“Megan” Album Review

And the Importance of Listening All The Way Through

“Megan” album cover via Spotify

Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion solidifies her status as a star with the release of each project she releases, and her newest album, “Megan” displays this notion even more. The album dropped on June 28, 2024 and features 18 songs with no interludes. On a technical standpoint, it is her best produced album thus far in her career as she uses beats from longtime collaborators and friends like LilJuMadeDaBeat, Juicy J, Bankroll Got it, and more. Alongside these beats comes her signature flow switches and clever bars that she is known for accompanied by a couple of unique features that help set the character for the album. Overall, the album stands out in her catalog for its production, but it also does a better job of educating her audience on who she really is.

The tone of the project shifts throughout the album as different sides of Megan’s personality are explored. Starting off, the tone is seen as more aggressive with the songs “HISS” and “Rattle”. In these, the rapper finally goes on the offensive and takes shots back at those who have wronged her publicly during times when she was at her lowest. From acquaintances who chose the side of her abuser, Tory Lanez, to alleged industry creeps who have been found in controversy for abusing their power for sex, no one was spared from her wrath.

For this era, Megan has used the image of a Cobra as representative of her album and new persona, and with this hard-hitting opening, it is evident that she chose the snake for its deadly bite.

Screenshot from the “Cobra” music video via YouTube

After taking that initial bite, the album shifts to focus on what Megan Thee Stallion is known for: her sex appeal. The songs “Where Them Girls At”, “Broke His Heart”, and “B.A.S.” feature messages revolving around partying, twerking, and having control over one’s own sex life. Because it is what the rapper’s brand has primarily been built on, it can be understood why her team assumed that these songs would be the standouts amongst the album. However, another side of the rapper’s persona caused another side of the album to gain the most recognition. 

Although she has spoken about it very publicly before, the self-titled album showcases the nerdy, anime-loving side of Megan. The song “Otaku Hot Girl” opens up with an original line from Adam McArthur, the voice of Yuji Itadori from the anime Jujutsu Kaisen. The rest of the songs features references to the anime and others that she enjoys like Naruto with lyrics such as, “Can’t touch me like Gojo/Look good in all my photos” and “I’m not finna argue with a Sasuke avi/Incel mad I’m a weeb and a baddie”. This portion of the album truly blew up as it began to showcase her authenticity. She is not as ashamed of her interests, and takes pride in them and the culture they come from as seen in her song “Mamushi” featuring Yuki Chiba where she raps in Japanese and pays homage to Japanese culture.  

Megan Thee Stallion as Gojo Satoru and Boa Hancock

Building off of her authenticity, Megan continues to shine a positive light on who she is by paying homage to her home state, Texas. The song “Paper Together” features iconic Texas rap duo, UGK. She also collaborated with her tour mate, Glorilla, on the song “Accent” where both ladies take pride in their southern drawl. With this portion of the album, listeners are able to understand a bit more how much Texas means to her as she proudly boasts the way that she talks and shares her knowledge of the history of Texan rap despite being criticized for this before.

Screenshot of Megan Thee Stallion and Glorilla via YouTube

The album ends off on a more reflective note, and this is where listeners get the most information regarding the rapper’s mental state. Her songs “Worthy”, “Moody Girl”, and “Cobra” all go into detail about her depression, self-image issues, and feelings of loneliness. For years now, Megan has faced public backlash in the media for either things beyond her control or for just being true to who she is, and despite putting on a brave front in public, these songs show that there is another side of the story. Specifically in ”Cobra”, she details how she has had thoughts of ending her own life with the lyrics, “(Yes) I’m very depressed/How can somebody so blessed wanna slit they wrist?” By ending the album on this more somber note, Megan reveals that her mental health crisis is still an ongoing battle.

Despite the glitz and glamor that is being displayed in the media, she still has a ways to go before finding herself once again as healing from depression is not a linear path.

”Megan” showcases the importance of listening to a body of work all the way through. It is so easy for critics or haters to pick apart songs like “Where Them Girls At” for being the same thing she always does. However, listening to the project completely will allow for listeners to watch artists, like Megan Thee Stallion, take chances with experimental songs like “Otaku Hot Girl” or to paint a better picture of who they are beyond the persona they present in front of the screen. Hopefully Megan, and many other artists, will continue to drop pieces of themselves deep within their projects as listeners patiently await to learn more.