LIL YACHTY A teenage icon

Words: Novar FLIP

Photographer: Eva Pentel Creative Director: Imran Malik Stylist: Kirubel Belay Assistant stylist: Chris James Makeup artist: Asuka Fukuda HOS 106 AUTUMN 17 HOS 107 AUTUMN 17 became fascinated with Lil Yachty’s journey and I wanted to know about Lil Yachty’s sudden found a joint show that they called ‘We Are The Culture’. persona early on. I was first introduced to his success and what that term meant to him. “Just This title was very provoking to me. I wondered music when a friend had sent me the link to his coming to where I came from to where I am now, what they were referring to? Could it be youth ‘Lil Boat’ mix tape early last year. He told me being able to provide for myself and my family,” culture? Or Atlanta culture? Lil Yachty responded, Ithat, “Some of it had an ‘808’s & Heartbreak’ feel”, he says. On the definition of success alone, he “[It’s] just hip-hop, do you know what I’m saying? referring to the ground-breaking Kanye West album exaplains: “Success is whatever you make it to be, African-American hip-hop, that’s what they mean by that he knew I was a huge fan of. The Kanye album I don’t think there’s no general statement to what that.” Yachty was unaware of my own journey with had a wide impact on mainstream R&B and hip-hop success looks like.” I had read about how Yachty disputing this issue and how specifically his answer across the board, and I could hear what he was had gone from recording at home to blowing up fitted my narrative, but does he personally feel that saying with this mysterious new artist. At this point all over the internet, but I also wanted to know he is a part of hip-hop culture? “I mean yeah, you I had no idea of the iconic phenomenon that was about the development of his live shows; “I did a know, as much as people try to say I’m not.” I was soon to come. show when there was like ten people in the crowd pleased to hear Yachty take a stand on this issue. I can’t specifically pinpoint the next occasion that I before”, and to go from visualising success to Here we have a young African-American man telling came across Lil Yachty. I can safely say, however, performing for a sold-out crowd, he went on to tell his story, speaking for his people and trying to be that what I thought was a niche new anomaly I had me: “It’s a good feeling, it makes you smile.” We a positive influence for his generation. Looking at been initiated to in secret, was promptly every- talked about the amazing feats he has achieved in the roots of what hip-hop culture represents, there where. Not only was Lil Yachty all over my timeline, such a small time. Out of every achievement so far is no way that his story doesn’t fit. Lil Yachty also but there was also a wave of new artists emerging though, when asked for a highlight he says, “Getting confirmed to me that he did feel like he was being who seemed to look and sound like him. Within a my mum her dream car.” As far as his future goals pressured to detach himself from hip-hop previ- matter of months Lil Yachty had broken the main- he projects: “Just [to] continue to be successful, ously. He didn’t seem to want to give the situation stream. He had featured on a Grammy-nominated and be happy.” any more attention than it deserved though, and I single, his own music was everywhere, he had We covered some other good ground in our discus- respected his position. appeared in a Sprite commercial, and starred in a sion. We talked about Atlanta being at the forefront Through his encouraging attitude and brave artistic campaign for Target. Not bad for a 19-year-old artist of what is popping in rap music and him hoping that statements, I had come to view Lil Yachty as a who was only just recording songs on his home it remains that way. We talked about his sound not positive role model. His album cover that depicts computer and uploading them to SoundCloud. being possible to define as one thing. We spoke teenagers with varying identities, including a gay Lil Yachty’s rise did not come without its critics. His about the UK’s Stefflon Don featuring on his album, couple kissing, is a perfect example of this courage. brand of rap music that he once labelled ‘bubbleg- and when I asked if he was paying attention to any I asked him how important a positive message is um trap’ had begun to the rustle feathers of some other UK artists, he says, “I’m not paying attention to his objective: “100 per cent important, that’s hip-hop purists. Being from that background, I had to any US artists”. We talked about the album my whole thing, that’s what I stand for, it’s very come across some of these judgments and been ‘Teenage Emotions’ and how sometimes he writes important.” I agreed and commended him for his defending his corner for a while. Many would say, songs for other teenagers to be able to relate to efforts, but I did have one bone to pick. A lot of hip- “It’s not hip-hop”, and argue that Yachty and similar rather than painting a picture of his own reality. On hop music, no matter how positive our perception artists should be labelled as a separate genre. I the vision of the album as a whole he explains, “To of the artist is, still contains elements of misogyny. I had also begun to see the same narrative being just put out good, great vibes. You know just like, had a moment when I noticed this about Lil Yachty presented in other online media and in some of good-ass vibes.” specifically, and because I view him so positively it Yachty’s own interviews. I was really looking forward After the echoed narrative of Yachty not being hip- made me realise how normalised we are to this type to meeting with Yachty himself and hearing what he hop, I was interested to hear his take on it directly. of content. Lil Yachty is a teenage man adapting to had to say on these matters and more. I had been in countless arguments with old school newly found fame and fortune. I can see how easy I had seen older media figures focus on what they hip-hop figures on the subject. Much of the time it could be to fall into some roles in that position. want from the next generation of hip-hop stars. they referred to an interview of Yachty’s where he Earlier I had asked him about his song ‘Priorities’ When I sat with Lil Yachty, I decided that what his stated, “I’m not a rapper”. I always argued that he’d where he repeats the line, “My priorities are fucked” generation find important was more of a pertinent been pressured to detach himself and that actually, in the chorus. I tried to point out that he seems issue: “Creativity, originality, you know, keep pushing he is a part of hip-hop regardless. I also realised quite responsible: “In some senses you know. the barrier and breaking down new walls,” he says. that I had ended up in a strange situation a number That was a song about girls, you know, it’s about I wondered if what the older generation thought of of times. Often white people from rural parts of cheating on girls, you’re talking about having a loyal him was still significant. At one point he had made England were dictating this narrative to me. Hip-hop girlfriend and cheating on her.” As a positive young quite an effort to appease their sensitivities, from is an African-American culture that was partly born artist who clearly cares about his influence though, researching Biggie albums after the backlash of a out of a reaction to oppression and racism. It has I was hoping he might give the issue of misogyny in comment he had made, to freestyling on ‘90s in- spread across the world since then and been em- hip-hop some further thought. He didn’t hesitate as strumentals and generally being a good sport in the braced by all walks of life, but that clearly seems to he told me, “Yeah, I still gotta work on that… One face of adversity: “Nah, I used to but not anymore,” have led to some strange divides. Rather than dive day it’ll change. It’ll take time, but it’ll happen.” he says. He has reached a space where he doesn’t straight in though, I had an angle to approach the need to cater to anyone but his audience, and to concept of culture. ‘Teenage Emotions’ is out now via Quality Con- the members of his generation that understand him, Before this visit to London, Yachty had previously trol/Virgin. Lil Yachty is already an icon. been over with his label mates Migos and headlined

HOS 108 AUTUMN 17 TopHOS & Bottoms: 109 AUTUMN KA WEY 17 KEY HOS 110 AUTUMN 17 Top: ASTRID ANDERSON / Shirt: 3 PARADIS / Bottoms: 3 PARADIS / Trainers: REEBOK To just put out good, great vibes. You know, just good-ass vibes.”

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