Watch Young Thug go punk in a performance with Travis Barker
In the lead up to his upcoming LP, PUNK, the rapper debuts a new rock-influenced aesthetic and sound in his Tiny Desk concert.
Pop punk’s having a big ol’ rebirth. You know that already, because we told you. With Olivia Rodrigo, Willow and the stealthy return of Travis Barker – and Vans and Dickies – the new wave has seen the genre’s meteoric rise from social media to the charts this year. And now, Young Thug wants a piece of the punk pie, too.
Today, the rapper released a special performance via Tiny Desk, the online video series that, since the pandemic kicked off last year, has seen artists like Harry Styles, Alicia Keys and King Princess perform at-home concerts for fans.
Marking the start of his punk era, 29-year old Young Thug released four new tracks: Die Slow, Droppin Jewels, Hate The Game and Tick Tock, which he also teased during his performance at Miami’s Rolling Loud festival earlier this month. And, as a special treat, he got pop punk messiah Travis Barker to lend a hand on a rock rendition of April’s Ski, which hit the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 that month.
It all comes in the lead up to his upcoming album, PUNK, which is set for release on 15th October, following 2019’s acclaimed, hip-hop-meets-trap So Much Fun LP.
If the album’s title and the rapper’s performance is anything to go by – think screaming into the microphone and (pretty pink) cargo shorts – he’s stage diving head-first into punk. And we’re all for it.
