Young Thug completed a set on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, backed by a live band that included Travis Barker, that included tracks from his forthcoming album, Punk.
Punk is Thug’s second proper studio album, following So Much Fun in 2019. Thug debuted a new song, “Tick Tock,” at the Rolling Loud Festival in Miami this weekend, suggesting the new direction of his next album. Even more songs were revealed during his Tiny Desk performance, including “Die Slow,” “Droppin Jewels,” and the punk-inspired “Hate the Game.”
Thug’s appearance in the video is clearly “Punk.” He’s got new hair and a look that’s evocative of the aughts’ pop punk bands. His customized sleeveless T-shirt (from his Spider brand) also occurs to offer some details about Punk’s impending arrival: At the conclusion of the performance, Thug turned away from the camera and flashed the album’s release date: October 15th.
Punk enters as Thug’s impact in hip-hop continues to increase. His YSL record label continues to rule the charts; their most recent collection, Slime Language 2, appeared at the top of Rolling Stone’s ranking. Thug’s new music is sure to capture the moment, especially as pop-punk nostalgia continues to grip the mainstream, if the tracks from his Tiny Desk are any clue. Thug, being the one-of-a-kind artist that he is, will undoubtedly put his own perspective on what the world considers “punk.”
