Lil Yachty’s new album is great road trip music

This past Friday, rapper Lil Yachty released his 5th studio album, Let’s Start Here. The album feels like a new start for the 25-year-old musician. He gives the listening audience a new turn to previous work. This time he passes all vibe tests with a psychedelic rock and soul sound. He flows with the same fun as before, but this time adds a bit more funk. This is long drive music. It has all the makings of a no-skip-and-chill flight.

Yachty was open about his thoughts on this updated flow. At a listening party in Jersey City’s Liberty Science Center, he stated, “Think I created it because I really want to be taken seriously as an artist, not just some Soundcloud rapper, not some mumble rapper, not some guy that just made one hit.”

Yachty has been known to be a collaborator and has written for the likes of Chance the Rapper, Megan Thee Stallion, and Chris Brown. He is also heavily credited on Drake and 21 Savage’s recent collaboration, Her Loss. Some of those same peers were seen supporting at one of those recent listening parties as Drake and Offset were both in the audience.

The praise is coming from all timers like legendary Roots Drummer, Questlove, who praised Lil Yachty on Instagram.

“I dunno man: after about 3 listens (and I thought I’d NEVER say this—-& not because ‘I didn’t expect this from Lil Yachty’——but just in general I didn’t expect this from MUSIC).

“How should I put it? I really really really really love this @lilyachty record and I love when artists pull off a good departure record (departure albums are when musicians pull a COMPLETE creative left turn. Most times as a career sabotage of feeling doomed to not be able to live up to a standard they set. Not being able to make the Thelma & Louise jump. Quitting the job/relationship before you give ‘em a chance to fire you—).”

From the smooth guitar riffs to the classic Bob Ross painting voiceovers, this album is a departure that even old detractors can bop to.

His fans are feeling the new music and are supporting the evolution of his sound.

Released on January 27 via Quality Control Music, Let’s Start Here features contributions from an eclectic supporting cast that includes Mac DeMarco, MGMT’s Benjamin Goldwasser, Alex G, Nick Hakim and others.

Take flight, drive slow and listen to this new project.

Jeff Dess is an editor for DETOUR, an award-winning educator, best-selling author and notable public speaker who specializes in the areas of Learning and Development and culturally responsive education.

As a public speaker and facilitator Jeff has reached over 100,000 learners. Jeff is an author of six books. We Wear Kicks to Works is an Amazon best-seller, which further explores the intersection of pop culture, leadership, and education.

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This story was originally published January 30, 2023 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Lil Yachty’s new album is great road trip music."