LUCKI: Dr*gs R Bad

LUCKI’s life and music are closely tied to substance abuse, beginning in his teens with rapping about pills he sold to classmates. Early attention and pampering gave way to deeper spirals, including blackouts and reliance on Wockhardt. Years later, he remains a major cult figure with RIAA plaques, yet his public recognition is still limited. His album Dr*gs R Bad reflects a continued, self-aware relationship with drugs, treating intoxication as both subject and celebration. The work builds on earlier themes of promethazine-related experiences, turning diaristic motifs into structured album elements while he sounds more comfortable in his delivery.

"In front of a 20-year-old LUCKI as he sits across from No Jumper host Adam22 is a podcast mic, obviously, but also a few building blocks for a sedated mindstate: a lighter, some weed and some Fronto leaf, a pint of codeine and an A&W cream soda, a blunt that's already been lit mad times. His dreads do not yet snake down his spine, but instead fray around his skull in uneven strands. He compares his recent adolescence to Larry Clark's Kids and reflects on an addiction to xans that led to moments of him not knowing if he was awake or dreaming."

"Substance abuse has colored LUCKI's music since he was 16 and rapping about doing pills he would sell to classmates. He was adored for it, pampered and paraded around, and then he spiraled: Twinkly-eyed mischief gave way to "black[ing] out with some lowlifes"; trust in himself turned into trust in Wockhardt. Nearly 10 years on since that No Jumper interview, the storied Chicago rapper has evolved into a major cult hero-the type with a good handful of RIAA plaques, but who'd still cause your mom to ask "Who is that?" if she saw him on TV."

"Now at 29, getting too fried is a formality of celebration; he's being a little facetious with the album title. "I'm on drugs, you already knew it, but sayin' it fun," LUCKI raps on Dr*gs R Bad 's "NUPPY INTRO." More than ever, he sounds comfy, like the diaristic motifs of his career have turned into bullet points to check off when he's in album mode."

"Spiritually, DRB is an extension of the promethazine showers that popped off with 2022's FLAWLESS LIKE ME, but mainly because its "

Read at Pitchfork