Thug had his run
He been dropping music since 2013 and earlier really but officially been “on” since 2014 and released his best music from 2015-2018 when he was leaned and perked up and made some of the best experimental rap I’ve ever heard.
The flows, melodies, rhyme schemes and delivery he was tapping into during that run was mind blowing. The “unreleased” mixtapes that leaked are still jaw dropping that he was even recording that much - many of these joints didn’t even get an official release because he was recording so much.
This era to me 2015-2020 is when rap on the mainstream level absolutely PEAKED. With guys like Trav, Thug, Carti, Future, Trippie, XXX, Juice, Drake and a few others as last era of rap superstars. Thug gettin caught up with the RICO and getting off drugs, he kind of lost his “aura” and now just rapping to stay relevant and make money to keep his lifestyle afloat but his best days are behind him as an artist.