The lyrics include a nod to his infamous 2016 album cover— "Had to wear the dress 'cause I had the stick" —framing his gender-bending fashion as a strategic choice rather than just an aesthetic one.
The video transitions into a black-and-white subconscious realm where Thug appears alongside a goat and a giant snake, symbols long associated with his "YSL" (Young Slime Life) brand. Young Thug - Just How It Is
The Architect of Fun: Decoding Young Thug’s "Just How It Is" The lyrics include a nod to his infamous
While "Just How It Is" was celebrated as a creative high point, it has recently gained a different kind of notoriety. Lyrics from Thug’s discography, including themes found in his YSL-related tracks, were controversially cited as evidence in the in Atlanta. In late 2024, Young Thug pleaded guilty to various charges and was released on 15 years of probation. Despite these legal battles, the track remains a defining moment of his "Golden Era," representing a time when he was " Tony Montana before doing that first line of coke"—focused, successful, and entirely in his zone. Video: Young Thug - 'Just How It Is' Lyrics from Thug’s discography, including themes found in
The production by and Nick Mira provides a seamless, hypnotic backdrop that allows Thug's flow to remain front and center. Critics have noted that while the beat is quintessential trap, Thug’s "mush-mouthed warble" and "endlessly malleable flow" turn it into something magical and vital. The song was recorded at Crosby Recording Studios in Los Angeles and mixed by long-time collaborator Alex Tumay . The Surreal Visuals
The track features tributes to late peers like Nipsey Hussle and references to sports figures like Colin Kaepernick. Sonic Composition