If I said “rain drop” in a room full of university students, how many people would know the words that come next?* These lyrics are from the #1 Billboard hit “Bad and Boujee,” which has become a sensation nationwide among the fans of the rap group Migos. The song itself has reached over 163 million views in just 3 months since being posted. The rap group from Atlanta includes Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff, and it turns out that all three artists are actually close family. Quavious Marshall, or Quavo, is the uncle of Offset and cousin to Takeoff, and they have left a footprint in the rap game by setting a culture with their music and rockstar outfits (and chains, lots of chains).
The instant success that the Migos came across was largely due to actor, songwriter, and producer Donald Glover, better known as Childish Gambino. Gambino won Best Actor in Comedy TV Series as well as Best Comedy TV Series for his show on FX called Atlanta. The show is meant to depict life in Atlanta, and the struggles an up and coming rapper faces. Glover’s character “Earl” is meant to be a version of himself, and the show perfectly captures his creative talent in both acting, producing, and music. On episode 3 of the comedy series, the Migos made a cameo in the show, since the rap group was bred in Atlanta, which has its own distinct culture.
During Donald Glover’s acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, Glover thanked the rap group Migos for making Bad and Boujee. In just a couple hours, their song had a 243% spike in streams on Spotify, launching them to the #1 spot on Billboard. It is no doubt that Childish Gambino helped the Migos rise to success, as their last hit on the Hot 100 was over 6 months prior. After their cameo on the show, it was reported that the Migos and Gambino will have a collab album coming out soon.
There is no doubt that this rap group from Atlanta has raw talent in their craft, but their popularity after the Golden Globes put them at the top. I do not believe that the the Migos were piggybacking off of Donald Glover’s on talent, but it definitely helped. Although some of their songs may not have hit the Hot 100 charts, their success remains in the culture that their fans are dedicated to. The rap group has successfully perpetuated multiple viral trends, such as the “dab” dance move among others. I believe the artist reaches ultimate success if the music they create directly impacts the lives of the listeners. Their most recent album, titled C U L T U R E, has definitely caused a scene in the rap community with features like Travis Scott and Gucci Mane. The timing of their release was also perfectly executed, with the group holding the number one Billboard spot at the time of their album release.
*Answer: Drop Top
