yachty new artist

Lil Yachty Reveals AI-Generated Album Cover for ‘Let’s Start Here,’ Depicting Demented Boardroom of Executives

By Yousef Srour

Yousef Srour

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Lil Yachty has revealed the artwork and release date for his forthcoming album, “Let’s Start Here,” set to debut Jan. 27 on Quality Control Music and Motown Records.

Ever the provocateur, the rapper’s new cover art previews an AI-generated image of what seems to be seven executives sitting next to each other in suits. With malformed faces akin to a psychedelic trip down the rabbit hole, the artwork seems unremarkable upon first glance. However, the longer you stare at their faces, they look inhuman, with contorted facial features and warped smiles.

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In an interview with Icebox last year , the “ Minnesota ” rapper has expressed that his “new album is a non-rap album,” hence the second chapter that he alludes to in his Instagram post. Yachty explains: “It’s alternative, it’s sick!” After recently collaborating with artists such as Tame Impala, he’s been in the process of creating a “psychedelic alternative project… [with] all live instrumentation.”

Slowly shedding major label support, Yachty now has his own label and creative consultant company, Concrete Records and Concrete Family, respectively. Working closely with Concrete Family, Yachty teamed up with the General Mills cereal brand in 2020 for a limited collaboration with Reese’s Puffs and has an undisclosed sneaker set to be released at a later date. Similar to his 2021 mixtape, “Michigan Boat Boy,” which featured almost solely Detroit artists including Rio Da Yung OG and Babyface Ray, Yachty plans to also release a mixtape with the Concrete Boys collective sometime this year.

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At a surprise listening event last Thursday,  Lil Yachty   introduced his new album  Let’s Start Here. , an unexpected pivot, with a few words every rap fan will find familiar: “I really wanted to be taken seriously as an artist, not just some SoundCloud rapper or some mumble rapper.” This is the speech rappers are obligated to give when it comes time for the drum loop to take a backseat to guitars, for the rapping to be muted in favor of singing, for the ad-libs to give it up to the background singers, and for a brigade of white producers with plaque-lined walls to be invited into the fold. 

Rap fans, including myself, don’t want to hear it, but the reality is that in large slices of music and pop culture, “rapper” is thrown around with salt on the tongue. Pop culture is powerfully influenced by hip-hop, that is until the rappers get too close and the hands reach for the pearls. If anything, the 25-year-old Yachty—as one of the few rappers of his generation able to walk through the front door anyway because of his typically Gushers-sweet sound and innocently youthful beaded braid look—might be the wrong messenger. 

What’s sour about Yachty’s statement isn’t the idea that he wants to be taken seriously as an artist, but the question of  who  he wants to be taken seriously by. When Yachty first got on, a certain corner of rap fandom saw his marble-mouthed enunciation and unwillingness to drool over hip-hop history as symbols of what was ruining the genre they claimed to love. A few artists more beholden to tradition did some finger-wagging— Pete Rock and  Joe Budden ,  Vic Mensa and  Anderson .Paak , subliminals from  Kendrick and  Cole —but that was years ago, and by now they’ve found new targets. These days, Yachty is respected just fine within rap. If he weren’t, his year-long rebirth in the Michigan rap scene, which resulted in the good-not-great  Michigan Boy Boat , would have been viewed solely as a cynical attempt to boost his rap bona fides. His immersion there felt earnest, though, like he was proving to himself that he could hang. 

The respect Yachty is chasing on  Let’s Start Here. feels institutional. It’s for the voting committees, for the suits; for  Questlove to shout him out as  the future , for Ebro to invite him  back on his radio show and say  My bad, you’re dope.  Never mind if you thought Lil Yachty was dope to start with: The goal of this album is to go beyond all expectations and rules for rappers.

And the big pivot is… a highly manicured and expensive blend of  Tame Impala -style psych-rock, A24 synth-pop, loungey R&B, and  Silk Sonic -esque funk, a sound so immediately appealing that it doesn’t feel experimental at all. In 2020, Yachty’s generational peers,  Lil Uzi Vert and  Playboi Carti , released  Eternal Atake and  Whole Lotta Red : albums that pushed forward pre-existing sounds to the point of inimitability, showcases not only for the artists’ raps but their conceptual visions. Yachty, meanwhile, is working within a template that is already well-defined and commercially successful. This is what the monologue was for? 

To Yachty’s credit, he gives the standout performance on a crowded project. It’s the same gift for versatility that’s made him a singular rapper: He bounces from style to style without losing his individuality. A less interesting artist would have been made anonymous by the polished sounds of producers like  Chairlift ’s Patrick Wimberly,  Unknown Mortal Orchestra ’s Jacob Portrait, and pop songwriters Justin and Jeremiah Raisen, or had their voice warped by writing credits that bring together  Mac DeMarco ,  Alex G , and, uh,  Tory Lanez . The production always leans more indulgent than thrilling, more scattershot than conceptual. But Yachty himself hangs onto the ideas he’s been struggling to articulate since 2017’s  Teenage Emotions : loneliness, heartbreak, overcoming failure. He’s still not a strong enough writer to nail them, and none of the professionals collecting checks in the credits seem to have been much help, but his immensely expressive vocals make up for it. 

Actually, for all the commotion about the genre jump on this project, the real draw is the ways in which Yachty uses Auto-Tune and other vocal effects as tools to unlock not just sounds but emotion. Building off the vocal wrinkle introduced on last year’s viral moment “ Poland ,” where he sounds like he’s cooing through a ceiling fan, the highlights on  Let’s Start Here. stretch his voice in unusual directions. The vocals in the background of his wistful hook on “pRETTy” sound like he’s trying to harmonize while getting a deep-tissue massage. His shrill melodies on “paint THE sky” could have grooved with  the Weeknd on  Dawn FM . The opening warble of “running out of time” is like Yachty’s imitation of  Bruno Mars imitating  James Brown , and the way he can’t quite restrain his screechiness enough to flawlessly copy it is what makes it original.

Too bad everything surrounding his unpredictable and adventurous vocal detours is so conventional. Instrumental moments that feel like they’re supposed to be weird and psychedelic—the hard rock guitar riff that coasts to a blissful finale in “the BLACK seminole.” or the slow build of “REACH THE SUNSHINE.”—come off like half-measures.  Diana Gordon ’s falsetto-led funk on “drive ME crazy!” reaches for a superhuman register, but other guest appearances, like  Fousheé ’s clipped lilts on “pRETTy” and  Daniel Caesar ’s faded howls on the outro, are forgettable. None of it is ever  bad : The synths on “sAy sOMETHINg” shimmer; the drawn-out intro and outro of “WE SAW THE SUN!” set the lost, trippy mood they’re supposed to; “THE zone~” blooms over and over again, underlined by  Justine Skye ’s sweet and unhurried melodies. It’s all so easy to digest, so pitch-perfect, so safe.  Let’s Start Here. clearly and badly wants to be hanging up on those dorm room walls with  Currents and  Blonde and  IGOR . It might just work, too. 

Instead, consider this album a reminder of how limitless rap can be. We’re so eager for the future of the genre to arrive that current sounds are viewed as restricting and lesser. But rap is everything you can imagine. I’m thinking about “Poland,” a song stranger than anything here: straight-up 1:23 of chaos, as inventive as it is fun. I took that track as seriously as anything I heard last year because it latches onto a simple rap melody and pushes it to the brink. Soon enough, another rapper will hear that and take it in another direction, then another will do the same. That’s how you really get to the future. 

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How Lil Yachty Ended Up at His Excellent New Psychedelic Album Let's Start Here

The evening before Lil Yachty released his fifth studio album,  Let’s Start Here,  he  gathered an IMAX theater’s worth of his fans and famous friends at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City and made something clear: He wanted to be taken seriously. Not just as a “Soundcloud rapper, not some mumble rapper, not some guy that just made one hit,” he told the crowd before pressing play on his album. “I wanted to be taken serious because music is everything to me.” 

There’s a spotty history of rappers making dramatic stylistic pivots, a history Yachty now joins with  Let’s Start Here,  a funk-flecked psychedelic rock album. But unlike other notable rap-to-rock faceplants—Kid Cudi’s  Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven  comes to mind, as does Lil Wayne’s  Rebirth —the record avoids hackneyed pastiche and gratuitous playacting and cash-grabbing crossover singles; instead, Yachty sounds unbridled and free, a rapper creatively liberated from the strictures of mainstream hip-hop. Long an oddball who’s delighted in defying traditional rap ethos and expectations,  Let’s Start Here  is a maximalist and multi-genre undertaking that rewrites the narrative of Yachty’s curious career trajectory. 

Admittedly, it’d be easy to write off the album as Tame Impala karaoke, a gimmicky record from a guy who heard Yves Tumor once and thought: Let’s do  that . But set aside your Yachty skepticism and probe the album’s surface a touch deeper. While the arrangements tend toward the obvious, the record remains an intricate, unraveling swell of sumptuous live instruments and reverb-drenched textures made more impressive by the fact that Yachty co-produced every song. Fielding support from an all-star cast of characters, including production work from former Chairlift member Patrick Wimberly, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Jacob Portrait, Justin Raisen, Nick Hakim, and Magdalena Bay, and vocals from Daniel Caesar, Diana Gordon,  Foushée , Justine Skye, and Teezo Touchdown, Yachty surrounds himself with a group of disparately talented collaborators. You can hear the acute attention to detail and wide-scale ambition in the spaced-out denouement on “We Saw the Sun!” or on the blistering terror of “I’ve Officially Lost Vision!!!!” or during the cool romanticism of “Say Something.” Though occasionally overindulgent,  Let’s Start Here  is a spectacular statement from hip-hop’s prevailing weirdo. It’s not shocking that Yachty took another hard left—but how exactly did he end up  here ?

In 2016, as the forefather of “bubblegum trap” ascended into mainstream consciousness, an achievement like  Let’s Start Here  would’ve seemed inconceivable. The then 18-year-old Yachty gained national attention when a pair of his songs, “One Night” and “Minnesota,” went viral. Though clearly indebted to hip-hop trailblazers Lil B, Chief Keef, and Young Thug, his work instantly stood apart from the gritted-teeth toughness of his Atlanta trap contemporaries. Yachty flaunted a childlike awe and cartoonish demeanor that communicated a swaggering, unbothered cool. His singsong flows and campy melodies contained a winking humor to them, a subversive playfulness that endeared him to a generation of very online kids who saw themselves in Yachty’s goofy, eccentric persona. He starred in Sprite  commercials alongside LeBron James, performed live shows at the  Museum of Modern Art , and modeled in Kanye West’s  Life of Pablo  listening event at Madison Square Garden. Relishing in his cultural influence, he declared to the  New York Times  that he was not a rapper but an  artist. “And I’m more than an artist,” he added. “I’m a brand.”

 As Sheldon Pearce pointed out in his Pitchfork  review of Yachty’s 2016 mixtape,  Lil Boat , “There isn’t a single thing Lil Yachty’s doing that someone else isn’t doing better, and in richer details.” He wasn’t wrong. While Yachty’s songs were charming and catchy (and, sometimes, convincing), his music was often tangential to his brand. What was the point of rapping as sharply as the Migos or singing as intensely as Trippie Redd when you’d inked deals with Nautica and Target, possessed a sixth-sense for going viral, and had incoming collaborations with Katy Perry and Carly Rae Jepsen? What mattered more was his presentation: the candy-red hair and beaded braids, the spectacular smile that showed rows of rainbow-bedazzled grills, the wobbly, weak falsetto that defaulted to a chintzy nursery rhyme cadence. He didn’t need technical ability or historical reverence to become a celebrity; he was a meme brought to life, the personification of hip-hop’s growing generational divide, a sudden star who, like so many other Soundcloud acts, seemed destined to crash and burn after a fleeting moment in the sun.

 One problem: the music wasn’t very good. Yachty’s debut album, 2017’s  Teenage Emotions, was a glitter-bomb of pop-rap explorations that floundered with shaky hooks and schmaltzy swings at crossover hits. Worse, his novelty began to fade, those sparkly, cheerful, and puerile bubblegum trap songs aging like day-old french fries. Even when he hued closer to hard-nosed rap on 2018’s  Lil Boat 2  and  Nuthin’ 2 Prove,  you could feel Yachty desperate to recapture the magic that once came so easily to him. But rap years are like dog years, and by 2020, Yachty no longer seemed so radically weird. He was an established rapper making mid mainstream rap. The only question now was whether we’d already seen the best of him.

If his next moves were any indication—writing the  theme song to the  Saved by the Bell  sitcom revival and announcing his involvement in an upcoming  movie based on the card game Uno—then the answer was yes. But in April 2021, Yachty dropped  Michigan Boat Boy,  a mixtape that saw him swapping conventional trap for Detroit and Flint’s fast-paced beats and plain-spoken flows. Never fully of a piece with his Atlanta colleagues, Yachty found a cohort of kindred spirits in Michigan, a troop of rappers whose humor, imagination, and debauchery matched his own. From the  looks of it, leaders in the scene like Babyface Ray, Rio Da Yung OG, and YN Jay embraced Yachty with open arms, and  Michigan Boat Boy  thrives off that communion. 

 Then “ Poland ” happened. When Yachty uploaded the minute-and-a-half long track to Soundcloud a few months back, he received an unlikely and much needed jolt. Building off the rage rap production he played with on the  Birthday Mix 6  EP, “Poland” finds Yachty’s warbling about carrying pharmaceutical-grade cough syrup across international borders, a conceit that captured the imagination of TikTok and beyond. Recorded as a joke and released only after a leaked version went viral, the song has since amassed over a hundred-millions streams across all platforms. With his co-production flourishes (and adlibs) splattered across Drake and 21 Savage’s  Her Loss,  fans had reason to believe that Yachty’s creative potential had finally clicked into focus.

 But  Let’s Start Here  sounds nothing like “Poland”—in fact, the song doesn’t even appear on the project. Instead, amid a tapestry of scabrous guitars, searing bass, and vibrant drums, Yachty sounds right at home on this psych-rock spectacle of an album. He rarely raps, but his singing often relies on the virtues of his rapping: those greased-vowel deliveries and unrushed cadences, the autotune-sheathed vibrato. “Pretty,” for instance, is decidedly  not  a rap song—but what is it, then? It’s indebted to trap as much as it is ’90s R&B and MGMT, its drugged-out drums and warm keys able to house an indeterminate amount of ideas.

Yachty didn’t need to abandon hip-hop to find himself as an artist, but his experimental impulses helped him craft his first great album. Perhaps this is his lone dalliance in psych rock—maybe a return to trap is imminent. Or, maybe, he’ll make another 180, or venture deeper into the dystopia of corporate sponsorships. Who’s to say? For now, it’s invigorating to see Yachty shake loose the baggage of his teenage virality and emerge more fully into his adult artistic identity. His guise as a boundary-pushing rockstar isn’t a new archetype, but it’s an archetype he’s infused with his glittery idiosyncrasies. And look what he’s done: he’s once again morphed into a star the world didn’t see coming.

Let’s Start Here.

The first song on Lil Yachty’s Let’s Start Here. is nearly seven minutes long and features breathy singing from Yachty, a freewheeling guitar solo, and a mostly instrumental second half that calls to mind TV depictions of astral projecting. “the BLACK seminole.” is an extremely fulfilling listen, but is this the same guy who just a few months earlier delivered the beautifully off-kilter and instantly viral “Poland”? Better yet, is this the guy who not long before that embedded himself with Detroit hip-hop culture to the point of a soft rebrand as Michigan Boy Boat? Sure is. It’s just that, as he puts it on “the BLACK seminole.,” he’s got “No time to joke around/The kid is now a man/And the silence is filled with remarkable sounds.” We could call the silence he’s referring to the years since his last studio album, 2020’s Lil Boat 3, but he’s only been slightly less visible than we’re used to, having released the aforementioned Michigan Boy Boat mixtape while also lending his discerning production ear to Drake and 21 Savage’s ground-shaking album Her Loss. Collaboration, though, is the name of the game across Let’s Start Here., an album deeply indebted to some as yet undisclosed psych-rock influences, with repeated production contributions from onetime blog-rock darlings Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson and Patrick Wimberly, as well as multiple appearances from Diana Gordon, a Queens, New York-hailing singer who made a noise during the earliest parts of her career as Wynter Gordon. Also present are R&B singer Fousheé and Beaumont, Texas, rap weirdo Teezo Touchdown, though rapping is infrequent. In fact, none of what Yachty presents here—which includes dalliances with Parliament-indebted acid funk (“running out of time”), ’80s synthwave (“sAy sOMETHINg,” “paint THE sky”), disco (“drive ME crazy!”), symphonic prog rock (“REACH THE SUNSHINE.”), and a heady monologue called “:(failure(:”—is in any way reflective of any of Yachty’s previous output. Which begs the question, where did all of this come from? You needn’t worry about that, says Yachty on the “the ride-,” singing sternly: “Don’t ask no questions on the ride.”

January 27, 2023 14 Songs, 57 minutes Quality Control Music/Motown Records; ℗ 2023 Quality Control Music, LLC, under exclusive license to UMG Recordings, Inc.

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Lil Yachty Announces New Album ‘Let’s Start Here’

The rapper's last set,  Lil Boat 3 , was released in 2020 and debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200.

By Heran Mamo

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This wouldn’t be Yachty’s first dip into the genre, as he collaborated with  Tame Impala on a 2021 remix of “Breathe Deeper” from  The Slow Rush B-Sides & Remixes , which peaked at No. 47 on  Hot Rock & Alternative Songs . 

In October 2022, the 25-year-old MC returned to the  Billboard Hot 100  for the first time since 2021’s “Hit Bout It,” featuring  Kodak Black ,” with his  frigid, viral sensation “Poland.” The song reached No. 40 on the all-genre chart and entered the top 10 of  Billboard ‘s  Rap Streaming Songs  chart. He also produced several songs on  Drake  and 21 Savage’s collaborative album  Her Loss , which debuted at No. 1 on the  Billboard 200 .

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Yachty released his last full-length album,  Lil Boat 3 , on May 29, 2020 via Capitol Records, Motown Records and Quality Control Music. The 19-track set, which included lead single “Oprah’s Bank Account” featuring  DaBaby and Drake, launched at No. 14 on the Billboard 200. 

See the album artwork for  Let’s Start Here  below. 

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Lil Yachty has been a fan favorite for some time now, and that is not going to change any time soon. Since his arrival back in 2015, the Atlanta star has continuously elevated his craft. The way he tackles each project creatively is not a common thing in the industry these days, and should not go unnoticed by any means. Lil Boat is now entering a new chapter in his music career to kick off 2023 the right way and it is safe to say that his foot will continue to hit the gas for a long while. Today (Jan. 27), the “Poland” rapper gifts the people with his latest Let’s Start Here album.

In an interview with Ice Box last year, Yachty revealed that he was going in a different direction with the sound of the album. “My new album is a non-rap album,” he declared. “It’s alternative, it’s sick… It’s like a psychedelic alternative project. It’s different. It’s all live instrumentation.” This is a great time for those who have not been hip to Boat over the years to check out just how versatile he can be whenever he chooses. The 25-year-old artist has a lot to teach the youngins after him about stepping out of their comfort zone, and Let’s Start Here is the perfect body of work for them to learn from.

The LP serves as the follow up to his 2020 album, Lil Boat 3, and many would probably agree that this was a superb chess move to awaken those who has been sleep on him for whatever reason. The live instrumentation should do the trick for sure.

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Lil Yachty Delivers New Psychedelic Rock Album ‘Let’s Start Here.’

Lil Yachty’s new album, Let’s Start Here, continues to further the star’s reputation as an innovative savant. The new album is 15 tracks in length, delivering a new experience for fans.

Let’s Start Here was crafted in areas ranging from El Paso to Brooklyn, with Lil Yachty immersing himself in day and night sessions. The result is a Psychedelic Alternative album executive produced by SADPONY. The album is influenced by Pink Floyd’s classic Dark Side of the Moon and experiential psychedelic journeys.

Ahead of the album, Yachty released a skit titled “Department of Mental Tranquility.” In the skit, Yachty strolled a hallway entering what would be the first step into the rest of his life. Playing multiple roles, Yachty was introduced to his upcoming float experience in a sweltering room until it overcomes his body, and he is directed to room 10. What you hear is the result of that trip, double entendre, don’t even ask me how.

You can see the skit and hear the full album below.

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Lil Yachty’s Psychedelic Relaunch: ‘I Don’t Have To Be High To Make It Sound High’

By Andre Gee

I n 2016, a 19-year-old Lil Yachty emerged as a fresh-faced, red-haired maverick eagerly planting Generation Z’s flag in hip-hop . Songs like “Minnesota” intrigued many, but rap traditionalists denigrated him as a “mumble rapper” — an upstart who, they claimed, was insulting the essence of hip-hop one warbled vocal run at a time. That didn’t stop Yachty, though. In the years since, he’s kept trying new things , even as many other artists have gotten stuck retreading tired formulas. “Who cares?” he says now. “It’s going to go, or it’s not. You only have one life, bro. Just do shit.”

But he does offer a few details about the six-month recording process in Texas, New York, and elsewhere, which he says was “fun” at every juncture. At times, he played the work in progress for “heavy hitters” like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, Drake, and Tyler, the Creator. “Everyone was ecstatic,” he says, “which made me feel good.”

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Do you think hip-hop could be more accepting of younger artists as they learn and grow? I don’t know. I don’t really care either. Who cares? I don’t need acceptance from nobody. People seek too much validation.

What was the initial catalyst for you to start this album? It was a phone call with Tyler that made me act on it. I always wanted to do it, but that was the battery.

What was the dynamic of that phone call? Were you like, “I want to explore something,” and he was like, “Go for it”? I don’t fully remember, but he was very motivating and inspiring. I didn’t tell him my ideas, but it was more so, “Whatever it is in your heart and in your mind that you want to do, do it. And do it fully, don’t shortcut it. Don’t cut any corners.”

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You’ve referenced psychedelics in interviews. How big a factor was that in the recording process? None. Zero. I can’t record music on drugs. I have to be fully sober. But I’ve done it enough times to know what I want. I don’t have to be high to make it sound high.

You said growing up you listened to all types of music. Did you ever hear the stigma of “That’s white-people music”? Yeah, of course. I don’t give a fuck, bro. It’s so hard to affect me or offend me. I do what I want to do. You feel me? People say this album is white-people music. Who cares, man? What is white-people music?

You’ve said you made this in part because you “wanted to be taken seriously as an artist and not just a SoundCloud rapper, not just a mumble rapper.” What would you say to people who feel like SoundCloud rappers and mumble rappers deserve to be taken as seriously as any other artists? See, that’s the thing. I can’t speak for nobody else. I’m not some spokesman for the people. I’m not vouching for anyone else’s work ethic or creativity, only mine. I want to be taken seriously. I’m not no mumble rap. I’m not just some SoundCloud rapper. I’m not speaking on all SoundCloud rappers. I’m speaking on me, you feel me? I want to make that apparent. This is for me, because everybody don’t have that work ethic. Everyone ain’t going to put the hours in to understand a new genre and how to execute something the right way. 

“See, that’s the thing. I can’t speak for nobody else. I’m not speaking on all SoundCloud rappers. I’m speaking on me, you feel me? This is for me, because everybody don’t have that work ethic.”

You’ve said you had a period of trying to prove you can rap. How do you feel about those efforts now? I love it, man. They made me a man. They made me strong. They made me care more about the craft — because I do. They made me want to learn, be better, sharpen my sword.

Did it ever get to a point with that stigma where it was hard to navigate your career? I don’t think nothing’s hard in life. It just took work and effort, and I still feel like I got more work to put in when it comes to rap and how people perceive me. I care less, though.

How much does the dynamic that you’re talking about here have to do with the stigma against rappers when it comes to award shows and radio play and festivals?  For me, that’s zero. I don’t care about none of that shit. I just make all types of music. It has nothing to do with the fruits and labors that don’t come with being a rapper, none of that. I like to make all music. That’s all it is, totally. It ain’t got nothing to do with not getting the love or respect or not being invited to an award show.

Going forward with your creative process, do you feel like you’ll have that motivation with every album you make, to prove something to a certain audience? Not necessarily. I didn’t make this album to prove that I could. I also want to be taken seriously. But I didn’t make it like, “Oh, man, I need them to take me serious. Let me make this type of album.” I just wanted to make a great album, and I felt like personally, I could do it better this way than if I made a rap album. 

How are things going with your label, Concrete Boyz? That’s next for me. That’s all I care about right now. That’s where we are every day, in the studio getting established together. We got some special artists, and they’re fresh faces. I want to make sure when we drop this, it’s hot, because they’re fire and it’s fresh. You’re gonna hear some fresh sounds. That’s my next project, in the summertime. 

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Have you always been discerning about how much you put yourself out there? No. I got 1,000 interviews on the internet. I hate it. I was young. I didn’t know nothing. Back then, I was trying to be the spokesman for the new generation because no one else wanted to talk. I felt, “I’m going to stand up. I’m going to speak.” But [now] I don’t speak for nobody but me.

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The Best Lil Yachty Songs

Lil Yachty, an innovative force in modern hip-hop, has undeniably transformed the music landscape with his vibrant style and unique approach. Bursting onto the scene from Atlanta, his infectious tunes and playful persona quickly captivated a global audience. Known for his striking cherry-red hair and catchy anthems, Yachty's rise to fame is the epitome of the viral success story. From his breakout SoundCloud hit "One Night" to collaborations with heavyweights like DRAM in the track "Broccoli," Yachty's career is a thrilling blend of immense talent and whimsical charm.

Diving into Lil Yachty's discography is like embarking on a spirited voyage through hip-hop's most colorful waters. His debut mixtape Lil Boat set the tone with a nautical theme, blending fun, irreverence, and heartfelt introspection. The Atlanta native's catalogue showcases a spectrum of the genre, from the buoyant rhythms of his earlier work to more experimental ventures.

One of the Lil Yachty's best songs is undoubtedly "Broccoli." This chart-topping collaboration with DRAM is a testament to Yachty’s knack for crafting feel-good anthems. Another exceptional track is "Oprah’s Bank Account," featuring the mega-stars Drake and DaBaby, which exemplifies his ability to seamlessly blend humor with catchy beats. These tracks, alongside others like "Poland," paint a vivid picture of why Yachty's music remains so beloved and enduring.

Lil Yachty’s best songs are more than just a roundup - they are a journey through the multifaceted landscape of contemporary music. His work reflects the energetic spirit of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene while pushing the boundaries of the genre. From crowd-pleasing hits to experimental detours, Yachty’s musical output is a testament to his creative versatility and enduring appeal.

drive ME crazy

Album: Let's Start Here

Why It's Great: "drive ME crazy!" epitomizes Lil Yachty’s innovative flair, blending introspective lyrics with captivating beats. This track captures an ethereal vibe that transports listeners through its lush instrumentals and hypnotic rhythms. Diana Gordon's soulful vocals add depth, creating an intoxicating blend that showcases Yachty's versatility and emotional range. This song stands out for its unique soundscape, effortlessly combining alternative and indie elements that resonate with fans and new listeners alike.

Yacht Club (featuring Juice WRLD)

Album: Nuthin' 2 Prove

Why It's Great: "Yacht Club" features Lil Yachty at his best, delivering cheeky, playful lyrics with a catchy, smooth flow that resonates effortlessly. With Juice WRLD alongside him, the song boasts a vibrant, club-ready vibe that embodies the carefree, exuberant spirit Yachty is known for.

Broccoli (DRAM featuring Lil Yachty)

Album: Big Baby DRAM

Why It's Great: "Broccoli" is a lively and enchanting track by DRAM featuring Lil Yachty. Seamlessly blending hip hop with whimsical, buoyant beats, its catchy flute melodies and playful lyrics stand out. Lil Yachty's vibrant contributions add a charming dynamic, further enhancing the song's upbeat vibe. "Broccoli" exemplifies DRAM's unique musical artistry, making it an essential track that captivates with its infectious energy.

Album: Lil Boat 3

Why It's Great: "Coffin," a standout track, blends punchy 808s and swaggering lyrics to showcase Lil Yachty's undeniable talent and distinct style. The song captures his braggadocious charm and confident flow, painting vivid pictures of luxury. Its infectious beat and hypnotic rhythm make it a fan favorite, epitomizing Yachty's ability to craft memorable anthems that resonate deeply with listeners and highlight his eclectic musical vision.

A Cold Sunday

Album: Something Ether

Why It's Great: "A Cold Sunday" captures the quintessential vibe of Yachty's artistry with its hauntingly introspective lyrics and minimalist beats, creating a raw, emotional atmosphere. The song's reflective theme of battling inner demons amid fame showcases Yachty's lyrical depth. Its resonating melody paired with a pulsating rhythm encapsulates his unique blend of vulnerability and sonic innovation.

Magic in the Hamptons (Social House featuring Lil Yachty)

Album: Magic in the Hamptons

Why It's Great: "Magic in the Hamptons," a standout track by Social House featuring Lil Yachty , encapsulates a breezy, feel-good vibe perfect for any summer playlist. Yachty's playful verse seamlessly blends with the groovy beats and upbeat tempo, highlighting his signature melodic flow. The lyrics capture the euphoria of young love, making it a timeless anthem.

From The D To The A (Tee Grizzley featuring Lil Yachty)

Album: From the D to the A

Why It's Great: "From the D to the A" stands out as an exemplary collaboration between Tee Grizzley and Lil Yachty, showcasing Yachty's versatile flow and distinct artistic flair. The track's hard-hitting beat and memorable lyrical exchanges highlight Yachty's knack for dynamic deliveries and clever wordplay. Its immersive, high-energy vibe perfectly encapsulates the essence of modern hip-hop, making it a must-listen for fans of both artists.

Flex Up (featuring Future & Playboi Carti)

Why It's Great: "Flex Up" showcases a pulsating collaboration of Lil Yachty with Future and Playboi Carti. The track's raw, energetic beats, combined with its flex-heavy lyrics, make it a standout in Yachty's discography. The song captures the trio's lavish lifestyles through catchy hooks and high-octane verses, while its infectious chorus adds an anthemic quality. This masterpiece highlights each artist's unique flair, solidifying its status as a fan favorite.

Oprah's Bank Account (featuring DaBaby & Drake)

Why It's Great: "Oprah's Bank Account" brilliantly showcases Lil Yachty's innovative artistry, melding playful lyrics with a catchy, vibe-heavy beat. With memorable lines like "Diamond in the rough, you look as good as Oprah's bank account," this track highlights his unique ability to blend humor and hip-hop seamlessly. The collaboration with DaBaby and Drake adds layers of dynamic flows, making this song a standout example of Lil Yachty’s creative range and appeal.

Album: Poland

Why It's Great: "Poland" epitomizes the best Lil Yachty songs with its hypnotic blend of cyber-vibrato vocals and synth-heavy production. The song’s memorable hook, “I took the wock to Poland" is a reference to Wockhardt , a company that makes a cough syrup sometimes used in lean. Yachty’s playful, yet emotionally nuanced delivery showcases his ability to innovate within the genre, making "Poland" a standout track in his discography.

Album: stayinit

Why It's Great: "stayinit" showcases a masterful blend of vibrant beats and introspective lyrics, embodying Lil Yachty’s distinct ability to meld emotional depth with infectious energy. Immersed in a captivating sonic landscape crafted by Fred Again and Overmono, "stayinit" gives raw honesty about life's imperfections, and coupled with its pulsating electronic rhythms, it underscores Yachty’s versatility.

Album: Lil Boat 2

Why It's Great: "66," featuring Trippie Redd, stands out as a quintessential track showcasing Lil Yachty's melodic ingenuity. This ambient masterpiece pulses with an ethereal beat that complements Yachty's effortlessly smooth flow and Trippie Redd's distinctive vocal flair. Its laid-back, atmospheric vibe underscores why "66" is a fan favorite, encapsulating the artist's unique ability to merge introspective themes with infectious rhythms.

Pardon Me (featuring Future & Mike WiLL Made-It)

Why It's Great: "Pardon Me" stands out as a dynamic collaboration. Future’s swagger pairs seamlessly with Lil Yachty’s playful yet assertive delivery, while Mike WiLL Made-It’s production intensifies the track’s vibe. This song exemplifies the artist's unique ability to fuse mainstream appeal with his distinctive quirky style, making it a staple in playlists and a must-listen for both new and die-hard fans.

NBAYOUNGBOAT

Why It's Great: "NBAYOUNGBOAT" showcases Lil Yachty's dynamic artistry, intertwining rapid, off-beat rhymes with infectious hooks. Collaborating with YoungBoy Never Broke Again, the track melds energetic beats with raw lyricism, creating a distinct vibe that highlights the strenghs of both artists.

Album: One Night

Why It's Great: "One Night" captivates with its infectious rhythmic beats and ethereal production, skillfully blending hip-hop and alternative R&B. TheGoodPerry’s production lays an atmospheric backdrop, allowing the autotuned vocals to shine. Lyrics explore fleeting romance, capturing both vulnerability and braggadocio. Its catchy hook and laid-back vibe perfectly showcase the artist’s genre-defying talent.

Get Dripped (featuring Playboi Carti)

Why It's Great: "Get Dripped," featuring Playboi Carti, exemplifies the essence of Lil Yachty’s eclectic style. This track delivers hard-hitting beats and infectious energy, reflecting a lifestyle of opulence and swagger. Yachty's playful, innovative lyrics blend seamlessly with Carti’s unique flow, creating a synergy that’s both magnetic and memorable.

Album: Lil Boat

Why It's Great: "Minnesota" stands out as a quintessential track that showcases Yachty's distinctive blend of hip hop and trap, enveloped in a chilled, wintery vibe that matches its title. The song's catchy, melodic hooks and playful lyrics highlight his unique talent for creating infectious tunes. Its relaxed beat combined with features from Quavo and Young Thug adds a collaborative dynamism, making "Minnesota" a fan favorite that encapsulates Yachty's innovative style.

Album: Teenage Emotions

Why It's Great: "Peek a Boo" showcases Lil Yachty's playful lyricism and signature sound, blending catchy hooks and energetic beats with clever pop-culture references to franchises like Pokémon and Blue's Clues . His collaboration with Migos adds a dynamic layer, driving the track's infectious vibe. Noteworthy for its bold and unapologetically quirky lyrics, the song stands as a testament to Yachty's innovative approach to contemporary rap.

The best new artists, albums, and hits for your 2024 playlists, ranked by over 1 million votes. Click to make your opinion heard.

TV & Movies

Pharrell Williams Reveals What Inspired Dullsville And The Doodleverse

The musical animation premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Pharrell Williams is a man of many talents. With a career spanning three decades, the multifaceted singer, producer, and designer has excelled in music , fashion , film, television, and skin care . Now, the Grammy winner and creative director of Louis Vuitton Men is onto his next venture: animation.

In the summer of 2022, Williams was named chief brand officer of Doodles , a platform that creates original and immersive storytelling via live and digital experiences. On Sept. 7, the company previewed its groundbreaking animated special, Dullsville and the Doodleverse , at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival.

The star-studded 19-minute short film — set to go live on DoodlesTV on Sept. 13 — follows the story of Hap and his cat, Mello, in the uninspiring town of Dullsville, which has been monopolized by an ominous corporation known as Dream Pump Industries.

“After a fateful incident involving a Dream Pump Industries delivery truck, the duo are plunged into the Doodleverse, a reality-shattering world where imagination holds no bounds,” a synopsis reads . “Hap must overcome his self-doubt and harness his creativity to find a way home, but life in Dullsville will never be the same.”

The musical animation features voice work from Lil Wayne, Lil Yachty, Swae Lee, and Coi Leray. The rappers also lend their talents to the animation’s original soundtrack, which recently debuted on Doodles’ newly launched music platform, Doodles Records .

Below, Williams reflects on the making of Dullsville and the Doodleverse , working with the likes of Lil Wayne, and the cartoons he couldn’t get enough of as a kid.

What existing shows inspired Dullsville and the Doodleverse ?

SpongeBob SquarePants , Looney Tunes, Adventure Time , Scooby-Doo. [They all have] distinct visual styles, lovable characters, and compelling stories full of adventure. We wanted to create a story that had a similar emotional impact [as] these classic shows.

Can you share a favorite memory of working alongside Lil Wayne, Lil Yachty, Swae Lee, or Coi Leray?

These are incredible artists who I have known for years. It’s always great to work with them and to push ourselves to make our best music yet, but my favorite moments were seeing them get into their characters so they could use their voices to tell these colorful stories. And of course, they killed it.

What animated shows did you watch growing up, and how did they affect you?

I get nostalgic thinking of the shows I watched growing up, like Looney Tunes , Tom and Jerry , The Smurfs , and Wacky Races . They transported me to other worlds and sparked so much of my creativity. Seeing the beautiful color palettes, hearing the music and wacky sounds, and getting wrapped up in their stories inspired me to want to create art that could have a similar emotional impact.

If readers are going to start with one song from the soundtrack, which should it be?

The soundtrack is three songs and they’re all gems, so I would say they should just listen to the whole thing. I’m equally proud of “Not in the Store” by me and Coi Leray, “Can’t Hold Me Down” by Lil Wayne, Lil Yachty, and Kyle Richh, and “Doodleverse (Draw Me Closer)” by me, Swae Lee, and Lil Yachty.

How did your expertise in fashion inspire this project, if at all?

Fashion is all about creating moods and aesthetics through distinct visual styles. I really enjoyed working with the incredible Doodles team to help set the visual mood and overall look for Dullsville and the Doodleverse .

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.