Despite the chaos happening around them, 2020 was a great year for Russ. Now an independent artist, the Atlanta-based star has been peppering his fans with loose singles throughout last year, including “Give Up,” Throne Talks,” “Take You Back” with Kehlani, “Paid Off,” “Sorry,” and “I Love Me.” He also surprised everyone with CHOMP, a five-track EP that saw additional features from DJ Premier, Busta Rhymes, Ab-Soul, Benny The Butcher, Black Thought, and KXNG Crooked.
Today, Russ makes his first official entry into 2021 with “UGLY,” an Enndot, SMPLGTWY, Akxen, and Boi-1da-produced effort that sees an assist from fellow ATLien Lil Baby. Simply put, the two collaborators waste no time reminding the listener of their overall success:
“I’m getting money by the millions every month, my bro just told me that he’s good, he made a killin’ off the Runtz, I’m in Atlanta, but I’m bringing home Brazilians from the club, these women feel like I’m thе one, I got Sicilian in my blood…/”
The accompanying visual comes courtesy of Edgar Esteves and shows an iced-out Russ and Lil Baby celebrating in a strip club, with plenty of money for the dancers in action — a good sign to press play on this clip when you’re not at work.
Russ isn’t the only one who enjoyed 2020 like a king, either. Last February, Lil Baby liberated his sophomore album My Turn, which saw 20 cuts and contributions from the likes of Young Thug, Gunna, 42 Dugg, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne, and Moneybagg Yo. That project shot up to the top of the Billboard 200 following its first week of release thanks to an impressive 197,000 album equivalent units sold. Months later, Lil Baby would keep the momentum going with a deluxe upgrade containing an additional seven tracks.
Press play on “UGLY” below.