u/ajn2026

The song Paradise was just released as a one-off single on Thugger’s YouTube in 2015, but I believe it’s probably from the peak of Thug’s artistry. Most people would agree that from 2014 - 2016, Thug was in his “prime” as an artist with his vocal inflections, lyrics, melodies and selection of producers’ beats. But Paradise stands out in particular to me.

The beat was produced by one of the best producers of the moment (around 2015) for trap and r&b, Allen Ritter, and what he did with the beat I’ll talk more about later.

The first verse displays classic 2015 era Thugger flow and wordplay, and is pretty funny. But when the chorus hits, it struck me off guard the first couple listens. I thought “this shit is kinda mid sounding”, and to many it’s probably the worst part of the song. But I’ve come to appreciate it more now than before, because I think he may have (I’m not entirely sure) been going for a drugged out sound, although it’s safe to say he probably was high asl on codeine recording it.

Now the song transitions into something different for a Thug song. The second verse starts out normally, continuing the witty wordplay theme, but then the beat slows and becomes distorted and clippy, and Thug’s vocals do the same. The way this section goes on for longer than it seems like it should, and Thug letting the beat breathe, creates a really trippy, drugged out vibe akin to Codeine Crazy by Future.

The chorus repeats again with some added effects, and the beat seems to get more distorted until the song ends abruptly. It’s just a really unique experience and a real showcase of how much Thug was pushing himself in that era. I would’ve loved to hear more songs with this kinda vibe from Thug, but I suppose that time is long gone now. Listening to this song while off shrooms is one of my best memories.