Dear Lil Yachty,
I don’t think you’re a bad person. In your Breakfast Club interview, you demonstrated compassion and vulnerability—signs of a sensitive individual with depth. Despite your overnight fame, at heart you’re just an insecure teenager finding his way in this world—just like the rest of us. That makes you relatable and likable. Albeit a little odd, you’ve done an impressive job of branding yourself through the boat image, red hair and, let’s call it, “alternative” musical style. So no, I don’t think you’re a bad person at all. But that’s not what this letter is about.
I’m by no means a “Golden Age” martyr screaming to bring “real Rap” back. The ‘90s were without a doubt an incredible period for Hip Hop that paved the way for today’s artists. But without evolution, we crumble at the hands of stagnation. I love Young Thug; Travis Scott is an incredible talent; Future is seizing the game. Hip Hop’s new wave of artists have a broader artistic scope than the majority of their ‘90s predecessors by incorporating diverse styles, yielding a mesmerizing product. Yachty, you definitely adhere to this progressive direction, but, in my opinion, you’re a talentless, whack gimmick.
I don’t think I’m alone here; at least I hope not. I’ve tried giving you the benefit of the doubt through countless listens in hopes of discovering your “appeal”; I’m aware that forming quick judgments can rob the listener of a genuine talent. Admittedly, I was initially dismissive of Young Thug, but now I’m addicted to his hypnotic melodies that have intoxicated Hip Hop. I don’t see that in you.
I met you through your early hit, “Minnesota,” and I honestly thought it was a joke. Not like “Oh he’s a really bad rapper,” I legitimately thought it was a parody. I didn’t think it was possible for you to generate a worse piece of shit than that, and then I unfortunately heard your Kylie Jenner collaboration, “Beautiful Day”. You had to be joking with that one… You lack artistic substance; your heavily auto-tuned, whiny aesthetic make me nauseous; I can’t understand one word you utter (speaking or singing); your freestyling ability is abhorrent. The only logical conclusion about your popularity I can draw is that you’re a benefactor of high-profile co-signs—one being from Ian Connor, the alleged rapist—and listeners’ fear of contending popular music. However, I will say that I almost liked your verse on “Mixtape” off Chance’s Coloring Book. But then when you shrilled “Time and time again they told me no,” I could feel my dick crawl inside of me.
Yachty, you’re not a bad guy by any stretch. I can only imagine the trauma and impact quick, intense fame has on a teenager, and I think you’re handling it well. I just don’t think the fame is justified. I don’t wish you failure though—at 19, you have time to mature and develop into something. But that remains to be seen.
Best wishes,
Zach Hurwitz