Barter 6

Jeffery Lamar Williams, known professionally as Young Thug, released his debut commercial mixtape on April 17, 2015. The project originally carried the title Carter 6 as a direct nod to Lil Wayne's legendary series. After Wayne's legal team issued a cease-and-desist order, the rapper changed the first letter to create Barter 6, a term rooted in Blood gang slang. This release date held personal significance for Williams as it coincided with his mother's birthday.

The 13-track runtime spans just under 52 minutes and relies heavily on production from London on da Track and Wheezy. These producers crafted a minimalist, keyboard-driven backdrop that allowed Thug's eccentric vocal delivery, characterized by yelps, groans, and off-kilter melodies, to dominate the sound. Guest spots appear throughout the album, including two features from Birdman, along with appearances by T.I., Boosie Badazz, Young Dolph, and Jacquees.

Commercial performance saw the project debut at number 22 on the Billboard 200 with 17,000 copies sold in its first week. The lead single Check arrived two weeks prior to the full drop and reached number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100. Critics responded positively to the cohesion of the work, with Pitchfork describing it as composed and patient while AllMusic pointed out the standout track Constantly Hating. [edit]