Young Thug has argued that “rap is in a weird space” at the moment, saying he would be “so happy if hip-hop turned into pop.”
The recent ComplexCon headliner’s remarks came during a stream seemingly done in tandem with his Hometown Hero benefit show at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on Tuesday (Dec. 16). As previously reported, Thug, whose latest album UY SCUTI arrived in September of this year, surprised fans by proposing to girlfriend Mariah the Scientist mid-performance.
“I feel like I always wanted to do this type music, and then I feel like rap is in a weird space right now,” Thug is heard saying in a clip making the rounds on social media, though its exact origins weren’t immediately clear. “Because it just seems like everybody’s beefing. … Two of the biggest artists in the world clash, and a lot of fucking ripple effect came out after that. Weird. I feel like it’s time. I feel like 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.”
Thug, whose remarks were quickly questioned by fans, went on to suggest a complacency among successful artists.
“I feel like we need this type of shit,” Thug, who also affirmed his “love” for hip-hop, added. “I would be so happy if hip-hop turned into pop.”
As some fans were quick to point out, 2025 has seen the release of plenty of excellent rap projects, with Clipse and Tyler, The Creator among those who released widely acclaimed and commercially viable albums this year.
Adding to that, the 2026 Grammy nominations were announced in November, revealing that three rap titles—Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out, and Tyler’s CHROMAKOPIA—are competing for Album of the Year.
While the clip above doesn’t find Thug naming Kendrick or Drake directly, it’s clear he’s referencing their 2024-defining feud. Notably, Kendrick and Drake both amassed strong streaming numbers in 2025.