Young Thug – I’m Up (Mixtape Review)

Young Thug has never been one to play it safe, and ‘I’m Up‘ captures him at his most untamed.

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TOP 5

5. F Cancer (Boosie) (Ft. Quavo)

Cancer can go to hell via Air Phoenix.

Mr. Thug, if you’re going to make a song called “F Cancer,” please be a little more serious. Talking about strippers, hoes, or flaunting wealth on a track with this title is f**ked up (Unless he’s talking about the zodiac sign, which I’m sure he isn’t).

Now, rating the song fairly: Young Thug delivers some unique and clever bars on nearly every line, while also riding the bass-heavy, diabolical production nicely. The hook (If you can find it) is split—the first part could have been skipped, but the second part hits like s**t.

Quavo adds a strong contrast, helping to balance out Thug’s erratic flow with a normal-sounding verse that has him bragging about his ice and 3&D women. Overall, the track is a serious bop.

4. King TROUP

“King TROUP” is the type of track you can nod your head to all day, my brother.

The flow is tight, the tempo is infectious, and it’s one of Thugger’s more restrained performances on the mixtape. Even with the energy pulled back a notch, it still hits hard.

Funny enough, my sister lives on King Throop in Brooklyn… Thugger just spelled it wrong.

3. Ridin (Ft. Lil Durk)

Did Thugger say he can f**k a b*tch on a bus like Rosa Parks? Sheesh.

“Ridin” features a beat that hits hard as hell, laced with this warped, tape-rewinding sound that’ll mess with your head more than that viral dress meme where no one could agree on the color. Thugger comes in with a sly chorus that at first feels almost playful, but quickly shifts gears into something darker, packing in violence and wild energy. His verses are equally diabolical, blending talk of revenge with some eyebrow-raising lines about smashing “next-generation Rosa Parkses” (I can’t get over this line).

Lil Durk shows up locked in, delivering one of the strongest verses I’ve heard from him. With a raspy, Trouble-like voice and a start-stop flow, he keeps you on edge, spitting quick bursts before pulling back like he’s reloading. It’s lowkey one of his best performances.

2. Special (Ft. Offset & Solo Lucci)

There’s such a thin line between being called “special” and “special.”

“Special” is a must-listen. Thugger takes on more of a setup role here, easing into the track without overdoing it, almost like he’s clearing the runway for what’s coming next. Still, he delivers a fantastic hook—one that meshes perfectly with Mike WiLL Made-It’s beat, which sounds like a 1950s horror flick chopped up and dropped into a trap lab.

Offset and Solo Lucci bring the balance. Their dynamic flows and sharp lyricism add just the right amount of stability, offsetting Thugger’s unpredictable energy (no pun intended). Both come through with standout verses that push the track into sleeper-hit territory.

1. Hercules

Bro, Metro Boomin brought out the Super Saiyan in Young Thug.

“Hercules” comes with one of the hardest beats of the year, courtesy of Metro Boomin. It hits harder than Charles Oakley, but it also carries this eerie, portal-to-another-dimension vibe—part mind trip, part trap anthem.

Thugger charges into it with zero hesitation. His ad-libs sound like a madman screaming from the rafters, the hook is both catchy and hilarious, and his verses ride the beat with chaotic confidence. He sounds ready for war while also leaning into high-level f**kery.

What seals it is his unpredictability—randomly switching voices, cranking his pitch whenever he feels like it, bouncing off the walls like he’s untouchable. It’s classic Thugger, ya bish!

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

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RGM RATING

(82%)

I never want to hear a watered-down version of Young Thug again. Thankfully, on I’m Up, we get Thugger in his pure, raw form—unfiltered, unpredictable, and more entertaining than ever. This project thrives on Thugger’s willingness to push boundaries, refusing to fit into any traditional rap mold.

From a production standpoint, I’m Up is a ride. The beats are cartoonish yet trap-certified, dark yet bouncy, serving as the perfect playground for Thugger’s eccentric delivery. Whether he’s piecing together a sticky chorus, delivering sharp verses, or letting loose with his signature ad-libs, there’s never a dull moment.

Lyrically, Thugger surprises more than expected. While the wild tales of violence and lust are there, he also raps about loyalty, family, and personal growth—subjects that remind us there’s more depth to him than critics often admit. This balance gives the project substance without sacrificing fun.

The features shine, too. Offset, Lil Durk, Quavo, and Solo Lucci inject the project with familiar trap energy, grounding Thugger’s zany unpredictability. Still, Thugger owns the spotlight, especially on tracks like “Hercules,” where his voice morphs unpredictably yet lands every time. The choruses throughout I’m Up are elite—catchy, unique, and impossible to forget. At the end of the day, nobody in rap does it like Young Thug, and this project proves why.

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