Music

Young Thug Believes ‘Drake Level’ Artists Need To Step Outside Of Hip-Hop To Reach ‘The Next Level’

‘Once you’re Drake level, there’s nothing else you could do. At this point, they’re waiting on you to fall down,’ Thug said. …

Young Thug has spent the better part of the last two days in hip-hop headlines thanks to a number of comments he made during a recent appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast. The latest attention-grabbing moment came when the YSL rapper discussed Drake and other high-level hip-hop artists in terms of the ceiling they have when it comes to the level of success they can reach in the music industry.

“I was talking to the youngins the other day…a Hip Hop artist you can only go so far,” Thug said. “Once you’re Drake level, there’s nothing else you could do. At this point, they’re waiting on you to fall down. It’s no next level unless you go pop or something else. So, I’m always focused on the next level.” It’s an interesting point to hear from the Atlanta rapper considering the fact that hip-hop is today’s biggest and most popular genre, but despite that, it wasn’t the only eyebrow-raising point Thug shared on the episode.

The So Much Fun rapper also declared that the only way he would participate in a Verzuz battle is if it was against Lil Wayne. “It would probably have to be like [Lil Wayne],” he said. “Because you got to think — we got to talk about influence. We got to talk about everything. We got to talk about everything. It’s not just about no rap.” He also got attacked for his comments about Jay-Z and whether or not the Brooklyn legend had 30 songs he could play for an entire stadium of fans to rap along with him.

You can watch the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast episode in the video above.

Young Thug is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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Artist Spotlight

“Boom” by Chandra explodes with energy and in-depth storytelling

“Boom” is Chandra’s second single of 2026, and it’s the kind of moment when emotion, energy, and cosmic interest collapse into each other, delivering you a pop-rock sensation that is at once intimate and grand.

“Boom” settles into a steady sequence with the driven bass of Chris Wong and lead-guitar fireworks from Mike Paul. The production plays back-and-forth, the verses are cool and collected, and in the choruses, everything bursts into high, emotional sounds. The lead singer, Chandra Nair, sings in a way that feels quite personal yet speaks to everyone. He sings with a sense of wonder that matches the song’s central idea of soulmates wandering through an infinite cosmos to meet. It has a spiritual nature underneath all that, a sense of fate wrapped in heavy metaphor.

“Boom” is a song you think about and sing along to. The band leans into celestial and elemental imagery, contributing to a resonance. Chandra continues to make a name for themselves in contemporary pop-rock by balancing self-reflection with energy. Beyond being a song you want to hear, it demands you feel it, and the echo lingers well.

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Artist Spotlight

Reigns and Waives craft a tender moment with “Closer Than Your Shadow” music video

“Closer Than Your Shadow” is a pop song and music video by Reigns and Waives that sounds like a promise quietly made. The song serves as a timely reminder that we are never necessarily alone, no matter how powerless and vulnerable we may feel. It is predicated on unconditional presence and emotional safety.

Originally a soul ballad, the song gradually morphed into an overproduced pop record with enduring depth. The production allows the emotion to come through, creating a warm, immersive atmosphere that complements the song’s grounding, comforting theme. Reigns and Waives strike a terrific balance of openness and strength in their voices. When they sing their lines, it sounds like they are talking straight to you in a time when you need to hear that. It sounds honest, and becomes something so human that you can really empathize with it.

“Closer Than Your Shadow” is about a connection that withstands the heaviness. It captures that quiet moment of falling apart and lovingly pulls it back together with understanding. With this release, Reigns and Waives not only demonstrate how well they complement each other as artists but also how effortlessly they transform complex emotions into something universally relatable.

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