Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
It all started with supremely odd album art. Every Friday, I peruse through the Spotify “stacks” of new musical releases. As I scrolled down, I saw an odd assortment of animated people in suits laughing. I looked at the artist and saw the name Lil Yachty. Now, I know about Lil Yachty, but I can’t call myself a fan. Or at least I couldn’t before last week but we’ll get there. I remember his early songs like “One Night,” which I will generously call … not my cup of tea. In fact, none of his music has been my cup of tea while I’ve enjoyed his commercial and corporate glowup. Lil Yachty had commercials with Sprite and Target. Good for him.
But again, I have never cared one bit for his music — no matter where it showed up. So, under normal circumstances, I’d just scroll on through a Lil Yachty project, but I’m a sucker for good album cover. And like with tons of artists I don’t remember or will never listen to again, I decided to give the album a cursory two or three song run-through. To say I was surprised would be the understatement of the millennium. I was aghast. Run amuck. Plymouth Rock landed on me. Did Lil Yachty make this psychedelic, synth, pop, moody, enjoyable, engaging album??
HOW, SWAY? That’s the first thing I actually said out loud. I listened to the first song, “the BLACK seminole.” in full — all roughly seven minutes of it; the longest I can honestly say I’ve ever listened to a Lil Yachty anything in one sitting — and loved the sound, vibe and even his lyrics on the song, which aren’t great, but just, you know, work. I went song by song and then restarted the album and listened…
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