Sample Sessions: Megan Thee Stallion's 'Good News'

300 Entertainments ‘Houston Hottie’ debuts her first studio album ‘Good News’.

Sam-ple Sess-i-on

Noun

No stops. No skips. A one-take review.

Teeming with deliciously raunchy rhymes and audaciously sassy yet witty lyrics “invest in this pussy, boy – support black business”, Good news serves provocative, confident eroticism. All while the Houston Hottie’s word play, flow and cleverly constructed verses affirm her coveted ‘Artist of the Year’ title, with stellar guest appearances from the likes of SZA, Beyoncé and Popcaan. Good News also sees Megan speak to the hardships, pain and betrayal on her journey to stardom, addressing hurt, rumours and haters with a scorching diss track ‘Shots Fired’ to set the tone. Good news takes influences from R&B, Bubble-gum Pop and 90’s Gangsta rap, proving Megan to be a multifaceted, 21's century rap icon.

As per the rules, no stops, no skips, no rewinds. This is, Good News.

Shots Fired

The opening number Shots fired is the first of a few songs on Good News that take inspiration from 90’s Gangsta rap. The production sees Budda Blessed sample Notorious BIG’s Who Shot Ya?, where Biggie infamously addresses rumours that he was responsible for the shooting of Tupac in 1994. Megan’s ‘Shots Fired’ adopts a similar instrumental as she tells her story from the perspective of the one who got shot.

Lyrical Content: 8

Production: 8

Delivery: 8.5

Highlights: Bold, direct delivery

Circles

Megan announces "Circles" as a song is for all the hot girls and ‘Bad B*tches who've been done wrong. She touches on the hurt from losing her mother in 2019, the shooting involving Tory Lanez whilst expressing frustration at a society that continuously fails to protect black women. The song combines bold, uplifting bars with self-reflection to create an empowerment anthem.

Lyrical Content: 8

Production: 8.5

Delivery: 8

Highlights: Sample

Cry Baby (feat. DaBaby)

Megan and Dababy are a formidable duo with an unmatched on screen and musical chemistry, demonstrated on songs like Cash Shit and their XXL Freshman freestyle in 2019. Cry Baby is another example of their ability to bounce off each other whilst both maintaining a high lyrical standard from start to finish.

Lyrical Content: 8.5

Production: 7.5

Delivery: 9

Highlights: The crying child sample

Do It On The Tip (feat. City Girls & Hot Girl Meg)

Megan calls to Young Miami and JT of the City Girls for an uptempo, TikTok friendly club anthem. There’s a cheerleader style flow that transcends each verse as the girls deliver sharp, witty bars. Young Miami’s takes the crown for the best verse, her rhymes are slick and her flow stands out as the smoothest.

Lyrical Content: 8

Production: 7

Delivery: 9

Highlights: Young Miami’s verse

Lowlights: The hook might become tedious after a few listens

Sugar Baby

On Sugar Baby, Megan delivers her classic Houston-Hottie flow, brimming with shots at bare minimum men. Sugar Baby demonstrates Megan's philanthropic side as she preaches the importance of being with men that will treat you right ($$$).

Lyrical Content: 8.5

Production: 8.5

Delivery: 9

Movie (Feat, Lil Durk)

Tay-Keith’s work here is simply immaculate, and seamlessly works hand in hand with Lil Durk’s melodic hook. Megan’s street rap meets Lil Durk’s sing-song flow and combines with Tay-Keith’s trap sound to create a trap anthem.

Lyrical Content: 8

Production: 9

Delivery: 9

Lowlights: Lil Durk’s verse could have come in stronger, didn’t quite meet the standard Megan set.

Freaky Girls (Feat SZA)

This collaboration was teased back in January via Instagram, lo and behold, they delivered. Megan reels in the vocalist SZA for the seventh song on the album, "Freaky Girls." SZA breaks into R&B vocals on the hook declaring she’s ‘Looking for a thug who ain’t scared of the p*ssy with a gangsta Lean’. This is one of Megans best displays of lyrical ability thus far.

Lyrical Content: 9

Production: 7

Delivery: 8

Highlights: SZA’s catchy but belting hook

Body

Body serves as a body-positive chant of empowerment as Megan celebrates thick hotties. The song's catchy hook is the perfect twerk number and the video's choreography proves this right. The video is directed by Colin Tilley, the music video director behind "WAP".

Lyrical Content: 7

Production: 7

Delivery: 8.5

What’s New

What’s new is an impressive single. The production's simplicity allows for Megan's bars and delivery to take centre stage, both of which are sublime. Her natural flair for rhyming and riding instrumentals with ease really come through on this track.

Lyrical Content: 9

Production: 8

Delivery: 9

Highlights: The hook

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Work That

Work that is indeed catchy, but not her best work on this album so far. The production stands out as clever and fun with Juvenile’s ‘Rodeo’ flipped as a sample. The song has a playful element to it which Megan does justice, but lyrically I was not taken back.

Lyrical Content: 6

Production: 7

Delivery: 8

Intercourse (Feat Popcaan & Mustard)

Intercourse is a more mellow approach to the album with Dancehall influences on the production. This song is outside Megan's usual sound but Popcaan’s melodic tenor and her sultry lyrics work well together to create a smooth R&B/Dancehall hybrid”

Lyrical Content: 8

Production: 8

Delivery: 8

Highlights: Megan Could have sang a little

Go Crazy (Feat Big Sean & 2 Chainz)

Megan enlists Big Sean & 2 Chainz for this Naughty By Nature’s 1991 sample, OPP. There are clear overlaps between both versions including the delivery and 90’s Hip Hop flow. Megan’s verses outshine both the male rappers on this track, as she undercuts both male counterparts with sharp, witty lines and a street-style flow.

Lyrical Content: 8

Production: 8

Delivery: 8

Don’t Rock Me To Sleep

On Don’t Rock Me To Sleep, Megan embarks on a pop journey with a bubblegum-pop hook and y2k type lyrics. While the song is catchy, I’m not sure this is a venture Megan should continue pursuing.

Lyrical Content: 7

Production: 8

Delivery: 7

Highlights: The hook

Outside

Megan's sing-song approach to 'Outside' alongside her bold, confident lyrics exude a soft yet powerful energy, similar to some of the R&B songs on her EP 'Suga'.

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