Before Friday's Sold-Out Show, We Explain Why Migos Is One of The Most Important Acts In Rap.

By now, you've surely heard the Migos name.

It's the group — yes, group, as it boasts three members — responsible for 2013's hit of the summer, “Versace.”

You've no doubt heard the song. And maybe you've seen its accompanying, totally over-the-top and ridiculously awesome music video:

But do you know why you've heard of Migos? Do you know why Migos is one of the hottest up-and-coming entities in the rap game?

More than likely, it's because of Drake. Yes, really.

Pretty much Migos' entire rise to prominence started when Drake told the group that he was really into its Y.R.N. mixtape — so much so that he hopped on a remix of “Versace” and turned the track into the viral smash that we now know it as.

On the strength that remix, Y.R.N. became one of the biggest hip-hop releases of last year, spawning multiple standout street hits in “Hannah Montana,” “Bando” and “Out The Gym.”

Then, in December of last year, Migos returned the favor, teaming up with Drake once again — this time with the group hopping on the Drake single “Trophies,” instead of the other way around.

And now, a solid year into Migos' rise, the North Atlanta group boasts more than enough cred to stand on its own. In advance of the group's now-sold-out show on Friday, May 30, at the South Side Music Hall, let's take a look at the many reasons why this performance (which, full disclosure, we are indeed co-presenting) is a must-see.

Migos is a family act. No, Migos isn't family entertainment — not by any stretch of the imagination. The group's catalog of music mostly centers around drug dealing, women and high fashion. But, yes, Migos is a family act. Its relative leader and most recognizable voice, the 22-year-old Quavo, is the uncle of the 19-year-old Takeoff and the cousin of the group's third member, the also-22-year-old Offset. If you're wondering: Takeoff's mom is Quavo's sister.

Yes, all three members of the group will be at this show. One thing we learned while Migos was making the media rounds and touring across the country is that its members take care of their own. Over the course of numerous interviews the group has participated in over the course of the past year, Quavo and Takeoff always made sure to shout out their jailed third member, Offset, who sat in jail as Migos blew up, the result of having violated his parole. But Offset's free these days, and although this is actually Migos' second time to hit Dallas (back in October, the group performed a 2:30 a.m. set at strip club Onyx), all three members will be in attendance at this first traditional in-town concert from the group.

Migos dresses better than you ever will. With the group fully intact, the South Side Music Hall crowd can expect to be treated to the display of high fashion that has come to be a staple of the Migos aesthetic. In music videos and interviews alike, the trio can be seen wearing and talking about its affection for the Versace brand, which has in kind reciprocated the affection by playing “Versace” during a runway show. But Versace is hardly Migos' only high fashion interest. Christian Louboutin, Giuseppe Zanotti, Hermes, MCM and Maison Martin Margiela are just a few of the brands Migos' members have been spotted wearing in recent months. The group's also been known to produce its own garments, in which the threads are covered with the groups catchiest hooks and slogans. Expect multiple chains and outrageous timepieces, too.

Migos has its own language. And with a trained ear, you can begin to decipher the group's lexicon. For instance? The group's initial breakout song — before even “Versace” — was “Bando.” That track's first hook rang out: “Trappin out the house with the boards on the windows. Trapped out the bando, trapped out the bando.” Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it? Sure it does: “Bando” refers to an abandoned house, and trapping obviously is drug dealing. Point is, most of Migos' tracks are laced with rich synonyms. Much like Young Jeezy's “White Girl,” where the code word for cocaine was “Lindsay Lohan” and “Christina Aguilera,” Migos' white girl name of choice for the drug is pretty clear after one listen to its song “Hannah Montana.” And the group's lexicon isn't limited to drug references; it of course lends itself to money and wealth, too, especially as heard in “Out the Gym.” The most elite and flashiest ballers on the court were always the high-flying scorers such as Shawn Kemp, Dominique Wilkins and Clyde Drexler who are all comparisons employ to show how hard Migos is balling — but not on the court.

Migos has so much material. Like any fast-rising music act, Migos is striking while the iron's hot and, in turn, the group's unleashed a bevy of material in the last two years, including a whopping seven mixtapes. Now, the trio is preparing a for follow-up to Y.R.N. called Y.R.N. 2. while jumping on numerous features for other acts. Littered within this increasingly deep catalog are a couple songs that make reference to some athletes with Dallas ties — interesting additions to the Migos lexicon, for sure. The Gucci Mane-featuring “Dennis Rodman” makes reference to how often Migos' girlfriends change the color of their hair, much like the Oak Cliff-bred former NBA star. Meanwhile, the track “Emmitt Smith”, which of course references the former Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer who owns the NFL record for most career rushing touchdowns, flips the meaning of touchdown to mean robbing a drug dealer with a “deuce deuce” or .22 caliber pistol — also a play on Emmitt Smith's 22 jersey number with the hook.

The Migos flow is unmatched. Migos' rapping style — and most notably Quavo's triplet delivery — has taken over the rap world. As Complex notes in the below, well-crafted super cut, Migos' influenced can be heard in tracks from the likes of Kanye West, Drake, Young Jeezy and Meek Mill, just to name a few.

Migos is way, way better than Chief Keef. Earlier in the year, Migos and Chief Keef swapped in-song disses and even exchanged tweets that ultimately led to nothing. And if we're going to choose sides here, we're going with Migos. Why? Because Chief Keef has performed twice in Dallas — and, both times, his shows were absolute disasters with Chief Keef arriving absurdly late and barely performing his tracks as a backing track carry the load. For now, Migos gets the benefit of our doubt.

Migos performs Friday, May 30, at South Side Music Hall. Tickets are sold out.

5315_2

5315_3

5315_4

5315_5

5315_6

5315_7

5315_8

5315_9

5315_10

5315_11

5315_12

5315_13

5315_14

5315_15

5315_16

5315_17

5315_18

5315_19

5315_20

5315_21

5315_22

5315_23

5315_24

5315_25

5315_26

5315_27

5315_28

5315_29

5315_30

5315_31

5315_32

5315_33

5315_34

5315_35

5315_36

5315_37

5315_38

5315_39

5315_40

5315_41

5315_42

5315_43

5315_44

5315_45

5315_46

5315_47

5315_48

5315_49

5315_50

No more articles