Young Thug Says Hip-Hop Needs a Reset Amid Beef Culture and Lack of Evolution
Young Thug isn’t holding back when it comes to how he feels about the current state of hip-hop and his comments are already sparking debate.
During a recent livestream tied to his Hometown Hero benefit show at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on Tuesday (Dec. 16), the Atlanta rapper shared candid thoughts about where rap music is headed, suggesting the genre may be stuck in a moment that’s no longer pushing forward.
“I feel like I always wanted to do this type music,” Thug said in a clip circulating across social media. “And then I feel like rap is in a weird space right now.”
While the exact source of the stream wasn’t immediately clear, the message was.
According to the “Digits” rapper, hip-hop’s current energy feels dominated by conflict rather than creativity — a shift he believes has stalled the genre’s growth.
“Because it just seems like everybody’s beefing,” he continued.
“Two of the biggest artists in the world clash, and a lot of f*cking ripple effect came out after that. Weird.”
For the “Check” artist, the issue isn’t just the tension, but it’s the lack of evolution.
As he looked at how quickly technology and culture are advancing, he questioned why hip-hop hasn’t kept pace.
“I feel like it’s time,” he said.
“We gotta take it to the next level. We gotta level up. Like, AI. It’s just so much. Everything in the world leveling up except hip-hop.”
He made it clear his critique comes from a place of love and impatience.
“I feel like we need this type of sh*t,” he added, reaffirming his connection to the culture.
“I love hip-hop. I would be so happy if hip-hop turned into pop.”
See the clip below:
