It was 2015. Rap was in this weird, transitional state where the old guard was clinging to lyricism and the new wave was experimenting with melody in ways that made purists angry. Then "Best Friend" by Young Thug dropped. Honestly, it didn't just drop; it leaked first, then exploded, then became a meme before we even really called everything memes. Most people remember the video. You know the one—Thugger in that weirdly suburban house, catching his own head on a platter, and basically performing for a version of himself in bed. It was surreal. It was high art. It was also, fundamentally, one of the most catchy songs of the decade.
But why are we still talking about "Best Friend" Young Thug years after the YSL RICO trial changed everything? It’s because that song represents the peak of Thug’s "Slime Season" era. It was the moment he proved he could make a massive, radio-friendly hit without losing an ounce of his chaotic, avant-garde DNA.
The Weird Genius of the Best Friend Young Thug Music Video
If you haven't watched the video lately, go back and do it. Directed by Be El Be and Young Thug himself, it’s a masterclass in low-budget surrealism that somehow looks expensive. Thug has this way of making everything feel slightly off-kilter. There’s a scene where he’s eating dinner with himself. It’s not just a visual gag; it’s a statement on his singular nature in the industry. He was his own best friend because, at the time, nobody else was doing what he was doing.
The cinematography is grainy but intentional. It captures that Atlanta energy—lush greenery, massive houses, and a sense of isolation despite the fame. You’ve got to realize that in 2015, rappers weren't really doing this kind of "twin" or "doppelgänger" imagery with this much commitment. It felt like a fever dream. People were confused. They were asking, "Wait, is he kissing himself?" But that’s exactly what Jeffrey (Thug's real name) wanted. He wanted you to look. He wanted the discourse.
Breaking Down the Vocal Performance
Let's get into the actual music. The beat, produced by Ricky Racks and Young Goose, is deceptively simple. It’s got that bouncy, whistling lead that gets stuck in your head for three days straight. But the real magic is Thug’s voice. He doesn't just rap; he squawks, he whispers, and he hits these high-register notes that most human beings wouldn't attempt.
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The hook is iconic. "That's my best friend, that's my best friend, flexin'!" It sounds like a playground chant, but the way he delivers it—with that specific cadence—is what makes it work. He stretches syllables until they almost break.
- The "skrrt" ad-libs are perfectly placed.
- His flow switches about four times in the first verse alone.
- He uses his voice as a percussion instrument, hitting consonants hard to emphasize the rhythm.
Critics often lumped him into the "mumble rap" category, which, if you actually listen to "Best Friend," is just wrong. He's incredibly precise. Every grunt and weird noise is intentional. It’s jazz. It’s basically scatting for the trap era.
The Legal Context and the YSL RICO Trial
You can’t talk about Young Thug anymore without the heavy cloud of the legal system hanging over everything. It sucks, but it’s the reality. In the massive YSL RICO indictment, prosecutors actually looked at lyrics and music videos as evidence. While "Best Friend" isn't the primary focus of the legal battle like some of the later, more "active" tracks, it represents the beginning of the YSL empire's public dominance.
The song mentions his "best friend," and in the context of the trial, "best friend" takes on different meanings depending on who you ask. To fans, it was just a bop. To the DA, every mention of a "friend" or a "brother" in the YSL camp was seen through the lens of a criminal enterprise. It’s a tragic irony. The very things that made him a superstar—his loyalty to his crew and his flamboyant storytelling—are the things the state used to build a case against him.
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Why the Track Remains a Viral Mainstay
TikTok didn't exist when this song came out. Think about that. "Best Friend" predates the app that lives and breathes on 15-second audio clips, yet it fits the platform perfectly. It still goes viral every few months because the energy is infectious. It’s the ultimate "getting ready" song. It’s the ultimate "driving with the windows down" song.
Most hits from 2015 sound dated now. The production styles have shifted. But "Best Friend" Young Thug feels weirdly timeless because it was so far ahead of its time. It didn't follow the trends of 2015; it forced the rest of the world to catch up to Thug’s internal clock.
What Most People Miss About the Lyrics
People think Thug is just saying whatever comes to mind. That’s a mistake. If you look at the bars, he’s talking about his rise to power, his paranoia, and his obsession with luxury. He mentions "21 milligrams" and "hundred-dollar bills." He’s painting a picture of a guy who has everything but is still looking over his shoulder.
There’s a line where he talks about "silencers on the shots." It’s dark stuff, hidden behind a bright, upbeat melody. That juxtaposition is what makes him a great artist. He gives you the sugar (the melody) with the medicine (the reality of his life in Atlanta).
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How to Truly Appreciate the Track Today
If you want to understand why this song matters, you have to listen to it on a real sound system. Phone speakers don't do the bass justice. You need to feel that 808 kick in your chest.
- Listen to the "Slime Season" mixtape version. The mixing feels more raw than the radio edits.
- Watch the music video on a big screen. Look at the fashion choices. The eccentric jewelry and the skinny jeans were revolutionary at the time for a "street" rapper.
- Pay attention to the ad-libs. Thug is a master of the "background" track. There are entire melodies happening behind his main vocals that most people never notice.
The legacy of "Best Friend" is that it allowed Young Thug to become a household name without compromising his weirdness. He didn't have to make a pop song to get on the radio; he just made a Young Thug song that the radio couldn't ignore.
Moving Forward with the Thugger Discography
If "Best Friend" is your entry point, don't stop there. To get the full picture of why this artist changed the genre, you need to dive into Barter 6 and JEFFERY. Those projects take the experimentation found in "Best Friend" and crank it up to eleven.
Young Thug’s career is currently at a standstill due to his legal issues, but the music remains a blueprint for every melodic rapper that came after him. From Lil Baby to Gunna to the new generation of "SoundCloud" artists, the DNA of this specific 2015 hit is everywhere. You can't escape it.
To get the most out of your Young Thug deep dive, start by creating a playlist that tracks his evolution from the "Best Friend" era into his more experimental Beautiful Thugger Girls period. Contrast the high-energy "flexing" of 2015 with the acoustic, country-trap vibes of 2017. It shows a range that very few artists in any genre can match. Pay close attention to how his vocal "texture" changes when the subject matter gets more serious; that's where the real artistry lies.