Yung Rich Nation

The first proper studio album from high-octane Atlanta trio Migos isn't all that different from the piles of acclaimed free mixtapes they've released since 2013. On all but a few tracks, Yung Rich Nation sticks to their addictive formula of raps that tumble out in polyrhythmic triplets and ad libs that punctuate like paintballs, all soaked in a giddy joie de vivre. The biggest distinction is lyrical, as tales of slinging drugs out of abandoned houses start to fade in favor of boasts that remind you of their rising profile: magazine covers, getting the word "bando" on Wikipedia, the Twitter meme that says Migos are better than the Beatles. A few years ago, they built a song around the phrase "rather be rich than famous." Now they croon about wanting to be recognized ("Recognition"). This album might not propel them to a higher level of fame than they've already reached; while it's solid front to back, there's nothing remotely as unstoppable as 2013's "Versace" or 2014's "Fight Night." But as a victory party, it's as rambunctious as ever, and Migos are only becoming more dominant rappers — especially 21-year-old Takeoff, who delves into double-time flows and harsher angles. As he shouts on one late-album highlight: "What a feeling!"