Megan Thee Stallion’s latest offering, Suga, has been embroiled in label politics. Hot Girl Meg’s claims that 1501 Certified Entertainment was blocking her new project after she tried to renegotiate her contract quickly reached a courtroom. She sued the label, which is headed by former MLB star Carl Crawford, for $1 million in damages, and implicated J. Prince as an intimidator in her lawsuit. Meg was granted a temporary restraining order to release Suga, which Crawford unsuccessfully tried to appeal.
Suga is here, but fails to live up to the controversy surrounding its release. The album is a tepid continuation of Megan’s feisty persona that adds little depth to her artistry.
“I lost my mommy and my granny in the same month,” Megan raps at the outset of the opening “Ain’t Equal.” For a moment, it seems as though she will combine her unbridled hunger with raw, personal raps for a showcase of artistic growth. Hopes are dashed by the next bar, though, as she reverts to spitting, “A bunch of bitches talkin’ down ‘cause I’m comin’ up.” What follows is more of the same content that dominated her well-received full-length, Fever, in 2019: explicit sex raps and chest-thumping bluster. Her bravado works to her advantage on “Savage,” on which she surgically pummels a formidable J. White Did It beat into submission, and still makes time for cool quips like “I need a mop to clean the floor, it’s too much drip, ooh.”
Mostly, though, this approach makes for mediocre music. Surface-level party joints like the Kehlani-assisted “Hit My Phone” pander to the lowest common denominator of college students, ones who would request the song to their Uber driver on the way to a frat house, only to hear the same song once at the frat house. Elsewhere, the money ode “Rich” features basic bars like “I love a lot of zeros, but I don’t fuck with no losers (Yeah)/Two type of people in this world and I’m a chooser (Yeah).” It’s a shame that Meg’s hyperactive flow isn’t more often accompanied by dexterous bars; the lack of illustrious wordplay makes Suga’s bland content all the more lackluster.
The production is similarly ho-hum. LilJuMadeDaBeat supplies a minimalistic beat on “Captain Hook” that allows Meg’s assertive presence to take center stage but detracts from the track with its methodical slog. Even The Neptunes fail to elevate the proceedings on the Gunna-assisted “Stop Playing,” with a beat that sounds like the music from when you’re on hold with your health insurance company. An exception is Helluva Beats’ breezy beat on “B.I.T.C.H.,” but the cut that sports the album’s finest production also features its most problematic content.
“B.I.T.C.H.” is a reimagining of 2Pac’s “Ratha Be Ya Nigga” from his classic 1996 album All Eyez On Me. The hook finds Meg declaring, “I’d rather be ya b-i-t-c-h (I’d rather keep it real with ya), ‘Cause that’s what you gon’ call me when I’m trippin’ anyway/You know you can’t control me, baby, you need a real one in your life/Them bitches ain’t gon’ give it to you right.” Megan Thee Stallion throws around the word originally meant for female dogs plenty of times throughout Suga, using it to refer to herself and other women. Here, she decides that since she’s going to be called it, she might as well identify herself as such. It’s unfair to single out Meg for her use of the word when so many male rappers snarl it unrepentantly. Still, freedom of expression doesn’t change the fact that this is harmful rhetoric, specifically for teenage girls who look up to Meg and identify with her lyrics. And yes, it was just as problematic when 2Pac declared, “I don’t want to be your man, I want to be your nigga,” while having legions of young black males viewing him as a role model.
Slight redemption for the album comes in the form of “Crying In The Car.” A gospel choir backs Meg’s victory lap, as she tenderly details how she went from tearful nights in her vehicle to wealth and success. Suga would have been well served to end on this track, but “What I Need” is a smooth coda that highlights Megan’s penchant for crossover cuts. The album’s last two songs show a measured, confident artist. If she can tap into this energy more often, her next project may be a winner. For now, though, we’re left with Suga: a frustrating project that falls short of its composer’s talent.
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Bangin body, weird face, and a voice with too much bass.
exactly what I expected a yeah I’m a female fan who enjoys hiphop from nas biggie pac jay ect.she did that don’t take it away from her?????? and as far as females he Nicki are rap goddesses its alot hoes rappin now who trash as fuck.
So I guess hip hop doesn’t have a borderline between the older generation and younger generation huh
I will be happy to see her 15 minutes over.
Melvin won’t be around long even with this feminist woman worshipping moment in hiphop.
Wack
Suga is a dope album just like her last 2. She talk that shit most females want to say but too scare to say it. Real Hot Girl Shit
It’s a cool album better than everything that’s out as far as female albums but still feel like she could have done a little better..
I havent even heard the album because im sure its trash. I am not the type to tear another women down. I think she’s winning for sure but she is just not as strong lyrically. Her constant bragging about prostitution gotta go bruh lol. Little girls are hearing this mess. The caliber of talent these female rappers have out there is land sliding her skill on all levels…leikeli47, chika, tank and the bangas all trash. But i guess all these females can relate to is hoe shit.
You rated something you didn’t hear? You weren’t supposed to rate her as a person.. Women and y’all feelings..lol
So you think it’s cool too hear her rap about prostitution when little kids and girls are listening
Facts
I think it’s a good album we must always remember this game is made for a art to me she stands out from the others. Plus she’s in tha south. Keep pushing
It’s pretty good
ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THAT I LIKE WHAT I SEE BIG BREAST AND BIG PHAT ASS BOOTY AND I WAS TRYING TO GET INVOLVE WITH YOU AS A FRIEND NOT A RELATIONSHIP BUT PEOPLE NEED TO STOP LYING I DONT KNOW WHAT YOU BEEN TOLD ABOUT ME BUT IM A MAN IM NOT GAY OKAY LETS GET THAT STRAIGHT I LOVE PUSSY BABY AND PHAT ASS BOOTYS WOMEN AND I DONT APPRECIATE THAT LYING SHIT I DON’T BE BOTHER WITH RATS OR SNAKE ASS NIGGAS LYING OR JEALOUS ASS NIGGAS KEEP ON TALKING WE ARE NOT FAMILY OR FRIENDS I DONT KNOW THESE PUNKS ALL THAT LYING THATS WHY NIGGAS END UP DEAD OR FUCK IN THE GAME RECOGNIZE GAY ASS NIGGAS IM ORIGINALS NIGGA FROM DETROIT CITY LOOKING FOR A REAL WOMAN THAT WILL KEEP IT REAL WITH ME AND THE SAME FOR ME I GET MY OWN MONEY AND DONT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH NO RESPONSIBILITY BUT ME I DONT HAVE KIDS RESPONSIBLE FOR IM INDEPENDENT DO MY OWN HUSTLEN I DONT NEED NIGGAS FOLLOWING BEHIND ME WITH THAT FAKE RELIGION BULLSHIT IM JUST KEEPING IT REAL BABY SO WHAT YOU DONT NO ME IM TRYING TO GET TOO KNOW YOU BUT IF YOU DONT INVOLVE MYSELF WITH U
sorry and thank u for every compliments meg ain’t on that type of time with dudes she right where she belongs she with a real B”u got nothing to say to her she with me
I expected more!!! Especially when she n went to court and got an injunction!!! I thought she was coming with some ?.
Instead it’s not worth the hype. She should have waited..
IJS
Feels herself too much
My Favorite songs on the album are B.I.T.C.H, Savage, Captain Hook, Rich and What I Need. I think it’s a pretty good album. Megan is still on her Hot Girl Shit and bringing them hits and I’m really enjoying her music. She’s extremely talented and people just really need to give her a fair and real chance to bring an album full circle. She’s got Roc Nation standing behind her and that was a great move so she’s going straight to the top regardless!! I hope she keeps doing what she does best and that’s twerking, rapping, singing and being a real one.