Lil Yachty Talks About New Album & Being "Taken Serious As An Artist"

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The Atlanta native said he wants to be taken seriously as an artist and expressed his deep love for music.

Lil Yachty expressed some heartfelt thoughts on his new album Let's Start Here at a listening party on Thursday night (January 27). While some scratched their heads at Yachty's diversion into psych-rock, they also praised his creative execution along with many others online. Moreover, the 25-year-old said that his talent, passion, and vision extend beyond what people expected.

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 19: Lil Yachty performs onstage during Wicked Featuring 21 Savage at Forbes Arena at Morehouse College on October 19, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

"This album is so special and dear to me," he remarked presumably before the album played. "I think I created it just because I really wanted to be taken serious as an artist, you know. Not just some SoundCloud rapper, not some mumble rapper. Not some guy that just made one hit. You know, I wanted to be really taken serious because music is, like, everything to me. You know, I respect all walks of music, not just rap and hip-hop, everything.

"So I think I wanted to make something to show the world just how great it was to me," Yachty continued. "If we just gonna be honest, I mean, I had n***as that were copying the swag. I just felt like 'Okay, cool, everyone can do this, that's fine, but I'm gonna show y'all what y'all can't do.' You feel me? That's what's on this other side. I hope y'all are good, I hope everybody got the shrooms in your body. You feel me? Like I said, just no flashes, and... see you n***as on the other side."

While Let's Start Here definitely displays Yachty's talents and passions vividly, its atmosphere also points to that cheeky shrooms comment. In fact, it became a part of his social media rollout, along with his trippy visual style in music videos. In addition to a teaser skit, the Atlanta artist also released a music video for his album cut, "sAy sOMETHINg."

Still, what do you think of Lil Yachty's thoughts on Let's Start Here at his listening event, and what about the new album itself? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for more insights from the best creatives in the hip-hop game.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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