For the past two decades, rappers from Atlanta have dominated and influenced the culture of hip-hop. OutKast proved to be the groundbreakers with their street Afro-futurism sounds of the ‘90s; T.I., Jeezy, and Gucci Mane ushered in the trap music genre in the mid-2000s; and 2 Chainz’s resurgence in 2012 was followed by Future’s respectable run over the past three years.
But the unique aspect of Atlanta rap is that it finds a way to evolve within a matter of months. While most cities feature rappers who can capture the moment, Atlanta rap has captured a generation.
The Migos are the latest Atlanta artists to capture the city’s provisional crown in rap. The trio (Offset, Quavo, and Takeoff) have put their own spin on Atlanta’s notorious trap sound. Migos stand out due to their triplet rhyme scheme. The triplet rhyme scheme is basically rhyming three words within a single drum beat instead of one. In turn, the Migos sound as if every word is a part of the drum beat instead of words being used to accompany the instrumental track.
Since forming in 2009, their flow has been used by nearly every rap artist from Jay Z to Drake to Future. Although Gucci Mane did use the triplet rhyme scheme in a song years before Migos reached prominence, the Migos remained consistent with its use to the point where it became their signature.
The group is now at its highest level with the release of Culture. The album’s first single, “Bad and Boujee,” got a significant push after Donald Glover thanked them for making the song during his acceptance speech at the Golden Globe Awards. The single is subtle, brash and inviting to the opposite sex. Again, it’s the disciplined rhyme pattern that makes it so addictive. The lyrics “Raindrop, drop tops,” is almost Dr. Suess-like in its deliverance. But it’s clever in its simplicity because it’s a rhyme that’s almost impossible to forget.
The album continues to explore common themes of trap music such as drugs, sex, and violence. Standout cuts include, “T-Shirt,” “Get Right Witcha” and “Kelly Price.” Along with their rhyme scheme, Migos have also introduced new slang. They were the first to introduce the Dab dance that was prominent in 2015. The song “Big on Big” takes a stab at new slang and could possibly be an upcoming single.
Culture is arguably the Migos’ most complete album, but it still gives them a bit more room to grow. Overall, it captures the trap sound and takes it to the next.
Migos recently held a concert at Center Stage in Atlanta to celebrate the release of Culture.
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