Not a Laufey cover…
[Video]
[6.86]
Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Is Megan Thee Stallion the Luka Dončić of rap? An investigation: After years of hype, the two both debuted in 2018, quickly becoming iconic in their respective Texan cities (Houston/Dallas) and receiving key early cosigns from legendary local figures in their respective fields (Beyoncé & Bun B/Dirk Nowitzki and… Jason Kidd, I guess?) In August 2020, they reached new levels of stardom. They reached their highest peaks (#1 on the Hot 100/NBA Finals) in collaboration with stylish, charismatic talents with left-wing politics and erratic social media presences (Cardi B/Kyrie Irving). In recent years, they’ve both been engaged in protracted conflict with a one-time ally who has said strange, catty things about their bodies (Nicki Minaj/Mavs GM Nico Harrison), with both clearly winning the battle of public support. And, of course, both have also recently become involved with Klay Thompson, though, I would assume, in quite different capacities. Throughout it all, the overriding similarity is, of course, that they’ve consistently been at the top of their respective games.
[8]
TA Inskeep: I love the friction here between the song’s title and its production — and especially the sample around which it’s based, from Total’s “Kissin’ You.” You think that maybe this is gonna be Megan going soft(er), singing something romantic(ish)… but it’s actually about as filthy as Megan’s ever been, with a chorus built around the lyric “Pop that pussy for ya man, bitch.” I mean, this might even be filthier than “WAP.” Really. And it entirely works, because Megan is so good, and hearing Total is so good.
[8]
Nortey Dowuona: Me to Raphael Saddiq. (Song’s fine otherwise, but JacobDior and Megan clearly think the same as me.)
[7]
Alfred Soto: Rather than softening her come-ons, the Total sample strengthens Megan’s smut talk. Good luck to programmers who struggled with cleaning up “WAP”!
[7]
Katherine St. Asaph: My partner is also named Klay, so this has been a very special promo cycle for me. More so than the song.
[5]
Julian Axelrod: I have plenty of friends who become kind of annoying in a harmless way when they start dating someone new. But none of my friends made “Like A Freak” or “Southside Royalty Freestyle,” so if I can give them a pass, Megan deserves the same grace.
[6]
Ian Mathers: It shouldn’t be noteworthy that the stuff from Total here is a well-used sample instead of another goddamn interpolation, but it’s a relief to hear nevertheless. And it’s also nice to see the lyrics early on here raise the bar at least a bit above the hell it’s been in for men for a while now. Nothing too extraordinary here, but these days I have a renewed appreciation for strong fundamentals.
[7]
I can’t get the line “he make that shit exist” out of my head. It sums up the whole song, and yet the sentiments behind the song can’t be easily summed up. I think I finally get Megan. [7]