Billboards lining Los Angeles are getting hip-hop fans hyped, as Young Thug and Lil Baby are apparently preparing the release of a new collaboration titled “Whatever WHAM Say Goes.” Whatever that means has sparked excitement and curiosity-tantalizing news, as Young Thug is fresh out the jail gate and with the tension brewing within the YSL crew, even more reason the announcement means something.
It was emblazoned across billboards-the phrase “Whatever WHAM Say Goes,” designed in a chalkboard style that reminded many of Bart Simpson’s chalkboard punishment in The Simpsons-on which “WHAM” is Lil Baby’s nickname, implying influence and leadership in the hip-hop world. This mantra, iterated across billboards in the city, with its authenticity and voice to the voiceless, has been another testament to Lil Baby standing inside a community.
Few returns to music have been as highlyanticipated as the return of Young Thug back to the music scene. After a highly extensive case over his record label, YSL, Thug was released from Fulton County Jail. A case-which is ongoing-involves RICO charges that seem to weigh heavily on the label’s artists, and many fans have been in a wait-and-see mode, anxiously waiting for Young Thug’s next move into music. With his latest release, this would be of his first major moves, which in return makes this highly-anticipated.
The collaboration had gained pace when Young Thug tweeted, “Wham let’s drop one on these rats peter,” which sent the internet into overdrive. Lil Baby hailed him with warm words through his Instagram Stories: “I missed you mf!!!! Welcome home my brudda! Thank God you able to get back to your fam in good health and spirits! Wish ya none but billions jack! #whatwhamsaysgoes.” Mutual excitement from the two has only whet the appetite of fans in anticipation of the upcoming track.
The title “Whatever WHAM Say Goes” has had many fans guessing into a deeper meaning; after all, there have been rumors of recent friction within the YSL crew as of late. Teasers across Lil Baby’s past comments have been perceived to be subtle jabs gunning for Gunna, once close within the camp of YSL before receiving an extreme amount of backlash following the acceptance of a plea deal, which ultimately divisionally led “snitching” claims among the community. A previous comment by Lil Baby at a concert-when a DJ played his song with Gunna-fueled speculation about strained relationships and divided loyalty.
This might be taken as Young Thug showing support for Lil Baby’s position and pitting him directly against the other side of the YSL controversy. For this reason, his fans have gone into overdrive, speculating that “Whatever WHAM Say Goes” will equate to loyalty and movement in silence against anyone deemed to have betrayed him.
With Spotted campaign billboards across Los Angeles and anticipation perhaps at an all-time high, Young Thug and Lil Baby release their latest project titled PUNK. And with the drop imminent, many have been pondering whether this track will touch on such topics: loyalty, alliance, and what’s been going on, especially with YSL. These are those team-ups that speak volumes not just of new beginnings for the two artists but possibly also give insight into their minds on the issues of loyalty and solidity in the often-rocky world of rap.
