Album Review: Megan by Megan Thee Stallion
On her third album, Megan Thee Stallion takes bold strides as she confronts adversaries, navigates her struggles, and provides some of the hard-hitting bangers in her career.
Megan Thee Stallion has experienced a tumultuous journey since the advent of the first Hot Girl Summer in 2019, marked by tears, betrayal, heightened media scrutiny, and cyberbullying. Her most formidable tactics have been her vibrant alter egos: Tina Snow, Hot Girl Meg, and Suga—each more audacious, coquettish, and amusing. In her third self-album release under Hot Girl Productions, Megan faces the biggest challenge of being herself. In the environment and class of music where Black women have been villainized and their problems are not given a second look, Megan boldly embarks on the demanding obligation of creating an album to understand who Megan Pete is as an artist. On her way, she conquers the suspicion of being a traitor to her group or whoever may surround her. With these burdens upon her, she presents herself as unbothered rather than looking at herself inwardly, bold, and creative in taking risks.
Let’s face it: Megan is her most important album yet, but let’s address the elephant in the room as these internet folks pretend to be A&Rs. There is a recurrent theme, down to the single covers and music videos. She caught flack for the first artwork she posted on her socials, which confused her audience with the snake theme. The setting is reminiscent of a dream, featuring a large, stylized “M” as the backdrop. The environment combines natural elements, such as bare tree branches and plants in pots, with futuristic lighting and design elements. This visual representation of a human transforming into a butterfly could symbolize personal growth, artistic evolution, or entering a new phase of life or career.
Now, with the official artwork, Megan donned a dark, contour-hugging ensemble and sported extensive, cascading dark locks. Her skin exhibits a luminous sheen, culminating in an enthralling visual impression of emergence or birth. The entire scene is reflected below, creating a symmetrical composition. This imagery evokes themes of rebirth, transformation, and emergence. The egg-like structure suggests a hatching or birth metaphor, while the woman’s pose conveys strength and sensuality. The golden reflective surface adds a sense of luxury or value.
Pop-infused tracks, replete with themes of sex, wealth, and exuberant celebration, undeniably contributed to Megan’s provocative and unrestrained image. She has achieved remarkable success by carving out her unique niche within the music industry, with her songs resonating on the upper echelons of the charts. Her ability to craft infectious, crowd-pleasing hits is awe-inspiring, but what truly captivates audiences is when she reveals the vulnerable, authentic, and complex aspects of her life, offering a glimpse into the depths of her personality. One of the first and boldest feelings that Megan sorts is anger, and the trunk-rattling “Hiss” kicks things off right, whether she delivers hard-hitting lines (“These hoes don’t be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan’s Law”) or getting at these internet bloggers:
Allegations from the opposition
Bitch niggas, just eating it up
These blogs get paid to lie
Y’all talk shit and be broke as fuck
“Rattle” is an assertive declaration of self-empowerment and unyielding confidence, delivered through her cadence. The track opens with a compelling mix of braggadocio and candid reflection as Megan asserts her dominance over those who underestimate her. The song seamlessly switches between themes of confrontation and celebration, illustrated in the spirited delivery of, “Now they wanna ride my wave, but they capsized.”
Megan continues to open up. Take “Cobra” for example. She conveys her internal struggles, exacerbated by external pressures and betrayals, particularly in romantic relationships, through her rap. Megan’s confrontational style reflects her pain and demonstrates her determination to conquer these challenges. She uses vivid symbolism to convey her attempts to reclaim control in a chaotic world. This track is a brave exposé of her turmoil, blending emotional depth with her signature boldness and setting a new benchmark for transparency in her music.
You still get some usual Meg slappers featuring the TikTok-ready “Where Them Girls At,” “Figueroa,” “Miami Blue,” “Down Stairs DJ,” and “BOA,” as Megan unmistakably situates herself as not just a rap artist but an empowered mogul adept at navigating personal and professional arenas, and “Otaku Hot Girl” boasts fun anime references. GloRilla hops on the Memphis-influenced “Accent,” which is no surprise as she’s headlining the Hot Girl Summer Tour. Megan employs vivid metaphors to underline her commanding presence and voluptuous appeal: “Boy, I’m thicker than your bloodline, thicker than a Popeye’s biscuit.”
One feature that got people on notice was UGK on “Paper Together,” and that track did not disappoint. Pimp C starts with his laid-back Sweet Jones talking as Megan and Bun B glide through Juicy J and Go Grizzly’s bass-heavy beat. Yuki Chiba is featured on “Mamushi,” who recently went viral months ago with “Team Tomodachi,” Kyle Richh on the forgettable “B.A.S.” and Victoria Monét tag team on the raunchy strip club anthem, “Spin.” Megan’s sharp, swaggering verses with Monét’s smooth, hypnotic hook craft a banger of dominance and seduction.
However, there are some misses on this album. Let’s start the obvious with a generic Pop track, “Worthy.” Megan still raps per usual, but her singing hook does nothing to make it stand out. “Find Out” re-works Do or Die and Twista’s “Do U” thanks to 8 Major 30 Roc and SLOA; however, Megan’s pussy references are forced in certain lines. “He eatin’ vegan pussy, he eatin’ healthy with it,” then she follows up with, “Make the pussy smile, told him take a selfie with it.” Those lines would make Lil Wayne proud.
Megan Thee Stallion’s formidable presence and assertive character might occasionally overshadow her primary role as a rapper. However, instead of relying on her previous achievements, her eponymous album showcases her at full throttle, obliterating her critics and offering a string of tracks that are unabashedly sensual, raw, and remarkably sharp-witted. This collection includes some of the finest hits of her career, even though a few tracks may not reach the same heights.
As explained in “Moody Girl,” Megan’s vivid proficiency in blending vulnerability with fierce independence is evident in lines such as, “Thick than a bitch, but I'm still missin' pieces/Hide my pain where nobody sees it.”
Solid (★★★½☆)
Favorite Track(s): “Rattle,” “Paper Together,” “Moody Girl”