Atlanta rapper, Lil Yachty, has long been known for his “bubblegram trap” music that captivated fans. In January 2023, Yachty released Let’s Start Here, which pivoted into a more psychedelic, R&B sound. With co-writers like Mac Demarco and Alex G, the experimental work is peppered with insights about self-doubt and relationships. Unlike anything he’s released before, Yachty proves that his “Michigan boat boy” days are over. This album is an incredible introduction into the new era of Lil Yachty’s artistic talent.
The first track, “the BLACK Seminole,” hits listeners with a synthy wave of sound before launching into a laid back drum beat. Rather than rapping, Yachty tries his hand at singing. Lyrics reference late nights and wild drug trips, like “he’s on a clean, clean high… but his head’s way up in the sky.” The soloing guitar meanders through a bed of noise, then settles back into a relaxed groove. At almost seven minutes long, this first track is far different from anything Yachty has previously created. Towards the end, we hear a gong sound and the track shifts into a more hopeful tone. Then, we are immediately thrown back into a pounding drum beat with stunning vocalizations from Diana Gordon.
The following tracks feature a mix of soul-searching introspections. Teezo Touchdown teams up with Yachty on “the ride,” where they explore thoughts like “all the things I want from joy doesn’t bring joy, it just brings noise.” At this pivotal moment in Yachty’s career, he is pushing to explore his authentic self. “The place hip-hop is in right now is a terrible place,” he shared recently. “It’s a lot of imitation… people are too safe now.” Teezo Touchdown is another figure currently changing the rap game, as both him and Yachty are not afraid to stray away from their traditional “rapper” image; represented by “the ride’s” trippy atmosphere of sound.
Love is another prominent theme from this album. “running out of time” describes two people staying up late talking and watching the sun rise. This sweet song demonstrates Yachty’s ability to write heartfelt lyrics. “sAy sOMETHINg” also explores new love, where Yachty reports feeling like a teenager again. His devotion is shared in “paint THE sky,” opening with a sincere monologue claiming he would “paint the sky for you.”
Since its success on TikTok, “drive ME crazy!” is perhaps the most well-known track. Catchy and smooth, the song is a testament to falling in love. “Good love feels like butterflies suffocatin’ your insides,” Yachty laments. “I feel cold and alone. But now I know that you love me, will you put anyone above me? Let me know, is this home?”
In between his musings about love, the album is padded with more experimental tracks, like “WE SAW THE SUN!!.” Echoing vocals and a woozy instrumental settle into an outro by legendary painter, Bob Ross. “The Alchemist” is another aggressive rock track that weaves in and out of passionate vocals by Foushee.
The “:(failure(:” interlude is a statement on Yachty’s shift from rap, “Failure, that took time to understand,” he says. “It isn’t always a negative thing, but more so… just a way to relook at things.” Let’s Start Here was a huge risk in his career, since it deviated so much from the music he previously released. Although the album received mixed reviews, overall critics praise him for trying something new. Yachty has commented several times that he’s proud of the album and doesn’t care if people think it’s a failure.
I appreciate the vulnerability of this album. Even throughout personal doubts, Yachty embraces change and keeps his head high. It’s also an homage to the various genres that inspired his love of music, “There’s a lot of kids who haven’t heard any of my references,” Yachty said in a Revolt article. “They don’t know anything about Bon Iver or Pink Floyd or Black Sabbath or James Brown. I wanted to show people a different side of me — and that I can do anything, most importantly.”
Lil Yachty has come a long way since his One Night days. “I did what I wanted to do, which was to create a body of work that reflected me,” he shared in a Billboard interview. “My idea for this album is to be a journey — press play and fall into a void.” Whether you love or hate the album, Let’s Start Here has proven to be a powerful launch for Yachty’s creative prowess. I’m interested to see where he will go next. Maybe there’s a yodel album in store for us? Potentially a ska-inspired rap album? Time will only tell.
“REACH THE SUNSHINE.” is the last track on the album, an epic conclusion to the 57 minute long journey. The lyrics claim that Yachty has “only one goal- to reach the sunshine.” He’s trying to find happiness and understand himself as an artist. The track has a haunting quality to it, with laughter echoing in the background as Yachty claims that he is “a bad man,” representing the inner fears he’s working to overcome.
