Young Thug Reveals His Top Rappers, Favorite Albums and Thoughts on Drake vs Kendrick
Young Thug gave fans a rare glimpse into his rap influences during a guest appearance on Adin Ross’ Kick stream on Tuesday, September 30. The Atlanta rapper opened up about his top five rappers of all time, his favorite albums, and even addressed his fractured relationship with Gunna.
When asked to name his greatest rappers dead or alive, Thugger listed 2Pac, Drake, Wale and Big Sean as a tie, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne. Explaining his choice of Wale and Big Sean, Thug said both are overlooked in hip hop. “Wale and Big Sean are slept-on. They’re nuts,” he said, giving flowers to two rappers often praised for their lyrical ability but not always included in mainstream greatest lists.
Young Thug also highlighted the albums that shaped his listening taste. His list included So Much Fun, JAY-Z’s The Black Album, Drake’s Take Care, 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me, and Gunna’s DS4Ever. The inclusion of Gunna’s DS4Ever raised eyebrows, given their highly publicized falling out after Gunna took a plea deal in the YSL RICO case. When asked about reconciliation, Thug responded bluntly: “I don’t know. As of right now, I don’t think it could happen.”
The stream also touched on the long-running debate over who is greater between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Thug gave the edge to Drake, pointing to his commercial dominance and cultural influence. “Who’s the best? I gotta say Drake,” he said. “He just did more, he put more people on. Not saying Kendrick didn’t put nobody on, but Drake just did more and he’s got more numbers. Numbers-wise, statistically, impact on the culture, impact on the world, Drake comes out on top.”
Still, Thug made sure to recognize Kendrick’s legacy. “Kendrick Lamar has had a hell of an impact, he’s for sure number one, ever in life to come out of L.A. Nobody in L.A. could never ever ever be bigger than him. He’s the G.O.A.T. of the whole West Coast.” He added that while Nipsey Hussle was his personal favorite, Kendrick’s numbers and accolades made him the undisputed leader from Los Angeles.
The conversation comes as Young Thug enjoys the success of his new album UY Scuti, released less than a year after his release from jail. The project features Future, Travis Scott, Cardi B, 21 Savage, and Lil Baby, and is expected to debut at number seven on the Billboard 200 with around 48,000 first-week units.
Young Thug’s comments highlight his deep love for rap history while showing that he values both lyrical craftsmanship and cultural impact. His mix of classic names like 2Pac and JAY-Z with modern stars like Drake and Gunna shows how he bridges hip hop’s past and present.
