Megan Thee Stallion started releasing music relatively recently in comparison to other big rap names, but her exceptional talent over the past few years has proven time to be no obstacle for her. She’s made a name for herself, not only because of her extraordinary lyrical and rap ability, but also because her songs exude confidence and a message of female empowerment, even if it means there may be people against it. This year, Megan wasn’t only in the headlines because of her amazing music, but also because of a horrible incident that brought her bodily injury. On July 12, Megan’s feet were shot in Hollywood Hills, and she later revealed that rapper Tory Lanez had shot her. While Lanez claims he’s not guilty, he has been charged with the shooting. This year, Megan talked not only about the assault and its aftermath, but also discussed a broader message about the injustice and lack of protection faced by Black women in a heartfelt opinion she wrote, which everyone should read, for the New York Times.

After this, Megan returned to shine with her new album, Good News, which was released on Friday, Nov. 20. The release was only eight days after her official announcement of the album. The collection is a remarkable one, with diverse music genres implemented, highly anticipated collaborations, and strong messages.

One of the highlights of this album is Circles, which combines Megan’s verses with a sample of Jazmine Sullivan’s Holdin’ You Down (Goin’ In Circles). The use of this sample is just one example of Megan’s special artistry as she manages to contrast the type of sound in Sullivan’s tune while threading and fitting it into her rap verses. The beat of the song is filled with addicting deep thumps that hold hands with Sullivan’s sample, making the instrumental an amazingly strong one that can stand on its own and get stuck in any listener’s head. Lyrically, the tune is also unforgettable, especially if you take the time to pay closer attention to the words Megan skillfully crafts.

The tune projects her usual empowered confidence, but at the same time, brings in an essence of vulnerability as she sings about recent events in her life such as her mother’s death and her gunshot wounds. She ties these events lyrically to how her inner self feels through a metaphorical comparison detailing how she feels in her mind to war, as she says “Bullet wounds, backstabs, mama died, still sad / At war with myself, in my head, it’s Baghdad (Yeah).” Through the depth of her catchy lyrics, she shows that you can and should be confident in yourself, and at the same time feel and acknowledge pain which doesn’t make you any less powerful.

Another catchy tune that was a favorite of mine was Sugar Baby. The synthesized sound in the background that follows a catchy pattern of higher and lower pitches, almost like climbing up and down a small set of musical stairs, is guaranteed to be an earworm for any listener. I found myself humming the beat long after the song was over. The tune is filled with  Megan’s famous confidence that never lets fans down as she sings about how her worth exceeds any amount of money, how her opinion is the only one that matters concerning how she looks as she raps and that men “can’t have opinions” on what they “ain’t payin’ for.” Megan’s radiating self-assurance makes this tune one that can raise anyone’s mood.

Good News presents many collaborations as well, with songs featuring stars like the duo City Girls, SZA, and Young Thug to name a few. The song Movie featuring Lil Durk is one of the many songs with a featured artist. The deep, bouncing beats radiate through your head with subtle pauses to highlight the already noticeable artistry that is Megan’s music. Megan showcases her talent with her powerful voice and smart lyrical comparisons such as when she says “The only L I hold got that V right there next to it,” making a contrast to taking “L’s,” or losses, with the LV logo for the luxury brand Louis Vuitton. She displays her anthem of self-reliance through lyrics like “I’m a boss, I could buy the same thing my man bought” to explain that she’s rightfully self-assured. However, although the tune is a collaboration, Megan definitely outperforms Lil Durk as he, unfortunately, doesn’t match her exceptional talent in this song.

Another collaboration with a well-known name was Cry Baby featuring DaBaby, a catchy tune that implements a crying sample, an ironic ode to the song’s title. This is by no means is the duo’s first collaboration, and that might very well be a contributing factor to why this mix of the two rappers seems so comfortable and effortless. The two work together to create a powerful tune, and although Megan doesn’t fully join the song until about halfway through, the delay doesn’t impede her ability to showcase her talent at all. While the collaboration is a smooth one, Megan outshines her partner completely as DaBaby doesn’t ever quite reach her lyrical intensity in the number.

Out of all of the collaborations in the album, my favorite by far is Freaky Girls which features SZA, who has become an elusive, almost mythical artist, as her amazing album Ctrl (2017) has left fans of hers, including me, desperately waiting for a follow-up collection of songs. With SZA and Megan being two of my favorite artists, this was the dream pairing I had been waiting for;a crossover of two worlds that I had earnestly wanted. Fans of the duo will not be disappointed as the two artists live up to their amazing expectations. This smooth, yet strong R&B tune highlights SZA’s famous passionate vocals, while also putting Megan’s musical genius on display. The musical talent of the two artists is obvious to any listener, not just because of the spectacular song, but because it is rare for a musical collaboration to be this well-matched between the different artists. Megan and SZA prove that they can display their individual talent without overpowering each other. 

My favorite song out of the whole collection is the first tune on the album, Shots Fired. The song is a powerhouse that beats against Tory Lanez and his supporters, as she manages to not only implement elements of a traditional diss-track, but pack deep-hitting meaning into it as well. The song is very captivating. Often, when a song is listened to many times, it may become tiresome, however this tune is one that no listener will want to stop running through their minds. The number uses a sample of Notorious B.I.G.’s Who Shot Ya? to bring in a strong beat and rhythm to the tune as Megan weaves in her powerful lyrics. While the rapper responds to those who hate on her with “No profile pic” and to Tory Lanez for the shooting, she also simultaneously doesn’t waste time to address the horrible injustice faced by Breonna Taylor this past year by singing “And we still ain’t got no justice for Breonna Taylor.” Megan’s powerful musical genius draws parallels with her message of protecting Black women, making the song a truly meaningful work of art.

Music is art. Music expresses feelings. Music brings meaning. Megan Thee Stallion isn’t just an extraordinary musician because her music sounds good, but because of the meaning she makes sure her sound delivers to others. Her music empowers women to be unabashedly themselves, go against traditional expectations of what is appropriate for females to talk about, and bring attention to the injustices faced by Black women throughout the nation. Her music brings meaning, and works to make change in the world. That is the highest level of artistry.