B.U.G Antman’s ‘Y’all Ugly’ Turns Insecurity Into Art
With his debut EP ‘Y’all Ugly,’ B.U.G Antman flips the script on self-perception, creating a universe where vulnerability and confidence collide—one paper bag at a time.
B.U.G Antman isn’t just another Atlanta rapper—he’s crafting an entire universe. His debut EP, Y’all Ugly, is out today, is less of a traditional rap project and more of a full-on conceptual experience, merging distorted psychedelia with raw vulnerability. But what makes B.U.G stand out isn’t just his sound—it’s his world-building. With his signature “paper bag man” persona, he transforms self-perception into performance art, turning insecurity into a movement.
Behind the eerie visuals and intoxicating beats, Y’all Ugly is ultimately about self-acceptance. Executive producer Frank Stacy helped B.U.G distill 400 songs into a tight, immersive body of work, balancing experimental sonics with razor-sharp storytelling. His live shows are an extension of this vision—crowds in paper bag masks, stage setups that feel more like interactive theater than a typical rap gig. There’s an electricity to what he’s building, a cult-like energy that makes it clear: B.U.G Antman isn’t just here to rap, he’s here to shift culture.
At its core, Y’all Ugly is a project about self-acceptance—an exploration of what it means to embrace yourself, flaws and all. B.U.G Antman isn’t preaching perfection; he’s flipping the idea of "ugly" on its head, making it a badge of honor rather than an insult. That ethos extends into his now-iconic “paper bag man” persona, a visual representation of self-perception and identity. Inspired by artists like Tyler, the Creator and Travis Scott, who have built entire worlds around their music, B.U.G turned a simple brown paper bag into a symbol—something that started as a joke but quickly evolved into a creative extension of his artistry. Whether on stage or in videos, the paper bag isn’t just a mask—it’s a statement, a reminder that confidence comes from within.
I caught up with B.U.G Antman to talk about his new project.
“Ugly isn’t always about appearances; it’s about accepting yourself.”
Justin Staple: Tell me about the title of your new project, “Y’all Ugly”.
B.U.G Antman: The title isn’t an insult—it’s about learning to love yourself. 'Ugly' isn’t just about appearances; a lot of people can be ugly on the inside too. The message is about accepting yourself. At the end of the day, this project is all about self-acceptance, and that’s something I really enjoy exploring.
JS: Explain the “paper bag man” character.
B.U.G: As an upcoming artist, I think it’s crucial to build your own world. When I look at artists I admire, like Tyler, The Creator or Travis Scott, they’ve always had a mascot for their projects. I wanted to do the same for ‘Y’all Ugly,’ so I asked myself, ‘What do ugly people wear?’ And then it hit me—a brown paper bag mask. It just felt like the perfect look.
I started experimenting with different colored paper bags, styling them in unique ways. I’d rock them with various outfits, really swagging them out. There’s a lot of creative potential with a simple paper bag.
JS: Do you bring the paper bag on tour or even perform with it on?
B.U.G: People will stand behind me on stage wearing paper bags, just vibing. Then out of nowhere, they’ll start turning up to the music. They’ve got their own uniform to match the bags, and sometimes they even throw them into the crowd.
I feel like that’s something I want to keep on growing, and then hopefully eventually have all my supporters show up to the shows wearing the bags. My shows are an experience, and it’s important for me at this stage that the audience really feels that.
JS: Tell me about the album art for the project. Where did the drawing come from?
B.U.G: The cover for Y’all Ugly is a self-portrait I drew in first grade during art class. We had an assignment to draw ourselves, and I guess that’s how I saw myself at the time—maybe I thought I was ugly. But now that I’m older, I see it as a piece of art. It’s an amazing image.
JS: That’s amazing. Tell me about the music on the project. What’s "145 mph" about?
B.U.G: It’s a journey song. I’ve been moving a lot—traveling, meeting different women, living this new lifestyle. It’s got a heartbreak element, but really, it’s about navigating everything leading up to this point. Balancing relationships and this life, it’s a lot to juggle.
JS: The sound feels dark and euphoric.
B.U.G: Exactly. It’s bold. I wanted to come out swinging with something that really sets the tone.
JS: You’ve been on the road heavy this year. How’s that been?
B.U.G: Yeah, adjusting to it, for sure. But it’s been inspiring—getting out of Atlanta, hitting London, New York, Miami. Just networking, meeting new people, and seeing different perspectives.
JS: Favorite city so far?
B.U.G: London, hands down. That trip changed me. Seeing how people view the world over there just sparked something in me.
JS: What’s the process been like putting the project together?
B.U.G: Frank Stacy executive produced the whole thing. I first found his beats on YouTube a couple years ago. I wasn’t searching for those big, overused “Lil Baby type beat” things—I was looking for something fresh. Found his work, hit him up, and we just built from there. We went through 400 songs to get to these eight. It was a crazy process.
JS: Damn, 400 songs? How do you even narrow that down?
B.U.G: Cohesion. I wanted everything to flow—the transitions, interludes, even the ad-libs and effects. It’s like crafting a full world, not just dropping tracks.
JS: You use interludes in a really interesting way.
B.U.G: Yeah, I grew up on albums that had interludes—Outkast, early Tyler. I wanted mine to feel like therapy sessions, like someone who sees themselves as ugly, opening up to a therapist.
One of the interludes was inspired by this YouTube video of a guy talking about being the world’s ugliest dude. He was just describing himself to the camera. I added my voice to it, flipped it into a conversation, like a therapy session. It was a 10-year-old video. Turns out, dude is married now, has a kid. That was dope to see.
JS: That’s insane. Let’s talk about a couple tracks. Sentimental—what’s the story there?
B.U.G: That’s a reflection song. Just looking back on everything I put in to get here. I wanted to flex my rapping, switch flows mid-verse. It’s one of my favorites.
JS: And Tortoise?
B.U.G: That beat was just crazy. The second I heard it, I knew it had to be on the project. It’s one of those tracks that’s just different.
JS: What’s the plan after the drop?
B.U.G: Expect a follow-up soon. I’ll be back on the road, performing, and dropping visuals for almost every track. I’m staying consistent.
JS: Will everything stay within the paper man world, or are you expanding beyond that?
B.U.G: The mascot stays, but we’re pushing it further. My team has a lot of ideas on where we can take it. That you gotta love yourself. Whatever you do, make sure it’s real. That’s the core of everything I’m putting out.