Migos - 'Culture' Review

Since bursting onto the scene, the Migos have been relentless in their pursuit of stardom. For years they banged on the door hoping to get in, but they remained outsiders nonetheless. All of that changed with “Bad and Boujee.” It was the spark they needed to blaze a trail on the music charts, and scorch their naysayers.

Released on Jan. 27, 2017, Culture is a commercial introduction to the trio of Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff. Guest appearances come from DJ Khaled, Lil Uzi Vert, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, and Travis Scott. It’s a project that displays the group’s strengths—despite a few loose ends.

The album title—which implies that they’ve impacted Hip-Hop culture—is reasonable. Their first taste of commercial success was aided by Drake’s Midas touch on the “Versace” remix. Since then, nearly every rapper has attempted their dizzying, multi-syllabic flow.

It’s no wonder why they’ve compared themselves to The Beatles. Although far from a rock band, they love the “rockstar” archetype that other artists like Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, and Future identify with.

Their brand emphasizes style, delivery, and energy; not political activism.

With this in mind, the intention of this album is to move crowds. On this project they showcase the versatile flows and bouncy trap production that propelled them to stardom. The hooks are catchy, there are enough background vocals for an adlib-only mixtape, and more than enough charisma.

On “Bad and Boujee,” Quavo reminds us of their North Atlanta upbringing as he chants, “We from the North, yeah that way.” On “What the Price,” Offset reflects on how he had to find “a better route,” because his environment was demoralizing. On “T-Shirt,” Takeoff desires to see his family well off, and “ain’t no way around it.”

Yet, the trio shines the most when they are aligned with former “Versace” producer, Zaytoven. They trade hooks, flows, and bars effortlessly on “Big on Big” and “Brown Paper Bag.”

Yet despite these strengths, there are cringeworthy moments that hurt the listening experience.

I love DJ Khaled just as much as his Snapchat followers, but he overstays his welcome on the first track.“This the intro!” he yells. “They impacted the culture!” Thanks for your two cents Khaled. Anything else you’d like to say?

Elsewhere on “Slippery,” Gucci Mane sounds bland attempting to rap alongside this trio. His flow and cadence are a stark contrast to how the Migos deliver on this record. They could’ve utilized Gucci for a slower cut but on this one, he’s static and unengaging.

Most awkward of all is the placement of the last track, “Out Your Way.” It’s a catchy outro, but hardly does anything to provide closure. Nor does it clarify their contributions to hip-hop culture.

As a body of work, it’s tough to listen to this project all the way through. After several tracks, it becomes a cycle of misogyny, drug dealing, lusting after chains, and bragging about money. For the most part, they rap about generic topics. Albeit, they do so in a way that’s unique; but they could expand their subject matter a little more. Culture is repetitive at times.

Essentials

“T- Shirt”

“Bad and Boujee” ft. Lil Uzi Vert

“Big On Big”

“Brown Paper Bag”

“Slippery” ft. Gucci Mane

“Get Right Witcha”

The Verdict

Ultimately, this album is a B-. In spite of their loose ends, this is an enjoyable project if approached with the right perspective. Migos are here to stay, and here to prove that they’re rockstars of their own right. Only time will tell just how impactful to the culture they can really be.