Hot Girl Summer has arrived, and Megan Thee Stallion is back with her best album yet. Hotties (Megan’s fanbase) everywhere have been anticipating the release of MEGAN since her single “Cobra” gave us a taste of the album’s concept-driven nature. The Texas rapper went all out for this record. From the elaborate snake imagery for “HISS” and “Cobra,” to the old school game aesthetics of “BOA,” to the anime references that she incorporates, Megan has proved that she can play any role she envisions for her work.
This album has something for every listener and every mood. Megan pens an anthem for anime fans with “Otaku Hot Girl,” including an intro recorded by the English voice actor for Yuji Itadori in Jujutsu Kaisen, Adam McArthur. The track “Down Stairs DJ” highlights her ability to be funny and sexy simultaneously. The features are a fun addition to the album, and most of them compliment Megan well. Highlights include “Mamushi” featuring Yuki Chiba, “Accent” featuring GloRilla, and “Spin” featuring Victoria Monét. (Honorable mention goes to the rock remix of “Cobra” with the metal band Spiritbox that she released as a single.)
Another driving point of MEGAN is her ability to get to the point and address the elephant in the room. She takes her time to get everything off her chest when it comes to the chatter about her online and amongst her peers with the first three tracks “HISS,” “Rattle,” and “Figueroa.” Towards the end of the album she brings it back down to earth with raw and honest tracks “Moody Girl” and “Cobra.” One of Megan’s most defining traits throughout her career has been her ability to talk about her struggles openly and without a filter, and those two songs reflect her strength and refusal to shy away from the parts of her life that aren’t as glamorous.
MEGAN feels like the most cohesive body of work the rap icon has released so far. The amount of public scrutiny Megan Thee Stallion has been subjected to is nearly insurmountable, but the pressure seems to have fueled her. It feels like she put every ounce of effort she could into creating this record, and it paid off. There are a couple of tracks that don’t hit quite as hard as others or fall a bit flat, but overall the album serves as a testament to her skills as an artist. Her signature charm, charisma, and versatility shine throughout the run of the album, showing the world that she can’t be broken down that easily.
Every new release from her sounds even better than the last, and the more she refines her craft the more clear it becomes that she’s a true artist. She’s already proved that she’s versatile and driven with her past work, but all of the promotion done leading up to the album release shows that she and her creative team are really on the ball now. Her skills as a rapper combined with her unique concepts, as well as the positive and supportive environment she’s created amongst her fanbase, highlight her superstar quality. This album is hard-hitting and full of energy in the face of everything the world has thrown at her, letting everyone know that Megan Thee Stallion is here to stay.
Listen to MEGAN here!