Let's Start Here

Let's Start Here- Lil Yachty

By Sarah George

This album is unlike others that Lil Yachty, or Miles Parks McCollum, has made in the past, differing in style and genre. It was released on January 27, 2023 and is classified as a pPsychedelic rock, fFunk, pPsychedelic pop, or pPsychedelic soul album. Meanwhile, Yachty’s past albums are known to be Hip-hop or Rap. All the songs throughout the album follow this psychedelic scheme and vibe, with almost hypnotizing-like beats. Following this theme, the song titles are untraditional, with special characters and inconsistencies. For instance, “pRETTy”, “:(failure:(“, and “THE zone~.” To keep these inconsistencies, he avoids naming the features on the songs and keeps them hidden. However, the album has features from Teezo Touchdown, Justine Skye, Fousheé, Diana Gordon, and Daniel Caesar. 

As far as consistency goes, the 14 songs in this album remain generally consistent with the vibe and theme. The theme of “Let’s Start Here.” would be a transformation and change. This generally fits the album because it's as if Yachty himself is transforming as time goes on, as his music style changes drastically. All the songs on the album follow a more calm, funky, vibe. Even the features on the album follow this to maintain consistency. Features such as Teezo Touchdown on “the ride-” don’t follow their usual Hip-hop style and lean towards a psychedelic or alternative theme throughout the album. The songs on the album are untraditional, but not unseen before. Although it is rare that a Hip-hop artist releases an alternative album, “Let’s Start Here.” is the perfect demonstration of variety and range in an artist. To add, the transitions between songs flow together and are unnoticeable. 

In many of the songs, Yachty is telling a story or describing a situation or a feeling. Throughout the album it's almost like Lil Yachty himself is talking about stuff that has happened to him, directly or indirectly to the listener. The lyrics aren’t necessarily lighthearted just because the albums style is though. The intro song, “the BLACK seminole”, talks about his former identity explored through the album, who is “unstoppable,” although not in the happiest mental state, “Distant connections, a large interval. A black man with mouths to feed. Embracing equality throughout greed” However, the term “black seminole” in history commonly refers to blood descendants of the Seminole people, free Africans, and escaped former slaves. In the second track, “the ride-” Yachty speaks about overcoming fears and having faith while going through new things, and the fear that comes with them.

He states, “Don't ask no questions on the ride. Makin' eye contact is suicide, yeah. When I'm alone with my thoughts, I'm terrifiеd.” The title “the ride-” refers to the ride through life, as a journey. 

Skipping to the middle of the album, the song “drive ME crazy!” is one of the most popular songs off the album. It talks about accepting life as it is, but still wanting to keep someone, who drives you crazy, in your life. On the song with Diana Gordon, a smaller reggae and electronic artist, the lyrics go, “If you know me, you know I mind, someone like me is hard to find. No mistakin’ if I am there, well aware you are always mine. And still you seem so surprised, always gon' be mine. I wanna be where you are. I just can't walk away, you drive me crazy, ah. I lose it, lose it.” Continuing to the end of the album, “REACH THE SUNSHINE '' is the outro, featuring Daniel Caesar. Although a suggestively short song, the message is finally accepting the change and development one has gone through. They state, “ But where did man go? I'm tryna fill that hole [..] Speak with your mind. It's only us left. Dividin' time, livin' between the lines. Only one goal. To reach the sunshine.” This suggests finally accepting what has happened and to just keep living life with the new development and transformation you have gone through. While the lyrics are generally broad, Yachty uses this so the listeners can relate and apply the lyrics to themselves.

Overall, “Let’s Start Here.”, Lil Yachty’s first and only alternative album uses the psychedelic vibe to convey the message of transformation and change as humans throughout the album, and accepting change, although it may feel uneasy. He uses features by many people to add volume and depth to the sound of the songs, along with vocals and complexity. He uses lyricism to tell a story and relate to the listener, while also sounding unnatural to convey this psychedelic vibe. The album is untraditional to his music, and many others, but still was produced and curated with detail and consistency.