. His lyrical style is one that encourages different interpretations and sometimes, it’s nearly impossible to pin down exactly what’s being said. But that again, is brilliant.
My hopes are that this doesn’t come across as blatant promotion, but instead, as some friendly advice to check out a great artist. There are certainly hallmarks of the genre present, but aside from those over-analyzed topics from the general public, there is a rawness and even slight vulnerability to his style. From showcasing his unique fashion sense to proudly putting his dreams on display, he exposes himself to scrutiny and constant criticism. To be sure, none of it has stopped him. A final point to make is his dedication to his roots. Indeed, so much so that his music label is filled with lifelong friends that others in his position may’ve all but forgotten about. It’s commendable no matter your musical tastes.
What’s heartbreaking about his brilliance is the fact that it’s now being overshadowed by things out of his initial purpose. Legal charges with wrongfully-attributed characteristics—a narrative which he never intended on writing. I imagine many people’s hopes are that years from now, music aficionados looking back to our time will remember Thug for the right reasons.
Like his interpretive lyrics, there is always at least two sides to every story. With his trial still months away from completion, there remains a glimmer of hope that all of this will be put in the past at some point, and that he will reclaim his status as a cultural icon and be remembered for what it’s all about at the end of the day: his music.
Among his catalogue is today’s song: “Again.” While the first verse is brought to us courtesy of another Atlanta native—Gucci Mane—his part is lip-synced by Thug before the irresistible hook kicks in. Favorite line?
And I'm real bright like a poet.