Punk (Young Thug album)

In an interview about recording his debut studio album, So Much Fun (2019), Young Thug told The Fader that he wanted to release a follow-up album in the "upcoming weeks". In contrast to his debut, which he described as a "lighthearted work", Punk would be more personal and introspective. He implied that the new album was "touching" and interpreted the meaning of Punk as "brave, not self centered, conscious, very, very neglected, very misunderstood, very patient, very authentic".{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2019/08/young-thug-new-album-punk/|title=Young Thug Wants to Release His New Album Punk Next Month|website=Spin|last=Burks|first=Tosten|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=August 22, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/08/21/young-thug-announces-new-album-punk|title=Young Thug says he plans to drop new album Punk "in two months"|website=The Fader|last=Ross|first=Alex Robert|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=August 22, 2019}} He said the album would reflect "real rap".{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.52539/title.young-thug-announces-punk-album|title=Young Thug Promises Return Of "Real Rap" On Forthcoming "Punk" Album|website=HipHopDX|last=Ivey|first=Justin|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=August 22, 2019}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8527950/young-thug-announces-punk-album|title=Young Thug Announces New Album 'Punk'|magazine=Billboard|last=Saponara|first=Michael|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=August 22, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/08/young-thug-teases-introspective-so-much-fun-follow-up-project-punk|title=Young Thug Teases Introspective 'So Much Fun' Follow-Up Project 'Punk'|website=Complex|last=Cowen|first=Trace William|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=August 22, 2019}}

On July 27, 2021, Thug featured on an NPR Tiny Desk home concert, where he performed four new songs and teased an October 15 release date for the album, as seen on the back of his t-shirt.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/young-thug-travis-barker-npr-tiny-desk-home-concert/|title=Watch Young Thug's 'Tiny Desk (Home) Concert' f/ Travis Barker|website=Complex|last=Cowen|first=Trace William|date=July 27, 2021|access-date=July 27, 2021}} More promotion for Punk is a video published on October 13, 2021, of Thug smashing a $320,000 Rolls-Royce with the word "punk" painted on it in pink.{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2021/10/13/young-thug-destroys-rolls-royce-punk-album/|title=Young Thug Destroys Rolls-Royce to Promote 'Punk' Album|website=Rap-Up|date=October 13, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}}

Following Punk’s release, Thug stated during his appearance on The Breakfast Club that his track "Day Before" with Mac Miller was recorded on the day before Miller's death on September 7, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/young-thug-says-mac-miller-collaboration-day-before-was-recorded-one-day-before-millers-death-3075657|title=Young Thug says Mac Miller collaboration 'Day Before' was recorded one day before Miller's death|website=NME|last=Gallagher|first=Alex|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 22, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/young-thug-mac-miller-recorded-day-before-mac-death/|title=Young Thug Reveals He and Mac Miller Recorded "Day Before" Song the Day Before Mac Died|website=XXL|last=Woods|first=Aleia|date=October 19, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}}

"Bubbly", a collaboration with fellow rappers Drake and Travis Scott, which was sent to US rhythmic radio on November 2, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://hitsdailydouble.com//pop_mart&id=328971&title=YOUR-RADIO-ADD-RECAPS|title=A Recap of Radio Add Recaps|website=Hits|date=November 2, 2021|access-date=April 3, 2024}} The song peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/young-thug/chart-history/hsi/|title=Young Thug Chart History: Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 4, 2024}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 78/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/punk/young-thug|title=Punk by Young Thug Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=November 4, 2021}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/punk-mw0003607853|title=Punk – Young Thug|publisher=AllMusic|last=Thomas|first=Fred|access-date=November 4, 2021}}

| rev2 = The Arts Desk

| rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-young-thug-punk|title=Album: Young Thug – Punk|work=The Arts Desk|last=Thorfinn-George|first=Harry|date=October 18, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}}

| rev3 = Clash

| rev3score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/young-thug-punk|title=Young Thug – Punk|website=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=October 15, 2021|access-date=October 15, 2021}}

| rev4 = HipHopDX

| rev4score = 4.0/5{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3816/title.young-thug-punk-album-review|title=Young Thug 'Punk' Is An Intimate Potluck With Excess Leftovers|website=HipHopDX|last=Sadler|first=Armon|date=December 23, 2021|access-date=January 8, 2022}}

| rev5 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev5score = 6/10{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/young-thug-punk-album-review|title=Punk is an interesting ride, but it's far from Young Thug's greatest|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Culp|first=Leo|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/young-thug-punk-album-review-drake-juice-wrld-mac-miller-j-cole-3071690|title=Young Thug – 'Punk' review: a flawless stylistic about-turn from a truly modern great|website=NME|last=Williams|first=Kyann-Sian|date=October 15, 2021|access-date=October 16, 2021}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 7.1/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/young-thug-punk/|title=Young Thug: Punk Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Thompson|first=Paul A.|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 21, 2021}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/young-thug-punk-1243667/|title=Young Thug Stays Consistently Brilliant Without Blowing Our Minds on 'Punk'|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Ihaza|first=Jeff|date=October 22, 2021|access-date=October 23, 2021}}

}}

Punk was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 78, based on six reviews.

Kyann-Sian Williams of NME praised the album, stating, "Featuring a masterpiece of a collaboration with the late, great Mac Miller, this hugely inventive second studio album proves Thugger's all-time greatness". Paul A. Thompson from Pitchfork enjoyed the album, saying, "While Young Thug's creative choices after about 2015 have had little sway over emerging trends, Punk suggests that the space he now occupies is one that allows him more room to experiment". Robin Murray of Clash said, "Impactful and often unexpected, PUNK breaks new ground within Young Thug's identity". Rolling Stone critic Jeff Ihaza said, "With his latest album, you get the feeling that these are songs Thug needed to get off of his chest. While not a dazzling record, it opens a door to exciting opportunities". Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Fred Thomas stated, "Punk is relatively odd for an album that debuted at number one on the charts, sneaking some of Young Thug's inherent eccentricity in among its more commercially viable moments".

Armon Sadler of HipHopDX said, "With Punk, Thugger continues to expand his game to the point of reaching true limitlessness; he's like a young, athletic slasher in basketball who expands his repertoire to become well-rounded and achieve longevity in the sport". In a lukewarm review, The Line of Best Fit{{'}}s Leo Culp wrote, "Punk will likely not be remembered as a great Young Thug album, but we should appreciate that we get to hear him tinker with his sound for when he finally puts it all together again". Writing for The Arts Desk, Harry Thorfinn-George stated, "There are countless rappers who use a similar melodic flow, but none that can so effortlessly find hidden melodies in every beat".

Punk debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 90,000 album-equivalent units (including 12,000 copies in pure album sales) in its first week.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9650236/young-thugs-punk-number-one-billboard-200-chart/|title=Young Thug's 'Punk' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=October 24, 2021|access-date=October 25, 2021}} This became Thug's third US number one debut on the chart. The album also accumulated a total of 102 million on-demand streams of the album's songs. In its second week, the album dropped to number seven on the chart, earning an additional 34,000 units.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/drake-lana-del-rey-elton-john-billboard-200-chart-top-10/|title=Drake's 'Certified Lover Boy' Rebounds for Fifth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=October 31, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021}}

In South Africa, nine songs from the album debuted within the top 100 on The Official Charts South Africa (TOSAC), in the week ending October 28, 2021. This became a new record on the chart.{{cite web|url=https://theofficialsacharts.co.za/charts/streaming-chart-20-08-2021-to-26-08-2021/|title=TOSAC|publisher=The Official Charts South Africa|access-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028155322/https://theofficialsacharts.co.za/charts/streaming-chart-20-08-2021-to-26-08-2021/|archive-date=October 28, 2021}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Punk track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 62:50

| title1 = Die Slow

| note1 = with Strick

| writer1 = {{hlist|Jeffery Williams|Tauren Strickland|Ryan Vojtesak}}

| extra1 = Charlie Handsome

| length1 = 3:57

| title2 = Stressed

| note2 = with J. Cole and T-Shyne

| writer2 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Jermaine Cole|Tafa Peters|Tyler Williams|Thomas Lumpkins|Kelvin Wooten|Zairyus Jackson}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|T-Minus|Tommy Parker|Wu10|Kacey Khaliel}}

| length2 = 3:40

| title3 = Stupid/Asking

| writer3 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Leland Wayne|Vojtesak|Taurus Currie, Jr.|Benjamin Ibrahimovic|Crater|Alexander Izquierdo|Rocky Block}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Metro Boomin|Charlie Handsome|Taurus|Yo Benji|Crater}}

| length3 = 5:33

| title4 = Recognize Real

| note4 = with Gunna

| writer4 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Sergio Kitchens|Vojtesak}}

| extra4 = Charlie Handsome

| length4 = 2:51

| title5 = Contagious

| writer5 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Ozan Yildirim|Jacob Reske}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Oz|Reske}}

| length5 = 2:30

| title6 = Peepin Out the Window

| note6 = with Future and BSlime

| writer6 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Nayvadius Wilburn|Jaborious Grier|Baby Plugg|Ayo Deni|Jordan Edon}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Baby Plugg|Ayo Deni|Don}}

| length6 = 3:57

| title7 = Rich Nigga Shit

| note7 = with Juice Wrld

| writer7 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Jarad Higgins|Kanye West|Jordan Jenks}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|West|Pi'erre Bourne}}

| length7 = 2:57

| title8 = Livin It Up

| note8 = with Post Malone and ASAP Rocky

| writer8 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Austin Post|Rakim Mayers|Vojtesak}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Charlie Handsome|ASAP Rocky}}

| length8 = 3:30

| title9 = Yea Yea Yea

| writer9 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Wesley Glass|Vojtesak|Masamune Kudo|Christopher Miller}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Wheezy|Charlie Handsome|Rex Kudo|Hitmaka Millz}}

| length9 = 2:24

| title10 = Insure My Wrist

| note10 = with Gunna

| writer10 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Kitchens|Currie|DecayOnTheBeat|Alec}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Taurus|DecayOnTheBeat|Alec}}

| length10 = 2:48

| title11 = Scoliosis

| note11 = with Lil Double 0

| writer11 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Tyreke Rogers|Konstatinos Latos|Zachary Mullett}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Nuki|Kuttabeatz}}

| length11 = 2:50

| title12 = Bubbly

| note12 = with Drake and Travis Scott

| writer12 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Aubrey Graham|Jacques Webster II|Glass|Ronald LaTour, Jr.|Dylan Cleary-Krell|Daveon Jackson|Johnny Juliano|Ciaran Mullan}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Wheezy|Cardo|Dez Wright|Yung Exclusive|Juliano|Mu Lean}}

| length12 = 2:45

| title13 = Road Rage

| writer13 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Currie|Ismo Kari}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Taurus|Smo}}

| length13 = 2:32

| title14 = Faces

| writer14 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Glass|Sean Momberger|Leigh Elliott}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Wheezy|Momberger|Lee Major}}

| length14 = 2:12

| title15 = Droppin Jewels

| writer15 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Chandler Durham|Andrew Franklin|K-Notes|Matthew Charles}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Turbo|Pro Logic|K-Notes|Ghetto Guitar}}

| length15 = 3:38

| title16 = Fifth Day Dead

| writer16 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Louis Bell|Andrew Wotman}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Bell|Watt}}

| length16 = 2:30

| title17 = Icy Hot

| note17 = with Doja Cat

| writer17 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Amala Dlamini|Glass}}

| extra17 = Wheezy

| length17 = 3:36

| title18 = Love You More

| note18 = with Nate Ruess, Gunna, and Jeff Bhasker

| writer18 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Nathaniel Ruess|Kitchens|Jeff Bhasker|Wayne}}

| extra18 = {{hlist|Ruess|Bhasker|Metro Boomin}}

| length18 = 3:41

| title19 = Hate the Game

| writer19 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Bell|Wotman}}

| extra19 = {{hlist|Bell|Watt}}

| length19 = 2:44

| title20 = Day Before

| note20 = with Mac Miller

| writer20 = {{hlist|J. Williams|Malcolm McCormick|Zach Farache|Donte Perkins}}

| extra20 = {{hlist|Verzache|TaeBeast}}

| length20 = 2:15

}}

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{{Young Thug}}

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Category:2021 albums

Category:Young Thug albums

Category:YSL Records albums

Category:Albums produced by T-Minus (producer)

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Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:300 Entertainment albums