In 2017, for the first time ever, hip-hop surpassed rock as the world’s most popular music genre. In late 2019, the BBC named Young Thug the most influential rapper of the 21st century. In May 2022, Young Thug was arrested on charges of leading a criminal gang. Evidence in the investigation has included his lyrics and social media posts referring to murders, drug trafficking, and organized crime. He remains incarcerated.
Caravaggio is regarded as one of the most significant Baroque artists. Around the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, Caravaggio was repeatedly charged with violent altercations, even murder. In his art, Caravaggio approached biblical themes with a rawness reflective of his time, often using prostitutes as models.
Thuggavaggio II pictures Young Thug with his artist colleague group Migos, painted in a style mimicking the dark oil painting technique of Caravaggio. “I see similarities not only in the lives of these two artists but also in their approach to dealing with gruesome topics in a beautiful, delicate manner,” Bardy says.
