Megan Thee Stallion is bringing back a familiar side of herself as she prepares for a new album and an appearance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this Sunday.
Late last month, the Houston rapper dropped a new freestyle, “Tina Tuesday Freestyle.” This is her first solo release of the year and marks the revival of Tina Snow, Megan’s alter ego, first introduced on her 2018 EP of the same name. For many fans, the return feels like a reminder of the Megan they first connected with.
The freestyle also reflects Megan’s Houston roots. She raps over a sample of “Still Tippin’” by Mike Jones, a song closely associated with Houston’s Hip-Hop scene. Despite the song’s multiple layers, the music video features Megan in a relatively simple setting. She raps in front of a black backdrop alongside an orange lowrider. The simplicity of the video allows listeners to focus on the music.
Throughout the freestyle, Megan raps about her appearance, success, relationships and the people who continuously watch and criticize her. Tina Snow’s return serves as a reminder to Megan and her fans that returning to your roots and picking up where you started is OK. The return of Tina Snow represents more than just an era; it represents a more confident version of Megan Thee Stallion.
As Megan works on Act III, the follow-up to Megan: Act II, she has been teasing this new but familiar version of herself. Although a release date has yet to be announced, Megan has stated that she is taking her time with the album as she experiments with a new sound and figures out exactly what she wants it to be. She is returning to the roots that helped make her successful.
However, Megan has faced criticism of her flow and rapping style throughout her career. Some critics have even gone so far as to say that all her songs sound the same. With this new album, Megan has an opportunity to prove her critics wrong and demonstrate her versatility as a rapper.
Some critics also continue to associate Megan with controversies she has faced throughout her career. In 2020, Megan was shot in the feet following an argument involving rapper Tory Lanez. Following the incident, some of Lanez’s supporters quickly jumped to his defense, threatening Megan and calling her a liar.
The Canadian rapper was convicted in December 2022 on three felony counts related to the shooting and sentenced to 10 years in prison in August 2023.
Even after the conviction, some of his supporters continued to criticize and harass Megan on social media, blaming her for his conviction. In 2024, Megan released a documentary titled Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words on Prime Video.
The documentary explores her relationships, the death of her mother, her rise to fame and the shooting, all from Megan’s perspective.
With the release of this new freestyle, the divide between fans and critics is apparent. Many Megan fans have expressed appreciation for the release and excitement about the upcoming album, while others continue to question whether this version of Megan is something new or simply a return to the past.
The return of Tina Snow is exciting because it allows listeners to reflect on and revisit the time when many fans first connected with Megan. If Tina Snow represents Megan’s most confident self, then her return could be exactly what she needs to remain successful.
Chris Guerrier is a junior journalism major at Howard University. He is interested in entertainment and culture reporting. He can be found on Instagram @chrisrguerrier
