Back at full strength, Migos is a reminder of the power of a rap group
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Version 0 of 1. The group was once a staple of hip-hop but has dwindled to the point that its presence is now surprising. But when groups appear, and, most important, when they’re good, it’s reminiscent of the days when groups such as Mobb Deep, OutKast, A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul thrived. Atlanta triumvirate Migos was established during a different era and exists on a completely different wavelength, but its output is well-received and it’s not just because it, as a group, is a unicorn in today’s rap climate. Migos’s Quavo, Offset and Takeoff have developed a loyal following since breaking through with their 2013 mix tape, “Y.R.N. (Young Rich N-----).” It featured attention-grabbing songs bearing attention-grabbing names that showcased the trio’s attention-grabbing personalities. “Hannah Montana,” a nod to Miley Cyrus’s Disney Channel character, and “Versace” exhibit their fervent style of rap: a rapid-fire approach punctuated by inflection. All of this helped amass a cache of adored mix tape cuts before their debut album, “Yung Rich Nation,” arrived last summer. But the album’s impact and the group’s momentum were undercut after Offset was jailed for eight months, proving that each member is integral to Migos’s success. With Offset free since December via a plea deal and the group intact, Migos closed the weekend by selling out the Fillmore in Silver Spring on Sunday night. As descendants of Atlanta’s trap scene, the members of Migos are proficient in crafting bass-heavy tales of hyperbole that detail drug-dealing and other aspects of their lifestyle. On “Bando,” they describe the particulars of selling drugs out of abandoned buildings and condense the process into an infectious hook (“Trappin’ out the house with the boards on the windows,” repeated several times). That’s part of their formula: spitfire lyrics strung together with refrains that are easy — and fun — to recite. Another important component is a heavy dose of energy that translates well in live settings. Migos’s shows are endurance tests, and attendees must keep up as the trio tear through barrages of mix tape and album cuts that hit with the constant, booming impact. Be it the buoyant repetition of “Hannah Montana,” the hilarious football analogies of “Emmitt Smith” or the fierce jubilance of “Fight Night” and “Pipe It Up,” the rappers feed off of one another’s energy. Meanwhile, “Handsome and Wealthy” exhibits their self-awareness in the wake of fame, as they question the intentions of new women in their orbit. Sunday’s performance was typical Migos fare: high-octane and animated, despite ending with an anticlimactic version of “Bando.” What the performance showed, however, was the fortitude of the group following Offset’s incarceration. Reunited, this trio remains formidable. |