Rating: NNN
Young Thug has an impressive ability to imbue nearly every syllable with levity. On Hot Boyz, he shouts “Hot boyz, hot boyz, hot boyz, hot!” with the kind of wide-eyed zeal that recalls Lil Wayne during his experimental phase of the mid- to late 2000s (aka his prime).
Elsewhere on this collaborative mixtape with Gucci Mane, Thug shows off his deft cadence control as he bobs and weaves, elongating words like his voice is melting in one bar, then clipping them like he’s trying to speak in code on the next.
On Siblings, Thug’s longing- and affection-evoking melodies make a comically lascivious conceit almost sweet.
For his part, Mane is consistent, displaying his trademark sly humour on OMG Bro and Stoner 2 Times, but he definitely plays second fiddle here. Thug is ascending to rap’s A list as the most exciting solo stylist approaching crossover status since Future released Pluto. It’s hard not to view La Flare as a harbinger of things to come.
Top track: Need
