Let's Start Here

Lil Yachty Announces “The Field Trip” Tour

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Lil Yachty will be hitting the road in support of his latest album, Let’s Start Here. The Quality Control signee took to Instagram where he announced The Field Trip tour, which will being him across 39 dates in North America and Europe. The tour launches on September 21st in Washington, DC at Echostage before he heads to cities like New York, Toronto, London, Berlin, Las Vegas and more. While he’ll be closing out the tour in Detroit on Nov. 5th there, unfortunately, won’t be any scheduled stops in his hometown of Atlanta.

Yachty’s upcoming tour feels like it could sell out quickly. For those who want to scoop up tickets, artist pre-sale are live on May 10th at 10 a.m. local time while Europe pre-sale is available at 1 pm BST. General public sales will be available on May 12th at 10 a.m. in North America and 12 p.m. in Europe. Given Yachty’s recent experimental sound, it feels like The Field Trip Tour ‘23 will allow his new sound to shine in front of a live audience. 

Lil Yachty’s “Field Trip” Tour

It’s unclear what Lil Yachty has up his sleeve but the rapper’s hinted at using a live band in the past. At the beginning of the year, he held tryouts for an all-women band, which he later debuted during his performance at Saturday Night Live earlier this year. The rapper performed “the BLACK seminole” and “drive ME crazy!” during his SNL with the backing of his new band. It seems likely that they’ll be joining him on the road as well. 

In addition to diving into psychedelic rock, Yachty’s levelled up his raps, as well. The release of “Poland” seemingly kicked off a new era in his career. He recently followed it up with “Striker (Holster).” Maybe another album is on the way soon. Check out the tour dates below for Yachty’s upcoming tour.

The Field Trip Tour ‘23 North America

Thu Sep 21 — Washington, DC — Echostage
Fri Sep 22 — New York, NY — SummerStage in Central Park
Sun Sep 24 — Philadelphia, PA — The Fillmore
Mon Sep 25 — Raleigh, NC — The Ritz
Wed Sep 27 — Montreal, QC — MTELUS
Fri Sep 29 — Wallingford, CT — The Dome at Oakdale
Sun Oct 01 — Pittsburgh, PA — Roxian Theatre
Mon Oct 02 — Toronto, ON — HISTORY
Wed Oct 04 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore Charlotte
Sun Oct 08 — Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
Mon Oct 09 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
Wed Oct 11 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore
Sun Oct 15 — Tempe, AZ — Marquee Theatre
Tue Oct 17 — San Diego, CA — SOMA
Sat Oct 21 — Vancouver, BC — UBC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
Sun Oct 22 — Portland, OR — McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
Thu Oct 26 — Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas
Fri Oct 27 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
Sun Oct 29 — Denver, CO — Fillmore Auditorium
Tue Oct 31 — St. Louis, MO — The Pageant
Thu Nov 02 — Minneapolis, MN — Fillmore
Sat Nov 04 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee
Sun Nov 05 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore

Europe

Wed Nov 22 — Oslo, Norway — Sentrum Scene
Fri Nov 24 — Stockholm, Sweden — Fryhuset
Sat Nov 25 — Copenhagen, Denmark — KB Hallen
Mon Nov 27 — Berlin, Germany — Columbiahalle
Tue Nov 28 — Cologne, Germany — Palladium
Thu Nov 30 — Manchester, UK — O2 Victoria Warehouse
Fri Dec 01 — London, UK — OVO Wembley Arena
Sun Dec 03 — Glasgow, UK — O2 Academy
Mon Dec 04 — Birmingham, UK — O2 Academy
Wed Dec 06 — Paris, France — Salle Pleyel
Fri Dec 08 — Tilburg, Netherlands — Poppodium013
Sun Dec 10 — Brussels, Belgium — Ancienne Belgique
Tue Dec 12 — Barcelona, Spain — Razzmatazz
Thu Dec 14 — Milan, Italy — Fabrique
Sat Dec 16 — Zurich, Switzerland — Komplex 457
Sun Dec 17 — Vienna, Austria — Gasometer

Lil Yachty Performs “The Black Seminole” & “Drive Me Crazy!” On “SNL”

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Lil Yachty took over Saturday Night Live, this weekend, performing two songs off of his new album, Let’s Start Here. For performances of “the BLACK seminole.” and “drive ME crazy!,” Yachty brought out Diana Gordon, who contributes vocals to the studio versions of both songs.

On stage, Yachty was backed by an all-women band in addition to Gordon. Speaking with Zane Lowe of Apple Music 1 in January, he explained his reasoning for going with just ladies. “I just feel like women don’t get as much respect as men when it comes to the music industry,” Yachty said at the time. “So I was like, ‘These songs are pretty badass, and I want to show women playing them.”

Lil Yachty At Rolling Loud

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 05: Lil Yachty performs during 2023 Rolling Loud Los Angeles at Hollywood Park Grounds on March 05, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Timothy Norris/WireImage)

With his latest album, Yachty ventures away from his traditional rap genre and ventures for a sound more heavily influenced by psychedelic rock. Speaking about the decision to go in that direction, Yachty previously said: “I think I created it just because I really wanted to be taken serious as an artist, you know. Not just some SoundCloud rapper, not some mumble rapper. Not some guy that just made one hit. I wanted to be really taken serious because music is, like, everything to me. I respect all walks of music, not just rap and hip-hop, everything. So I think I wanted to make something to show the world just how great it was to me.”

Elsewhere in the episode of Saturday Night Live, Quinta Brunson served as the host. During her opening monologue, the Abbott Elementary star promoted her show by taking a jab at Friends. “It’s a network sitcom like, say, Friends. Except, instead of being about a group of friends, it’s about a group of teachers. Instead of New York, it’s in Philadelphia and instead of not having Black people, it does,” she joked. The show also tackled Donald Trump’s recent indictment, featured an April Fools prank from Michael Che, and much more.

Lil Yachty On “SNL”

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Lil Yachty And Diana Gordon Brightened The Room With A Performance Of ‘Drive Me Crazy On ‘Saturday Night Live’

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In his second performance of the night, Lil Yachty shared “Drive Me Crazy,” a standout track from Let’s Start Here on the Saturday Night Live stage.

Once again, joined by his all-women backing band, Yachty brought out Diana Gordon, who flawlessly sang the song’s intro. Yachty, dressed in jeans, a blue-stripped button-down shirt, and a large fur trapper hat, delivered soft, soothing vocals, as he sang the song’s second verse and chorus.

This performance was more vibrant than Yachty’s first of the night, as the stage was lit up with a background of clouds in the blue sky. Yachty, Gordon, and the band all maintained their rockstar energy.

In a recent interview with Billboard, Yachty revealed that he initially felt anxious about sharing his earlier music with the world. But since making a pivot to psychedelic rock sounds with Let’s Start Here, he feels a lot more confident.

“I was always kind of nervous to put out music, but now I’m on some other sh*t,” Yachty says. “It was a lot of self-assessing and being very real about not being happy with where I was musically, knowing I’m better than where I am. Because the sh*t I was making did not add up to the sh*t I listened to.”

You can watch the performance of “Drive Me Crazy” above.

Lil Yachty Was In Rockstar Mode During A Performance Of ‘The Black Seminole’ On ‘Saturday Night Live’

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Lil Yachty is maintaining his momentum after having dropped his critically-acclaimed fourth album, Let’s Start Here back in January. Tonight (April 1), Yachty made his debut on the Saturday Night Live stage, where he performed, “The Black Seminole,’ the opening track from the album.

During the performance, Yachty maintained an air of mystery, wearing dark sunglasses and a hoodie. The stage was lit with blue and black lighting, and filled with plants and greenery. In the background was a flashing moon surrounded by a rainbow. Yachty was accompanied by an all-women backing band, for which he had posted a call for auditions back in January.

In an interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, he elaborated on why he wanted to assemble an all-women band.

“I just feel like women don’t get as much respect as men when it comes to the music industry,” said Yachty. “So I was like, ‘These songs are pretty badass, and I want to show women playing them.”

Midway through the performance, the beat transitioned to a smooth, vocal interlude, performed by Diana Gordon, who delivered smooth, impeccable sounds, dressed in an elegant ivory gown.

You can check out the performance of “The Black Seminole” above.

Lil Yachty And Quinta Brunson Will Appear On ‘Saturday Night Live’ Next Month

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lil yachty 2023
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The first Saturday Night Live guests of April have been revealed. During tonight’s episode, which was hosted by Jenna Ortega and featured two musical performances from The 1975, an onscreen message between commercials revealed that Quinta Brunson from Abbott Elementary will host the first SNL episode of April. The news was then shared on SNL‘s social accounts shortly after.

Joining Brunson will be rapper and singer Lil Yachty, who is still hot off the release of his critically-acclaimed new album, Let’s Start Here.

Yachty’s latest album features him making a departure from his Soundcloud rap stylings and experimenting with a more psychedelic rock sound. In a recent interview with Billboard, Yachty revealed that making this album was vital for him to show his fans — and more importantly, himself — his wide range of musical talents.

“There’s a lot of kids who haven’t heard any of my references,” he said. “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.”

Quinta Brunson and Lil Yachty’s episode of Saturday Night Live will air on Saturday, April 1 at 11:30 p.m. EST on NBC. The episode will also stream live on Peacock.

Lil Yachty Wants A Collab Album With Tyler, The Creator

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Let’s Start Here is one of the most talked about and acclaimed albums of the year so far, and its creator is looking to continue in that direction. Moreover, Lil Yachty recently expressed that he’d love to do a collab album with Tyler, the Creator. Not only that, but he told Billboard during an interview that the Golf Wang mogul inspired him to experiment in the first place. While many turned Yachty’s album into thinkpiece fodder, its most triumphant victory is the sheer quality, creativity, and artistic vision on display regardless of what he did or didn’t do before. In a similar way, Tyler’s been one of the most evolutionary and artistically motivated figures of our time, so the connection is unsurprising but incredibly exciting.

“[Tyler] is the reason I made this album,” the Atlanta creator expressed. “He’s the one who told me to do it, just go for it. He’s so confident and I have so much respect for him because he takes me seriously, and he always has.” Later in the interview, he added, “I would love to do a project with Tyler.” 

Lil Yachty & Tyler, The Creator Collab Album Could Happen One Day

Of course, this should send fans of either or both artists into a frenzy. Furthermore, the 25-year-old crafted one of the year’s most definitive pieces of music so far, kicking off 2023 with a lot of discussion and acclaim. Meanwhile, fans of T know that he’s due another project quite soon, as it’s an odd year and it’s been two years since his last album. The former Odd Future boss hasn’t strayed from his release schedule yet, although he’s so deep into his acclaimed career that a switch-up wouldn’t be frustrating at all.

Still, if a collaborative track, album, video, or whatever else sees the light of day, it should make for a really colorful team-up. After all, their track “T.D.” from Yachty’s Lil Boat 3 was a fun banger that also featured A$AP Rocky and Tierra Whack. However you may feel about their music, you can’t deny that they’re two of the rap-adjacent world’s most boundary-pushing leaders in 2023. Regardless, check back in with HNHH for the latest on Lil Yachty and Tyler, the Creator.

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Bob Ross’ Estate Initially Declined Lil Yachty’s Request To Feature Him On ‘We Saw The Sun’

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When Lil Yachty dropped his Let’s Start Here album last month, Uproxx’s review contextualized that Lil Boat “is not the first rapper to release an alternative project,” but the album “isn’t just a departure from his own oeuvre; it also differentiates itself from its peers.”

And Let’s Start Here is a first for Lil Yachty in an even more unexpected way.

Yachty was revealed as Billboard‘s new cover star on Wednesday, March 8, and within the cover story written by Lyndsey Havens, Motown Records VP of A&R Gelareh Rouzbehani detailed how Yachty was able to posthumously feature famed painter Bob Ross on “We Saw The Sun!” (Ross died from cancer on July 4, 1995.)

Per Rouzbehani, Ross’ estate initially declined. “I think a big concern of theirs was that Yachty is known as a rapper, and Bob Ross and his brand are very clean,” she told Billboard. “They didn’t want to associate with anything explicit.”

She added, “With a lot of back-and-forth, we got the call. Yachty is the first artist that has gotten a Bob Ross clearance in history.”

Elsewhere in the Billboard cover story, Yachty discussed the difficulties of planning his subsequent tour and the desire to collaborate with Tyler The Creator.

“I would love to do a project with Tyler,” Yachty said. “He’s the reason I made this album. He’s the one who told me to do it, just go for it. He’s so confident, and I have so much respect for him because he takes me seriously, and he always has.”

Tyler was correct in pushing Yachty to put Let’s Start Here out in the world, as it debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, and Top Alternative Albums charts. Most recently, it served as the perfect palette from which to paint an impressive Rolling Loud California set last weekend.

Lil Yachty Reveals Bob Ross’ Estate Didn’t Want To Clear Sample For “Let’s Start Here”

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Lil Yachty made an unexpected turn in his career when he came through with Let’s Start Here. Over the past few months, people have anticipated Yachty’s next move. The release of “Poland” earned him another viral single that became an anthem of the year. However, he also contributed to Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss, which many felt was a promising sign of his next musical endeavor. Yachty produced four songs on the record and even contributed ad-libs to the album.

Between “Poland” and Her Loss, many felt like Yachty would’ve taken his signature sound to new heights. Instead, he leaped into psychedelic rock and delivered a body of work that stands as one of the best in his catalog. With a tight-knit group of collaborators and instrumentalists, he showcased his range as an artist with an unexpected musical direction. He could return to hip-hop in the future but it seems like he might explore this particular genre further in the foreseeable future. 

Lil Yachty’s Bob Ross Sample

Though the project doesn’t have many features, Yachty did manage to include a sample of Bob Ross on Let’s Start Here. Ross’s voice appears on the “We Saw The Sun!” outro following an excellent performance from Ant Clemons. The sample comes from Ross’ The Joy Of Painting as he provides a hopeful message. But according to VP of A&R at Motown Records Gelareh Rouzbehani, the estate of the late painter didn’t necessarily want to clear the sample at first.

“I think a big concern of theirs was that Yachty is known as a rapper, and Bob Ross and his brand are very clean,” Rouzbehani told Billboard in their new cover story with Yachty. “They didn’t want to associate with anything explicit. But Yachty was adamant, and played the track for Ross’ team and also sent the entire album’s lyrics to set the group at ease. With a lot of back and forth, we got the call. Yachty is the first artist that has gotten a Bob Ross clearance in history.” Eventually, they got it cleared and made history together. How do you feel about Lil Yachty’s new album? Sound off in the comments below.

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Lil Yachty On His New Project: “F*ck Any Of The Albums I Dropped Before This One”

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Lil Yachty discussed his growth as an artist as well as his new psychedelic album, Let’s Start Here, during a candid interview with Billboard published on Wednesday. He says that the new project reflects who he is in a more candid way than any of his previous work. For Let’s Start Here, Yachty teamed up with Mac DeMarco, Nick Hakim, Alex G and members of MGMT, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Chairlift to create his new sound.

“I did what I really wanted to do, which was create a body of work that reflected me,” Yachty told the outlet on the day before his listening event at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, N.J. “My idea was for this album to be a journey: Press play and fall into a void.” He also remarked: “Fuck any of the albums I dropped before this one.”

Lil Yachty At Rolling Loud

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 05: Lil Yachty performs during 2023 Rolling Loud Los Angeles at Hollywood Park Grounds on March 05, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Timothy Norris/WireImage)

From there, Yachty reflected on the state of hip-hop when he came onto the scene. “I came into music in a time where rap was real hardcore, it was real street,” he says. “And a bunch of us kids came in with colorful hair and dressing different and basically said, ‘Move out the way, old fucks. We on some other sh-t.’ I was young and I didn’t really give a fuck, so I did do things that may have led people to the assumptions that I was a mumble rapper or a SoundCloud kid or I don’t appreciate the history of hip-hop.”

He also discussed his love for Bon Iver, Pink Floyd, and other artists outside of his genre. “But to be honest, I’ve always been so much more than just hip-hop,” he said. “There’s a lot of kids who haven’t heard any of my references. 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.”

Yachty released Let’s Start Here back in January to mostly positive reviews from critics. It also debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200, earning 36,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. It’s his first studio album since 2020’s Lil Boat 3.

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Lil Yachty Wants To Do A Joint Album With Tyler The Creator, Who Is The Reason He Experimented On ‘Let’s Start Here’

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Lil Yachty Toronto International Film Festival 2022
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Oscar-winning musician Questlove and music fans in general alike continue to rave about Lil Yachty’s latest album, Let’s Start Here. Despite expressing frustrations over his music leaking and difficulties in planning for the album’s supporting tour, the musician is extremely proud of what he was able to produce.

Yachty revealed that his mission going into making was to separate himself from the tokenizing label of SoundCloud rapper, and thanks to the help of quite a few heavy hitter guest producers, he’s done just that. But there’s another person the songwriter would like to credit with the release: fellow musician Tyler The Creator.

In an interview Billboard, Yachty gushed about how Tyler has influenced him. “[Tyler] is the reason I made this album. He’s the one who told me to do it, just go for it. He’s so confident and I have so much respect for him because he takes me seriously, and he always has,” said Yachty.

Later adding, “I would love to do a project with Tyler.”

A joint project between Lil Yachty and Tyler The Creator would be a mixture of quite a few songs, given that both artists have continued to explore sonically outside of initial rap music entry.