We are in the midst of a Migos moment. The public has rallied around "Bad and Boujee," propelling the song to the top of the charts and the Atlanta trio to an unprecedented level of critical acclaim. The only song separating "Bad and Boujee" from the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 is "Black Beatles," which goes to show a killer opening line is the most important element of a modern rap hit.
If "Bad and Boujee" and Migos' new single "T-Shirt" are any indication, the group has refined its sound on its forthcoming album CULTURE, which is slated to arrive on January 27th. While you wait, click through the gallery to listen to the 10 most essential Migos tracks to date.
"Versace"
Though the triplet flow has been an institution of hip hop since Lord Infamous popularized the flow in the early '90s, "Versace" felt entirely exotic when Migos initially released it in 2013. The track inspired hundreds of rappers to employ a derivative "Versace" flow -- including Drake, whose co-sign/co-opt catapulted the song into the mainstream.
"Hannah Montana"
Migos' habit of enthusiastically chanting a single word or phrase on the most popular songs on their 2013 mixtape Young Rich Niggas - " Versace," "Hannah Montana," "Chinatown" - did not exactly ingratiate them with rap purists. But even the most fervent hater cannot deny that Dun Deal-produced "Hannah Montana" is a slap.
"Fight Night"
"Fight Night" helped Migos carry over their success in 2014 and proved that they were far from a one-hit wonder. High octane and endlessly quotable, the track doubles as an inspiring club anthem and a metaphor for the trio's sexual proficiency.
"Handsome & Wealthy"
Whereas Takeoff's raspy, unbridled aggression defined "Fight Night," Quavo's more melodic No Label II counterpart "Handsome and Wealthy." Quavo finds himself in a reflective state of mind, as he seeks to has to answer the riddle of his irresistible charm to every woman on the planet.
"Wishy Washy"
A standout on Migos' 2014 Rich Nigga Timeline, "Wishy Washy" serves as a de facto sequel to "Handsome & Wealthy." He has come to terms with his own handsome and wealth, and is now ready to deal with the women who are taking advantage of it. The song's music video takes place in a familiar locale: the laundromat.
"Freak No More"
"Freak No More" is about a type of stripper who is ready to hang up her heels and retire the moment the Migos stroll in the room. As Offset observes, this type of lady owns neither a house or a veHICKLE, and he swiftly kicks her to the curb.
"One Time"
The Migos attain mindfulness on their own terms in "One Time." They also deliver not one but two Busta Rhymes references.
"Pipe it Up"
The repetitive chorus chant of "Pipe It Up" achieves a perfect call-and-response effect when paired with the beat that makes it the most danceable track of 2015 this side of Rich Homie Quan's "Flex." Producer Murda Beatz explained the genesis of the track in an interview with HNHH:
"We had chemistry right off the bat," he said. "We'd go and bang out records -- 20 minutes, know what I mean. It's the same thing now. We did 'Pipe It Up' -- bang it out, 20 minutes. I could bang out a beat on the spot in 20 minutes, and then they could do the song in 20 minutes."
"Look At My Dab"
The year was 2015. Cam Newton had the world on a string. His theme song: "Look At My Dab."
"Bad and Boujee" feat. Lil Uzi Vert
Metro Boomin's career reached unparalleled heights in 2015 through his partnership with Future. He somehow outdid himself in 2016 by evolving his sound into an original stripped-down, baroque vision of hell. His standout achievements of the year: Savage Mode and "Bad and Boujee," which has skyrocketed to the #2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, despite a verse from Lil Uzi Vert in which he has the audacity to rap the words "Switching my hoes like my flows."
