Young Thug – Barter 6

    There wasn’t a game that defined console first person shooter like GoldenEye:007 on Nintendo’s fifth generation N64. Nearly every release in the genre has found some form of direct influence from Rare’s innovative take on Pierce Brosnan’s first go at James Bond nearly 18 years later. However, ask anyone who was more into PC gaming and they’ll proclaim how long the genre flourished before GoldenEye hit the market. It didn’t matter. The name became so strong that Electronic Arts even created an atrocious sequel and Activision tried to flat-out remake it. The name and ideas were the draw, not the actual spirit. That’s an approach Cash Money failed miserably with as Lil Wayne’s 500 Degreez never reached the heights of Juvenile’s major label debut 400 Degreez. Why? A then young Weezy flat-out attempted to make a better record instead of paying homage. Clearly, that level of ambition eventually catapulted him into superstardom. Fast forward 13 years, and Lil Wayne and Cash Money are engaging in the biggest legal battle Hip Hop has ever seen. Meanwhile, Dwayne Carter’s biggest creative beneficiary, Young Thug, releases his grand introduction through Barter 6. Of course, this comes as Weezy eleventh album Tha Carter V, sits in limbo. This could have been a failed opportunity for Thugger but Barter 6 is mixtape era Wayne concentrated with traditional Atlanta strip club conventions.

    If Thugger kept Tha Carter 6 name, it would have been in name and ideas only, similar to the attempts at reimagining Goldeneye. It would have also been a grave mistake. There wouldn’t have been poignant moments like “Tie My Hands” or lyrically enticing moments like “Best Rapper Alive.” Sure, Thug sounds similar to Wayne in terms of delivery and even indulges in a little bar biting, but he fits thematically more in line with former mentor Gucci Mane (he was signed to 1017 Brick Squad) or other Atlanta mainstays 2Chainz and T.I. This makes the goal of Barter 6 quite clear, creating extremely high quality strip club music. On that level, Young Thug largely succeeds. For the project’s entire fifty-one minutes and thirty-one seconds, Thugger manages to embrace those Weezy influences and evolve them into something of his own. Anyone looking for something similar to “Stoner” or 2014’s breakout Rich Gang collaboration with Rich Homie Quan in the form of “Lifestyle” will be disappointed.

    Barter 6 opens with something that becomes a constant theme throughout the album, “Constantly Hating” featuring Baby. Sure, both are disliked for a variety of justifiable and unjustifiable reasons but regardless, in rhyme they’re looking to get money, spend money, have women, do rich shit and try to dodge trouble, even if self-inflicted. Those themes have been explored by nearly every rapper that’s drawn breath for the past couple of decades, but hardly ever with this level of irreverence and style. Hell, Birdman manages to spit the best bars of his lackluster solo career, which also continues on album highlight “Knocked Off.” Why even try to appeal to heavy Hip Hop heads at this point? Thug eventually makes a point that in most circles, hyper-lyricism doesn’t matter. While most artists in Thug’s generation give futile attempts at appealing to that sect along their core audience, he outright dismisses it. So much to where he’s flat out inaudible but, his melodic voice becomes the star. If he can do one thing better than his idol, it’s actually holding a note. Then those hilarious adlibs and left-field moments like “Amazing” where he actually burps on record only add to its entertaining charm. Thug has studied everything in Weezy that works right for him instead of tackling the entire scope of the legend. Wayne isn’t the only artist he takes cues from. “Dome” featuring Duke and closing track “Just Might Be” uses unique takes on Migos’ highly jaked triplett flow.

    That doesn’t mean Thugger is a lyrical slouch. He transitions pretty effortlessly between serious and flat-out hilarious, over-the-top and head-scratchingly ridiculous without missing a fascinating beat. There are some brutal bars that utilize Wayne’s standard description of getting shot in the head, “I might shoot you in your head and there be no more thinkin,’ pussy boi leave you dead and call it dedication” which may or may-not be a diss toward Weezy on “Can’t Tell” featuring T.I. and sore spot verse from Boosie Bad Azz. There aren’t complicated bars that linger pretty far, it’s for the drugged up psychological make-up of Young Thug’s mind. Yes, his worldview is totally limited compared to the guy he worships but the voice at times is just as effective. Barter 6 is Thug getting more provocative than Wayne in terms of drug intake, sexual encounters along with newfound fame and fortune. He flat out appears bolder. When Weezy wore those extremely tight jiggings during an MTV award show or even got caught kissing Baby, he sort of ignored the backlash. Tracks like “Halftime” have him embracing naysayers with “Every time I dress myself, it goes mother fuckin viral,” and “I pull up on bitches dressed in all white like I’m Miley Cyrus / No I’m not gay, I fuck bitches, I whip it out she suck on my private.” All of that before saying this year’s zaniest line: “I’m Beyonce, I am a bumblebee.” At times, Barter 6 really does reach Lil B levels of absurdity. Challenging comical Hip Hop notions of hyper-masculinity while partaking in its functions are contradictions that define Young Thug and the funny thing is that he probably doesn’t even care to realize it. That dismissive and mocking attitude toward social norms within the culture at times is groundbreaking below the surface.

    That continues on Barter 6’s mid-way point “Dreams” featuring one of the tapes’ most effective guest appearances, thanks to Yak Gotti. The album is heavy with features and they work well. Everyone else, like Young Dolph and Cash Money artists Jacquess, serves their proper purpose. Holding everything together sonically are Wheezy 5th and London on da Track. Barter 6’s two-man production team keeps everything tight by setting the perfect tones. Both hit strides like they’re channeling younger versions of Beats By The Pound or Mannie Fresh. The bouncier, spaced-out fares are handled by Wheezy 5th while London on da Track arranges the harder beats. Those harder beats from London really uplift “Check” to one of the best payday tracks since Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s “1st Of The Month.”

    On its own merit; Barter 6 is the definitive mainstream strip club album of the modern era. This album may take clear mechanical cues from Weezy F Baby but the spirit is more Mystical’s Let’s Get Ready or Ying Yang Twinz’s United State of Atlanta. It’s post-Wayne freethinking surrealism with the raw 808 bounces that’s defined Atlanta’s sound for the past few years.

    198 thoughts on “Young Thug – Barter 6

    1. Ha 4 stars, you editors will dickride any just about any artist regardless of the actual talent they posess, SMH

    2. he killed the track personally I like check
      it was fly and halftime that’s rap trap album
      you killed it thug but no lie you rap dwagg

    3. Who even cares about this album with Yelawolfs Love Story coming out Tuesday I’ll be blasting that album all summer !!!!!#YOUNGTHUGISWACK!!!!

    4. The album is better than I thought it would be but I’m like dude below I’m looking forward to love story even thing I have heard from that album is dope I’m hearing it’s near a classic

    5. This is such a terrible review why the fuck are you only talking about him in relation to wayne? why not judge him as a different rapper cos hes completely fucking different how stupid is hip hop dx that they dont get that? I bet he’s got hundreds of different influences just like every other rapper and they get real reviews not some school essay comparing thug to wayne. Also “Weezy eleventh album Tha Carter IV, sits in limbo” The carter IV has been released you idiots its carter v thats stuck in limbo, why the fuck should we read this shit when so little effort is put in to writing it?

    6. Have not listened yet, don’t worry I live in Atlanta all I gotta do is turn on radio for 40 min and they’ll play at least 5 of his new songs… The strip club will play the rest.

      I gotta call foul tho.. If he does not have a song as good as stoner or a song as catchy as lifestyle, then how could you give this album 4?! If he had 2 bangers like those are you saying this would be a perfect 5????

    7. I tried to listen to this yesterday, I.seriously wondered if it is not some inside joke we havent been privy to yet. Sorry dx but now you have lost all credibility with the actual hiphop heads lol wow

    8. most fucked up thing ive seen in all my years of loving hiphop is a 4star review on a fucking young thug album… wtf… so done with this site lol

    9. Complete and utter garbage, couldn’t even make it half way. No matter what genre this music falls under, its complete trash. Such a disgrace to consider this hip hop. That ’95(? Sprite commerciAl with AZ and NaS is better than this entire album and that was just a commercial.

    10. So the writer blocks me instead of defending his stance. I understand. You can’t stand for statements you was paid to make. Culture vulture. I’d put a lot of money on the fact you didn’t listen to this album front to back.
      You gave no time for anybody to digest the album, not even yourself. You are dying breed though. The culture is learning and catching on to the bullshit.

      Most polarizing figure in hip hop? Ridiculous. Cause he dresses a different way? You are a shallow brotha Ural Garrett.

      Definitive strip club album of this era. Back that statement up.
      what were the other “strip club albums”? What the fuck is a strip club album?

      Irresponsible jackass.

      1. I don’t know if I can chill and vibe to someone who sounds like a dying alien, but whatever. Do you, bruh.

      2. “Oh and you have witnessed a dying alien?” Yeah, man. I live in Roswell, New Mexico, and aliens be crashing and dying there everyday, b.

    11. Not the best, far from the worse. Not as epic as I would like but its dope to finally get a real release.

    12. 5 stars album of the year. Its young thugga nigga. All the ciritics giving thug solid ratings. Fuck all you closed minded hating ass hipsters, You are a small minority and don’t represent the mainstream music fans.

    13. Guess this is the last straw for me here at “HIP HOP” dx.com. four stars what a fuckin’ joke. peace.

    14. This was surprisingly good, a lot of people are going to write it off as trash just cause it’s Young Thug but it is one of his better offerings. That may not be saying anything for some but I like. I tend to ignore the star ratings on reviews you really have to listen to it for yourself as this is just the editors opinion. In this case i agree with it as I have enjoyed it and I’m on my 4th play through.

      If you have to give it a star rating I’ll say 4 but I gave it a 5 cause I’m sure a lot of people are giving it less just cause and probably have not listened to it.

      1. “My honest rating’s a 4, but I’ma give it a 5 because people don’t like it/haven’t listened to it.” Why do people keep doing that? It’s your rating, don’t let other people influence it.

      2. Well I see what you saying and that’s real. I just hate to see artists albums overlooked because of ratings of people who just don’t like young thug without giving the music a chance.

    15. I love how people judge Thug before they even give his music a chance. Yall so-called “hip hop heads” are so damn averse to anything that steps out of the accepted norms of hip hop that you miss out on some great music. Sure, he’s not the most insightful, thought-provoking rap artist, but his style is so original and bizarre that it’s undeniably entertaining. This review is ok but you reference Lil Wayne waaayyyy too much Ural. Give Thug his own space as a creative artist. This album is just feel-good, fun music to listen too. I respect Thug for not giving a fuck about any social norms and making shit that is true to himself. 4/5

      1. Some people listen to it because of the hype, and hear a terrible version of Lil Wayne spitting about the same shit over and over. And then they form a judgment based on that. I personally have heard maybe 5 Young Thug songs. They all sucked. It’s on some Gucci Mane, Rae Sremmurd and Lil B level to me. Nothing special, but randomly have large followings. Crappy lyrics, annoying voices and generic turn-up beats. To categorize this guy as something out the box is straight up bullshit.

    16. This review is really weird. Why would you start a Young Thug album review rambling on about Goldeneye and shooting games? The 400/500 degreez example was good enough to make your point, the rest was not needed. Was this done by a professional? Did anyone edit this? Smh

    17. tbh not as bad as i thought it would be, but this album is still garbage. half of what he says no one will understand. his ‘singing’ is annoying af and the bars are as generic and repetitive as they come. Just listen to those swerve adlibs on the first song. It’s played out.

    18. I’m officially done with this website after garbage like this gets a 4. Hip Hop is not what is used to be, stick a fork in it it’s done when garbage like this gets praised. Whomever likes this needs to get their ears checked, fucking pathetic.

    19. Once again, Hiphop is letting the media dictate what’s hot and what’s not. “The most polarizing figure in hip hop?” What kind of foolish proclamation is this?? This reviewer actually has the audacity to make such statements? WTF? I hope people see that the media is to blame for the overall decline of quailty hip hop, calling boombap “dated music” and all the other tons of bulls*t that the soymilk generation (to borrow a term from Big Ghost Fase)is changing the tide of what outsiders and the upcoming generation will view as that real sh*t. Smh

    20. Nothing creative about this album even the title is stupid. I would classify this as strip club music his flow sounds like ever othe pop rap artist even the beats are the same. Subject matter is the sane crap you always hear, weed, bitches and money yawn!!!!! He represents all that is wrong with hip hop culture and how the world views rap. If this is your style music then I already the type of person you are

    21. Too many question marks in lyrics. Anybody who rated this above 2 stars has no respect for talent in hip hop.

      1. thats the problem this is not hiphop this thughop if you wanna hear real lyricism go back to thugs first project i came from nothing he is a rockstar now and the drugs influenced him too hard and created this superstar

    22. Birdman was smart to do the Rich Gang thing and leave Weezy. Thugger is a rebel. He has the potential to be this generation’s 2pac. The hate on here is ridiculous. Half of you have not even given the music a chance.

    23. Yo this fude gay as all hell. The only chick in the video buff as f***, look like a man. Baby dancin with his shirt off like he just finished with young buttplug. I always new birdman was undercover this s*** proves it. That ain’t even young buttplugs money birdman let him use it for the video. He’s doing buttplug like he did wayne. Thug ain’t making money all that s*** in birdmans name. They finished the video and birdman took his money back home and left buttplug a couple hundo for that supergay gangbang thry just got done with. Any buttplug fan is undercover homo!

      1. Ural need to come out the closet too haha. Ill never go on this site again. Ural have zero credibility from here forward. Every last fan of rap/hiphop should have zero respect for you from this day on, hip hopdx needs to fire this clown before he ruins this website for everyone!

      2. word up these dudes are the gay mafia. Ruining hip hop culture and making the youth gay and stupid.

      1. Ural Garrett

        You stated the following: “There are some brutal bars…”

        Do us a favor and inform us Hip Hop heads of those Bars that you refer to as “Brutal”. I’d LOVE to know what they are.

    24. Some of y’all idiots act like you are leaving this website. Go out and look for another website that ain’t doing the same. It’s all the same bullshit.

    25. This site needs 2 Album Review sections for rap and hip hop. No matter what happens, hip hop heads troll on trap music articles and trap music fans troll on hip hop articles

    26. I really feel that this is an extremely well written review of young thug and the barter 6. There’s nothing to add, I love the golden eye comparison. This is a review I was actually anticipating reading along with to pimp a butterfly (I can’t believe I said that but thug does know how to grasp people with short attention spans). Anyways solid review well written

    27. Young thug can’t rap fo shit.Even diddy can throw up a hot verse,ths nigga won’t last in rap game.Shout out Wale fo cookin up a briliant ulbam,mybe he can ghost write fo young homo thug.Whoever cops this ulbam shouldn’t considdr himself a hiphop fan.Free Weezy….!!

    28. You opened this review with, by far, the most fucking retarded analogy I have ever heard. I’m reading it again right now and it’s fucking ridiculous. Yeah, Goldeneye was a big FPS cause there was no other decent console FPS before it. And yeah, if you ask PC people, they would remind you that every single important FPS game was on the PC, including the Doom and Quake franchises. If you wanna just say “Goldeneye was great and the sequels were shit,” just say it.

      1. Yeah… I’m just as confused by this review. The analogy is a reach at best and nonsensical at worst. Plus, it’s a 4 and the only negatives are a weak feature and a lack of big songs like “Stoner” and “Lifestyle”… that’s scary close to being a 5… sheesh. The other thing that’s frustrating is I didn’t really get much about the album from the review. It’s like Ural went into the review with a plan to give it a 4, then wrote a bunch of extra words to make it seem thoughtful, but really it was all premeditated. I’m not gonna get mad at the rating since everyone has their own ratings. But the quality of this review is supremely low. Plus, if you’re gonna out of your way to mention Pierce Bronsan’s GoldenEye… at least spell the actor’s fucking name right. Ural, you talk too much shit in your First Listen’s to come this incredibly weak as a writer.

    29. this shit is total garbage… this nigga is gay all the way… everybody in cash/young money is a bunch of fuckin weirdo’s .. somebody get this trash out of here!!

    30. I never do this but… there’s always a first for everything.
      Ural Garret, I have a question for you. Who is your favorite rapper and whats your favorite hip hop song of the moment but then again I could just ask you what is your definition of hip hop?
      You give the barter 6 a 4.0 rating. Which means you think its better then tyler’s, earl sweatshirts and big pooh’s albums just to name a few ( cause with 4.0 young thug just beat a whole bunch of mc’s , according to dx or Ural of course ) just as good as dj quick’s and not that far off from Luda’s latest album… . My point is did you sleep after writing this review or did you write and then just handed it in without thinking it over?
      I find it greatly insulting to the hip hop community to say that ” high quality strip club music ” is something we consider as a measuring tool to conclude how good an album is , first of all Ural I would never prefer to see strippers dance to young thug over say 3 6 mafia ,juicy j or antything southern for that matter ,have you seen strippers dance to drake’s “100 bands” ? I didn’t think so or else you woulnd call this the best strip club music. The definite mainstream strip club album? Realy Ural? So ok, even if YOU prefer to listen to young thug while enjoying the sights of amazing women, do you really consider that enough worth to proclaim an album as 4.0 rating worthy? IF you tell me that the 4.0 is based on young thug’s capabilities and skills then I say ok I agree , in his world its a 4.0 but in the realworld its a 2.5, If you wanna be kind you can say 3, it’s not bad its just not impressive. People who skim through music will love it , people who listen to music won’t be impressed . I just find it weird to see a paid reviewer be a skimmer instead of a listener.
      Thank for your time and I would greatly appreciate a response.
      Have a Nice Day

    31. I tried to listen to it, I really did. But 10 seconds into the first song he calls Baby “boo” and I had to take it out of my radio. Stop with the gayness. How dare HHDX give this garbage more than 2 stars.

    32. how DARE you to give this clown a 4 out of 5 while Luda’s effort just gets a 3? I mean how could anybody put Young F**k on the same level as Action Bronson or Tyler regarding the rating? I bet you even rated him better than Wale, as im too lazy to look it up… I’m really done with these reviews

    33. Yeah… I’m just as confused by this review. The analogy is a reach at best and nonsensical at worst. Plus, it’s a 4 and the only negatives are a weak feature and a lack of big songs like “Stoner” and “Lifestyle”… that’s scary close to being a 5… sheesh. The other thing that’s frustrating is I didn’t really get much about the album from the review. It’s like Ural went into the review with a plan to give it a 4, then wrote a bunch of extra words to make it seem thoughtful, but really it was all premeditated. I’m not gonna get mad at the rating since everyone has their own ratings. But the quality of this review is supremely low. Plus, if you’re gonna out of your way to mention Pierce Bronsan’s GoldenEye… at least spell the actor’s fucking name right. Ural, you talk too much shit in your First Listen’s to come this incredibly weak as a writer.

    34. So what you’re saying is, that Young Thug’s album is just as good as Blu & Exile’s: Below the Heavens since you rated them the same.

      The same Blu & Exile album that is arguably one of the best hip hop albums in the past 10 years by. Got it.

    35. I came to look at this review hoping to see it got rated so low and it got 4 stars…as some have said WTF…

      ridic. I m shocked. This is hot garbage. I m just going to leave this page right now

    36. The hate for Young Thug is strong but this album is better than just about anything out right now, everybody so busy worried about what people think and try so hard to make works of art, I mean that’s cool but sometimes we just wanna dance

      1. Better then that new yelawolf? Please take that shit somewhere else. I throw on some thug from time to time but kdot and yelawolf got 2015 on lock so far. Hell even that new juvie Madris gras 2 is better then barter

    37. HipHopDX is typically the first place I go for Hip-Hop related news & updates.

      After reading this review, I can’t really respect the journalistic integrity of the author and the publication. Sad.

    38. I didn’t love Pilot Talk III and felt like I was in the minority of people that agreed with DX’s rating of 3.5…but now I’m just so confused. How was this given a 4 out 5??? If you’re comparing this to PTIII which was 3.5 this has to be like a 2 to 3 max. I know that the music is different and it’s like comparing apples to oranges but this is just not that good.

    39. They would give Ural the Young Thug review. Classic Ural right here ladies and gentlemen. This guy Ural has the worst taste in music, and his writing is amateur at best. Fire this controversy-seeking turd please!

    40. Still no review for love story? Lol hiphopdx don’t like admitting when a white boy got the hottest album and most creative album of 2015 so far.

      1. lol Kdot’s album was the best but i cant listen to every song like yela. beginning to end his cd is the best out right now.

    41. Dis album SUCKS! Young Thug the worst rapper out today & overall a pathetic excuse for “the next Lil Waynnnneeeeee”
      By the way, he needa give Nicki her nail polish back.

    42. UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
      LMFAO YOUNG THUG B SOUNDIN LIKE COURAGE THE COWARDLY DOG TRYNA EXPLAIN SOMETHIN

    43. I just don’t get this sh*t….. Should we even consider this “Hip-Hop”?? because this definitely doesn’t represent the culture. What the hell is he talking about???…. Really doe???

    44. To all the dumb fucks out here saying thus sucks: Firstly Young thug fits into the TRAP subgenre of hip-hop more than precisely RAP which consists of the Kendricks, Nas etc… The beats in this album are extremely good, and the retarded sounds Young Thug makes are part of his flow and creative sound. He’s easily one of the best up and coming TRAP artist from ATL and his flow and delivery are just different and everything else (Just listen to About Money). All in all I would give this album a 3.5/5 but a 4 even though surprising is understandable as a TRAP/RAP album.

      People are rejecting this album before even listening to it. Ignore Young Thug and listen to this album for what it is.

      NOt comparing this to TPABF but when it came out everyone hated it until they saw the reviews. What I’m trying to say is that people try to either like or hate something, at the end of the day everyone has different views in music and because this isn’t an conceptual or lyrical album doesn’t mean it’s better or worse.

      1. lol at this retard making excuses for this. This album is trash and Young Thug is trash. The beats suck, he can’t rap, he can’t sing, and he can’t flow. This deserves to be in the recycle bin.

      2. It’s not that this album is trash, but it’s more so that it wasn’t interesting. Yeah he’s representing some trap style music but honestly it’s pretty weak as a whole. But even THAT aside, this shouldn’t have gotten a 4 when albums like Yela’s, although a weird blend, sounded way better than this.

    45. I’m with you URAL GARRETT. Burping on records is dope!!!!! Can’t believe you didn’t give this 5 Stars!!!!!

    46. This scored better than Yelawolf…now I don’t know what factors they’re using to determine what makes music better on this site now but it must involve PCP or some hallucinogen because you’d have to be completely high to think this is a better album.

    47. Usually, I don’t have a problem with the ratings but for the past month they’ve been the hottest of garbage. Better than Pilot Talk 3?!! I think not. DX get your shit together.

    48. HHDX you can’t be serious 4/5? Hahaha

      And yelawolf gets 3,5

      Your either dumb or have something against Yelawolf

    49. Stop listening to music on your ZUNE earbuds. Need some subs to enjoy this shit right here. 5 fucking stars.

    50. SOme Nigga below me said stop comparing this to eminem because things have changed. Thats true homie..but this shit doesnt compare to Schoolboy Q, J.Cole, Nippsey Hustle, Drake, Scheme, Logic, Kendrik Lamar or any other dope shit thats poppin. And although Logic and Scheme might not be household names, theyre definately way better than this super huff ass dude. Even other niggas from Atlanta like Young Dolph, Migos and PeeWee Longway bang infinitely better than dude. They actually fuckin try to rap…

    51. … What? This album was straight garbage…

      But Wale got 3/5??? Yela got 3.5/5???

      You guys have lost ALL your credibility with me, taking this site out of my Bookmarks right nowwwwww

    52. could someone suggest another site i could go for album reviews?.. these guys are becoming an atrocity

    53. album is chill as fuck.. new sound.. good vibes… if u don’t understand him.. clean ya ears

    54. This album is trash, I lost all respect for this site. “Check” to one of the best payday tracks since Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s “1st Of The Month.” How dare you even attempt to compare.

    55. I expected this to be complete trash…I must say he got a couple sounds on here I don’t mind!

    56. HOLD UP!!! how tha hell this trash gets 4 starts and y’all gave wale album album 3 stars!!! dx y’all slipping!!! thats horrible!!! respect thug grind to make it,bt I’m not a fan of his music

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