It’s official! Young Thug is now the hip-hop poster child for gender-bending as he once again pushes the envelope.

When Thug (Jeffery Williams) released his mixtape and posed in a baby blue dress for the cover, the images of Thug in a dress and bonnet quickly began trending on social media.

For the record, it’s not the first time Thug has rocked a dress and probably won’t be the last.

[READ: Young Thug Speaks On His Love of Dresses… (PHOTOS)]

But is Thug’s love of feminine clothing merely a ploy to make him less threatening to his hardcore peers?

In a another photo, which includes a tracklist, Young Yhug bears a huge smile as he rocks his designer gown. The popular artist explained in an IG post that the album’s tracks are named after his idols.

Meanwhile, in addition to making fashion statements, Young Thug admits he’s also on a mission to change his image.

Thug explained during a listening session with industry vet Lyor Cohen by his side, that he’s shedding the name ‘Thug’ because of it’s negative connotations. He’ll soon be known as simply ‘Jeffery’… Jeffery in a dress.

The reason why I moved from Young Thug to Jeffery was because I felt like I did a wrong turn

I had a long-term relationship with Young Thug and I’m kind of picky. So I felt like I ain’t wanna be in front of Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey. I ain’t want my kids to grow up and call me Thug.

I don’t want anybody to kind of look at me like that. So I’m gonna just use my real name.

He’s right, the word ‘thug’ has a slew of negativity associated with it. It’s also one of the subliminal terms used to denigrate inner-city black males.  That being said, it’s a great decision to promote a more positive image with a name change, but on the flip side… putting a straight Black man in a dress is also sending a message.  But I digress.

When asked about the story behind the elaborate dress, Thug stylist, Zoe Dupree, and VFiles stylist Rox Brown, who hooked up Thug with the elaborate dress, explained that the artist had discussed breaking gender barriers with his style.

Thug first saw the dress, designed by Italian designer Alessandro Trincone, when he was visiting SoHo boutique and VFiles showroom as a mentor for its upcoming New York Fashion Week event.

Brown explained that Thug had already shot a cover for the mixtape, but decided to change the art after visiting VFiles.

“As I was showing him the designers and we were flipping through, he saw the look and was like, ‘What is that,’ and at first I thought he didn’t like it.

He said it reminds me of ‘Mortal Combat’ Sub Zero. And he was like, ‘If I don’t get this, I’m gonna die.’”

I don’t for one minute believe that Jeffery’s decision to rock dresses is spawned from his love of female fashion.  But it certainly makes for great conversation Erykah Badu praised his courage to be different..

Even T.I. inquired about it…

What are your thoughts on Young Thug’s Jeffery’s name change & controversial fashion statement?