Let’s be real. It’s 2018. The Atlanta trio Migos is basically at the center of the universe. They’re everywhere—on the charts, on your social feed, even on Carpool Karaoke with James Corden. Then they drop it. The Migos Culture 2 album. It wasn't just a release; it was a massive, 24-track behemoth that felt like a challenge to anyone’s attention span.
People were overwhelmed. I remember scrolling through Twitter that Friday morning and seeing a total split. Half the fans were hyped, and the other half were already complaining about the runtime. Over an hour and a half of trap music is a lot to digest. But looking back, there's a specific nuance to this record that often gets buried under the "it's too long" narrative.
The Streaming Era's First True Goliath
Before we get into the beats, we have to talk about why this album looks the way it does. The Migos Culture 2 album was a product of a very specific moment in the music industry. Streaming was finally the king, and the Billboard charts had just started leaning heavily into play counts.
If you’re a group like Migos, more songs means more plays. Simple math.
But it wasn't just a cash grab, even if it felt like one to the critics. This album was a victory lap. Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff (rest in peace to the legend) were essentially untouchable. They had the Drake feature on "Walk It Talk It." They had the Kanye West production credits. They even had Pharrell Williams handing over a masterpiece like "Stir Fry," which sounded absolutely nothing like a typical Migos track.
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Why 24 Tracks?
Honestly, the group was probably just recording at an insane pace. They lived in the studio. When you have that much momentum, you don't want to leave anything on the cutting room floor. The result was a double album that debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, moving 199,000 units in week one.
Breaking Down the Sound of Culture II
If the first Culture was the tight, polished proof that Migos were stars, Culture II was them exploring every corner of their sound. You've got the classic "Open It Up," which is basically a spiritual successor to "Deadz." It’s got that heavy, menacing brass that makes you want to drive a little too fast.
Then you have the experimental stuff.
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"Stir Fry" is the obvious standout here. Pharrell’s production brought out a different energy. It was bouncy, funky, and proved they could handle a beat that wasn't just a standard 808-heavy trap loop. People still play that track at weddings and clubs alike. It has legs.
The Power of Features
The feature list on the Migos Culture 2 album reads like a Who’s Who of 2010s hip-hop:
- Drake on "Walk It Talk It" (and that Soul Train-inspired video was iconic).
- Nicki Minaj and Cardi B together on "MotorSport"—a moment that practically fueled the tabloids for a year.
- 21 Savage bringing that dark, gritty vibe to "BBO (Bad Bitches Only)."
- Post Malone sliding onto "Notice Me" for a melodic break.
Takeoff’s Silent Takeover
One thing many fans realized months after the release was that Takeoff was arguably the MVP of this project. While Quavo was the hook king and Offset had the "Ric Flair Drip" energy, Takeoff’s verses on this album were surgical.
Go back and listen to "Narcos." His flow is relentless. He didn't need the spotlight; he just needed the mic. It’s bittersweet listening now, knowing he was often the glue holding these massive tracklists together with pure technical skill.
The "Filler" Myth
Critics loved to use the word "bloated." They weren't entirely wrong. Songs like "Work Hard" or "Too Playa" (despite a solid 2 Chainz verse) often get skipped. But here’s the thing: in the era of "make your own playlist," does a long album even matter?
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If you take the 12 best songs from the Migos Culture 2 album, you have a project that arguably rivals the original Culture. But by giving us 24, Migos gave the fans the ability to pick their own favorites. Some people swear by "Made Men" because of its smooth, jazz-influenced production. Others just want to hear "Emoji A Chain" on repeat.
Actionable Takeaway: How to Revisit Culture II
If you haven't listened to the album in a while, or if you were one of the people who felt it was too long back in 2018, try this. Don't listen to it start to finish. That’s a mistake.
Create a "Culture II: Redux" playlist. 1. Start with "Higher We Go" for the intro.
2. Throw in "Narcos" and "Stir Fry" for the energy.
3. Add "BBO" and "Walk It Talk It" for the high-profile features.
4. End with "Made Men" for the vibes.
By trimming the 24 tracks down to your personal 10 or 12, you'll realize the Migos Culture 2 album wasn't a "sophomore slump." It was just a group with too much music and the confidence to let us hear all of it. The impact of their ad-libs, the "Migos flow," and their influence on the fashion and lingo of the late 2010s is all right there in these tracks. It’s a time capsule of a trio at the absolute peak of their powers.
To truly appreciate the album today, look at the production credits. You’ll see names like Metro Boomin, Murda Beatz, and even Buddah Bless. These guys weren't just making "mumble rap"—they were crafting the sonic landscape that defined a whole generation of Atlanta hip-hop.
The next step is simple: Go back to "Narcos," turn the volume up, and pay attention to the layering of the ad-libs. It’s a masterclass in modern rap arrangement that many have tried to copy, but nobody has ever quite nailed like the Three Migos.