Music
Young Thug Explains Why He Never Worked With Andre 3000: ‘Dre Likes His Ass Kissed’
Thug previously worked with Elton John and used that experience to contrast their approaches to collaboration. …
Despite being a pioneer for Atlanta hip-hop to the mainstream in the ’90s and 2000s, Andre 3000 doesn’t quite get the same level of love from his hometown successors. Although his work as a member of Outkast is often referenced in comparing the stylistic innovations of newer ATLien rappers to their predecessors, some of those predecessors aren’t exactly checking for Andre themselves. During his appearance on T.I.’s podcast ExpediTIously, Young Thug — is arguably the current epicenter of Atlanta rap — explains why he never much paid attention to Andre 3000.
“I can’t rap you two Andre 3000 songs,” he said. “I ain’t never paid attention to him. Never in my life.” When T.I. tells him that he’s “missing out” and says they need to work together, referring to his recent collaboration with Elton John. Thugger disagrees though. “But the difference between Elton John and Andre is, to simplify it, Elton John likes to kiss ass, and Dre likes his ass kissed. Elton John like “Hey! I like you, I remember your first song, I remember Gucci first song. When Guwop getting out?’ He a fan type of n****, to the point where I’m like, ‘Let’s do music,’ and he’s like, ‘N**** bet!’ Andre more like, ‘This is his secretary. Tell the n**** it’s Thug, n****.’”
T.I. also compares Andre’s fashion pioneering to Thug’s, prompting the younger rapper to explain why he wore a dress on his Jeffery cover. “That sh*t was just that simple,” he said. “That motherf*cker matched! It was not for attention. That’s on the Holy Bible, that’s on my kids.”
Watch Young Thug’s discussion with T.I. above.
Artist Spotlight
Lana Crow turns challenges into a celebration with “Laugh With You”
“Laugh With You,” the latest single from Lana Crow, is a sincere rallying cry to embrace life in all its messy, beautiful mess. In the song, indie pop and alt-pop combine to deliver an emotional blow that feels both personal and universal.
“Laugh With You” feels like an instant connection, and Crow is telling you stories of hard times with a cozy, knowing smile. This song is as much about struggle as it is about how strong you are. It serves as a reminder that these struggles are simply what give us the strength to keep going, even when life is tough.
Crow encourages people to welcome them, create happiness in the cracks, and laugh even as the world gets heavy. The result is a song that delicately nudges you to love and embrace yourself. It is an anthem for anyone experiencing tough times who refuses to give up hope. Lana Crow continues to demonstrate her songwriting skills, both musically pleasing and emotionally rich, with “Laugh With You.”
It’s a reminder that it’s how we respond to tough times, rather than how they affect us, that’s key. With this song, not only does Crow provide us with music, but she also lets us know that sometimes a laugh is what we need to remember that there is always something to smile about and that, even when it feels like life has waged war against you, laughter can still be found.
Artist Spotlight
Lisa Boostani creates a mesmerizing tidal realm in “Ocean”
Lisa Boostani’s “Ocean” takes you deep into a sensory world where body, spirit, and myth come together, beyond the surface of genre. Boostani makes a soundscape that is both ethereal and deeply human by combining the broad essence of psychedelic pop with the strong appeal of alternative rock.
Her voice rises as if it is coming from deep within her, shaped by emotion rather than action. She intentionally channels the intangible, turning weakness into strength rather than a source of pain, and “Ocean” tells people to get involved in this inner world, not just watch it. This release is an integral part of her first EP, “One,” which will come out in March 2026 and is based on love, sensuality, and unity.
If “Ocean” is any indication, the EP will show sensuality not as something pretty, but as a kind of spiritual intelligence, a way to know yourself by connecting with others. The song’s textures and structure have an aquatic quality, moving between clarity and delirium, rhythm and freedom. Its emotional focus is on immersion instead of resolution.
The striking quality of “Ocean” is the blend of the mystical worlds. Boostani understands that strength often shows up as gentleness and that deep feelings are better expressed through frequencies than words. She wants people to see consciousness as immediacy, sensation as truth, and openness as an undeniable strength.
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