Young Thug: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

Young Thug looks right at home in the lush, almost regal, gardens of The Houdini Estate in Los Angeles. The serenity of the chosen location might seem too delicate for the punk-rock raps Thug and his crew reverberate through the grounds, but as hip-hop's impactful oddball, oxymoronic magic has always been his strong suit.

For the last decade, the world of rap has lived, learned and been liberated while under the influence of Young Thug. His contorted cadence, visionary fashion sense and freaky, frantic wordplay have inspired an entire generation of artists to no end. And now, the Atlanta iconoclast is evolving yet again. Not only is he wading through the waters of punk with his forthcoming album, Punk — Thug is using his Tiny Desk debut to usher in his next era, one that's meant to represent "authenticity, consciousness and overall purity." Premiering songs off his long-teased album (due out Oct. 15), the Grammy winner's rhymes slither along smoothly no matter how rough the music, taking fans on a journey of energy and emotion.

"I'm just seeking for God's soul 'cause I know something's missing," a peach-haired Thug admits on his opener, "Die Slow," before divulging specific hardships that shape his music. It's a small sample of the tests in life that inspire lines like, "You gotta go through this s*** with your heart / You can't snooze on it" and prompt him to celebrate even the smallest wins with VVS diamonds and exotic vacations. By the time the sun sets and the crew is joined by famed drummer Travis Barker for a fresh rendition of the chart-topping "Ski," the surge of triumphant excitement is almost too much for him to contain. But then again, why would he want to?

SET LIST

• "Die Slow"
• "Droppin Jewels"
• "Hate The Game"
• "Tick Tock"
• "Ski"

MUSICIANS

• Young Thug: vocals
• Tim Stewart: guitar
• Jonny Goood: bass
• Tosh Peterson: drums
• Travis Barker: drums

CREDITS

• Video: Hidden Road Studios
• Audio: Demetrius Moore and Angad "Bainz" Bains
• Creative Director: Meggan Mckenzie
• Director: Tom Kirk
• Cinematography: John Barrett
• Management & A&R: Geoffrey Ogunlesi
• Production Manager: Paul Lovell Butt
• Camera Operator: Erick Turcios
• Tour Director: JP Firmin
• Band Fixer: Adam Blackstone
• Gaffer: Marc Patterson
• 1st AC: Melissa Martine
• Key Grip: Christian Guerrero
• Production Assistant: Duane Avery
• Assistant Mix Engineer: Aresh Banaji
• Assistant Engineering: Bernard Chavez

TINY DESK TEAM

• Producers: Sidney Madden, Bobby Carter
• Video Producer: Maia Stern
• Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
• Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame, Gabrielle Pierre
• Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins
• Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.