I don’t know if it’s the fact that we’ve seen their personal lives play out to be vastly different from the image in their music (more so from JT’s end) or if the quality just hasn’t been as up to par compared to their earlier records. It’s possibly a combination of both.. but it’s records like these that make me wonder if that City Girls magic from 2018 lost?
City Girls have stopped “Acting Bad” very quickly and dropped yet another new track, titled “I Need A Thug.” They announced the song’s drop earlier today on social media, pumping fans up for their first release of the summer. Yung Miami hinted at new music earlier this year, telling fans they can expect to hear from City Girls this spring and summer. Their newest single samples LL Cool J’s 1987 single, “I Need Love” and sees the duo attempt to apply signature City Girls sentiments to the romantic ’80s track…but does it work?
The new single also follows last month’s City Girls feature on Diddy’s track, “Act Bad,” which was released just about two weeks ago and brings a completely different style in comparison. The laid-back ’80s instrumental is paired with typical City Girl lyrics about wanting a man who’s all about “sex, money, and drugs.”
“I need a thug…Sex, money, and drugs. Private jet flights while I’m gettin’ my back rubbed Like TLC said, “No scrubs” (No scrubs) Cut a check before I even give a hug,” they rap on the hook.
I’m always torn on artists using classic samples because when the original is such a big record, it’s an huge risk where the new record can come across as mediocre simply for not being able to measure up to what was originally done on the beat… that’s what happened here, on top of the fact that the song really just doesn’t go anywhere at all.
The record is an obvious attempt to duplicate the commercial appeal that they executed correctly with their Usher collab “Good Love,” but that magic is definitely lost here. This record is the only thing that’s “acting bad” for me right now. Take a listen for yourself and let me know if you agree. ISSA BOP OR ISSA FLOP?