Slime Season 3

by Young Thug

Released March 25, 2016 via 300 Entertainment / Atlantic Records

Reviewed March 18, 2021

Top tracks (based on community voting)

Digits (72%), With Them (67%), Memo (44%)

It’s hard to believe that the Slime Season mixtape run was an unforeseen venture, essentially being a response to a catalog leak that dumped hundreds of Young Thug’s songs into the public’s hands. The first two mixtapes were clearly indicative of the level of the material that Thug hadn’t released to that point, with the first being an impressive snap reaction to the leak and providing the hit “Best Friend” and the second installment showing a more poised and intentional iteration of the songs he had saved. But Slime Season 3 is a quintessential mixtape not only in Thug’s discography, but in the genre as a whole. Tracks like “Memo” and “Tattoos” demonstrate Thug’s hook-writing ability and the way he can glide over London On the Track’s beats so weightlessly. “Drippin’” and “Worth It” show Thug rapping in two distinct ways, the former with snarling aggression and the latter with silken ease. “Digits” checks off the “compulsory hit” box. In an extensive catalog of such high caliber like Young Thug’s, Slime Season 3 may find itself overshadowed. But the mixtape deserves its flowers as it is clearly one of many jewels in Thug’s glistening crown. – Pax (8.7/10)

There shouldn’t be any debate on Young Thug’s impact on trap and hip-hop as a whole. Having said that, Slime Season 3 isn’t at the level of his other projects; Barter 6, or even Jeffrey, which also released in 2016. There are some extreme highs that remain among Thugger’s best songs, but the entirety pales in comparison to his best works. It’s not a bad project by any means; Slime Season 3 is enjoyable. But it’s not an album most indicative of Thug’s influence on an entire generation. – Ben (Synth) (8/10)

With a genuine legacy attached to the project title Slime Season, it adds a little extra pressure to come correct in the finale of a beloved trilogy. Often, the third of any trio of albums, films, or other media, tends to bear the most pressure to truly wow its proven fan base. For Young Thug and Slime Season 3, that kind of pressure didn’t seem to make or break the finale. The first two Slime Season projects brought about a dark and spacey atmosphere, albeit a bit drawn out and periodically contrasted with a burst of color or energy. The third Slime Season features significantly more concentrated energy with fewer breaks and a more boisterous profile. While not a poor follow-up to the two previous installments, Slime Season 3 is mostly a solid, decent finisher. – DeVán (7/10)