Image via Complex Original
Young Thug burst onto the music scene in 2013 with an intensity only matched by contestants on American Ninja Warrior. Ever since Thugger, aka Slime, aka No, My Name is Jeffery (at least for the week) has had our attention in a vice grip both sonically and visually. Young Thug is a unicorn: a slender, 6’3” gangster from the gritty underbelly of Atlanta’s southside. He matches his assault rifles with women’s dresses and raps in a way that’s as distinct as his style.
Over the past two years, Thug has given us a number of club smashes, infectious earbud treasures, and even more looks that caused people to scratch their heads and scoff— though never to his face. In celebration of the release of his most recent body of work, Jeffery (with cover art that is a style moment in itself), we take a step back and remember Young Thug’s 10 best style moments.
'GQ' Spread
Since 1957, Gentlemen’s Quarterly has been a trusted source for men’s fashion and style. It was only a matter of time before the young up-and-comer disrupting men’s style graced its pages. GQ’s Devin Friedman took on the task of following Thug around for a couple days hoping to muster a few words from the socially reserved rapper. However, Ben Watts was able to play to Thugger’s more extroverted side in a series of photographs for the publication. Though none of the looks from the spread do Young Thug’s style total justice, you cannot deny the importance of Thugger and his gender-fluid wardrobe getting in a publication that has long defined what it means to be a man in the modern era.
"King Troup" Video
In every cliché movie plot ever, the beautiful female lead inspires the male lead and brings out his very best. Young Thug’’s fiancé Jerricka Karlae seems to do that for him in real life. In the visual ode to a fallen friend titled "King Troup," Thug is seen resting aboard a private plane in a camel turtleneck, tinted frames, a fine leather jacket, and his signature entanglement of diamond chokers. All the while his gorgeous wife-to-be by his side, fumbling thousands in cash.
BET Experience in South Africa
When you're a rapper with the physique of a runway model, the expectations for you to hop out in a fur coat are considerably high. Maybe it's because there's a Mount Rushmore-sized mountain of expectation carved with the heads of past fur-wearing MCs—Puffy, Cam’ron—weighing on him. Maybe it was simply the time and place. Regardless, Thug hit the stage for 2015's BET experience in South Africa in a button-up shirt, sunglasses, and a flashy leopard fur coat. Few images of the performance can be found online, but those that are available show Young Thug fulfilling his destiny as he fires off rhythmic tongue twisters, animal hide (sorry, PETA) across his back.
"About the Money' Video
2014 was a big year for the then-Gucci Mane underling. He released 1017, covered The FADER and Complex, produced hit solo smashes in “Danny Glover,” and “Stoner,” and shined on collaborative efforts with Rich Gang in “Lifestyle” and alongside the Trouble Man, T.I., in “About the Money.” Thug not only kills it in his feature verse and bridgework on the song, but is also on one from a style perspective. He pulls off three different looks beyond the abilities of those with less moxie.
Thug first gives us his best Kyrie Irving to T.I.’s Lebron James in an all white number accessorized with a leather snapback and fur shawl combination. Later, Thug appears in a red ski-mask-turned-beanie paired with a white henley and the third look is comprised of a pair of sunglasses, a head scarf, and a chest full of diamond-encrusted pendants. Thug was pure sauce throughout this video, giving us a preview of what we could come to expect from the budding superstar.
'Dazed' Spread
For their autumn 2015 issue, Dazed called on Thug to bless them with a starring guest appearance as he had done for so many others that year. In addition to opening up about his family and potential real estate investments, he also took out some time to pose for photographer Harley Weir. The majority of his looks ranged from the unclothed to the androgynous and you can’t deny Young Thug looked like a true rockstar sprawled across a vintage red sports car in a leopard robe, sunglasses, and Raf Simons trousers.
Post-Dentist Visit
After thumbing through thousands in cash wearing a Hooters tank top, hanging off basketball hoops, and hoverboarding around in videos for “Check” and “Power,” Thugger decided to scale it back just slightly. The rap megastar gave his dreads a black coat and checked in with his dentist, who switched out his gold grill for a Crest-commercial-ready set of pearly whites that he can’t stop showing off. The result is a more traditional look for Thug. It’s also one that seems to be working in his favor as he continues to transition so effortlessly into global icon status.
Sway in the Morning Apperance
In January of this year, Thug sat down with Sway and Erica B wearing a dashing tan coat with an eye-catching geometric pattern. If not for the in-depth hour-long conversation with the notoriously-difficult-to-interview rapper, Thug’s outerwear just may have stolen the show. Add in the fact that he layered a black turtleneck under it and you have an outfit only Thug could pull off. Aside from adding further fuel to his feud with Plies, ‘fit envy was one of the more memorable takeaways from the interview.
"Loaded" Video
“Plotting on Donald Trump,” Thug exclaims in the opening verse of his 2014 hit “Loaded.” He’s talking about robbing the future GOP nominee and he’s already eerily aware of Trump’s still-to-come megavillain status. It’s as if Young Thug’s mind was years ahead while his body remained in the present. A body that is shirtless, barring a tattoo-covered wiry frame, wielding an assault rifle and topped off by gold teeth, messy dreads, and lip and nasal piercings. Though septum piercings can generally be tied to rebelliousness, it’s not something you’d quickly associate with rap music or rap culture. It is even less commonly associated with the real life drug-dealing, trigger-squeezing renegades standing next to Thugger in this video. Debuting with such a perplexing personality and wardrobe clash is a noteworthy style moment all on its own.
Yeezy Season 3
It wasn’t enough for Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 3 to create a spectacle at Madison Square Garden that streamed in theaters across the globe. He also cast the world’s fastest rising rapper to model in his show as the toy to his Happy Meal—McDonald’s pun intended. Thugger dressed in a faded yellow shearling coat, dangled his Yeezy 950s off the edge of the stage, and wore his boredom on his sleeve by warily resting his head in his hands. His IDGAF body language throughout the appearance was a style statement in and of itself. Not to mention, when Thugger got the AUX cord he premiered the intro track for his I’m Up project. The celebration at MSG was about Kanye’s new album and upcoming fall collection, but reflecting on the night is hard to do without mentioning Jeff.
Calvin Klein Campaign
In what’s arguably his greatest accomplishments within the fashion world, Thugger starred alongside dozens of other faces in Calvin Klein’s #MyCalvins campaign. Past Calvin campaigns feature icons like Kate Moss, Mark Wahlberg, Brooke Shields, and more modern day stars like Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner. Young Thug now stands among those giants and he did it all in his signature gender-bending style by wearing women’s clothing in the ads.