On her third studio full-length,
Megan
, global rap superpower
Megan Thee Stallion
is having less fun than usual. The Texas rapper's undeniably bold personality and unfiltered lyrics about sex, power, and being the best have resulted in chart-topping hits and the kind of career where
is more of an internationally renowned brand than a mere artist. This level of success often comes with a price, however, and
feels heavier, wearier, and more defensive in place of the usual gleefully offensive energy the rapper has perfected in her previous work. Tracks like the club-ready snap of "BOA" and party groover "Where Them Girls At" are hooky and infectious but aimed directly at
's enemies, with most of the content fixated on breaking down just how inferior they are. Though names are never named, the appropriately venomous diss track "HISS" stems from a much-publicized beef with
Nicki Minaj
, with zippy, angst-fueled flows delivering brutal one-liners and destroying any would-be haters. Even with the notable uptick in time spent addressing the opposition,
isn't all vitriol. The
GloRilla
-assisted "Accent" is simmering, Deep South swagger; the beat for "Otaku Hot Girl" taps into anime soundtrack atmospheres, and the unexpected pop sheen of "B.A.S." featuring
Kyle Richh
suggests some stylistic growth, utilizing a
Gwen Stefani
sample to backdrop a nakedly direct lyrical assessment of a hollow, loveless relationship. "Cobra" takes
to places even further outside of her musical comfort zone, with her familiar cadence washing over trap hi-hats, meandering synths, and chunky hard rock guitars. While
strays somewhat from the formula of invincible confidence and crowd-pleasing summer anthems that we're used to from
MTS
, its moments of bitterness and uncertainty do a lot to humanize the larger-than-life rap queen, one whose head has grown heavy from wearing the crown. ~ Fred Thomas