Young Thug is preparing to move further into R&B, revealing that he plans to release a new R&B album before the end of 2026 while also teasing new collaborations with Drake.
The Atlanta rapper discussed the upcoming project during a recent episode of The Crew Has It podcast, which was filmed in Los Angeles during ComplexCon and released Tuesday, Oct. 6. When asked about his next solo album, Young Thug confirmed that the project is expected to arrive this year and said he is taking a distinctly R&B-focused direction.
“I’m going R&B,” Young Thug said during the conversation, describing the sound as “real R&B” and specifically pointing to Mary J. Blige as an influence. The rapper also expressed interest in working directly with Blige, with the podcast hosts offering to help connect the two artists.
Young Thug explained that the album will largely focus on romantic and intimate experiences rather than heartbreak. He said most of the songs will deal with sexual and fun moments, while only a small portion of the project is expected to explore heartbreak.
The direction reflects Young Thug’s history of incorporating R&B and melodic elements into his music. His 2017 project Beautiful Thugger Girls leaned heavily into melodic songwriting and genre experimentation, while his work with Chris Brown on the 2020 collaborative mixtape Slime & B also blended hip-hop and R&B.
The rapper also addressed his relationship with Mariah The Scientist, saying that he is currently “super in love.” The couple became engaged in December 2025 during Young Thug’s Hometown Hero show in Atlanta, and he indicated that his current relationship has influenced the more upbeat subject matter planned for the forthcoming album.
Later in the interview, the conversation turned to Drake and the possibility of the two artists releasing more music together. Young Thug confirmed that he has several unreleased songs with the Toronto rapper and suggested that the collaborations could arrive soon.
“We got a few songs,” Young Thug said, adding that they are preparing to release the material. He did not provide a specific release date or confirm whether any of the Drake collaborations will appear on his upcoming R&B album.
Young Thug and Drake have previously collaborated on several records, including “Way 2 Sexy,” “Sacrifices,” “D4L,” “Ice Melts,” “Parade on Cleveland” and “Oh U Went.” Drake also appeared on Young Thug’s 2023 album Business Is Business, which was released while the rapper was facing the YSL RICO case.
Young Thug has not yet announced a title, tracklist or exact release date for the new R&B album. For now, he has confirmed that the project is planned for release later in 2026 and that more music with Drake is also in the works.
