Lil Yachty’s latest project, Let’s Start Here ushered in a new era in his career. Since he emerged, he’s constantly faced criticism for emerging in the Soundcloud era. Some, like Joe Budden, felt as though he singlehandedly ruined hip-hop. In the past few years, the “Poland” rapper made it his mission to shake off the narrative that followed his name, which explains the huge leap he took with Let’s Start Here. The project felt more inspired by psychedelic rock rather than hip-hop. He accomplished what he set out to do on Let’s Start Here, earning praise from figures like Questlove.
The album came as a shock to many, especially since he didn’t drop a single beforehand. The only piece of music that could’ve indicated the direction of his next studio album was his contributions to Her Loss, and his viral single, “Poland.” The latter felt like a refined approach to his warbly rap records and received praise across the board. Not only from TikTok but from music critics who’ve written him off over the years.
Lil Yachty Felt “Irritated” By The Success Of “Poland”
During a recent conversation with Zane Lowe, Lil Yachty explained why he didn’t necessarily appreciate the positive reception to his viral single. He admitted it was “irritating” to see fans gravitate towards that song since he recorded it on a whim while working on Let’s Start Here. “I would’ve never dropped ‘Poland’ — ever — because I wanted to pivot myself into this,” he explained during the recent interview on Apple Music.
However, he still felt grateful for the impact that it had. “So I was really irritated when it dropped, but I’m so grateful it did. Like I said, I really don’t know what I do next. I don’t know if I’ma do this again or do more rap,” he explained. With the release of Let’s Start Here, Lil Yachty basically has the freedom to pursue whatever he wants musically. However, it’s clear that he hasn’t lost his passion for rapping either. Check out the interview with Zane Lowe above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.