Image via Young Thug
Back in March 2016, Young Thug surprised multiple generations of fans by posting a picture with Elton John at the legendary singer’s Atlanta home. Elton had previously explained to Noisey that he was a big Thugger fan, saying that he “heard a track on Beats 1 and I loved it so much.” Soon after their meeting, the rapper’s former manager revealed that a new version of “Rocket Man” was in the works. More than two years passed without the song being released, but it suddenly appeared online today as a leak.
The song turns out to be more of a remix than a cover, with Thugger utilizing Elton John’s original vocals while adding his own chorus and verses. The 300 MC embraces the original song’s themes, rapping lyrics about space and flying:
High as a plane.
From Spain to Maine
Know what I’m sayin'?
Elton John’s “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long Long Time)” was released in 1974 on his fifth album Honky Chateau. The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was eventually certified triple-Platinum. It’s since occupied a unique place in pop culture, earning covers by artists as sonically diverse as Kate Bush, Jason Mraz, Puddle of Mudd, Mike Posner, and even Family Guy’s Stewie Griffin:
It’s unclear if Thug’s “Rocket Man” will ever end up getting an official release, or simply live (like so many Young Thug tracks before it) in the gray area of unofficial leak status. Either way, fans are sure to be excited that they get to hear it at all.
Read all the lyrics to Young Thug’s “Rocket Man” and Elton John’s “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be A Long, Long Time)” on Genius now.
