AOTW: LET’S START HERE.

Who saw this SWITCHUP coming?

Miles Parks McCollum, known professionally as Lil Yachty, announced an album listening party in New York ahead of an upcoming album release on January 27, 2023. Surprising his fanbase, Yachty took a sharp turn from his typical "mumble rap" style trap music, droping an alternative, Indie style album. Let's Start Here had mixed reviews upon its release, although mainly positive. Some fans critisized Yachty for his use of AI in his album cover, which he then clarified was a generation of record label executives laughing at the idea of a rapper releasing musc of a completely different genre. The use of AI illustrates how artificial intelligence threatens to kill human creativity in the same way that record labels kill artist creativity.
 
The album takes heavy inspiration from artists like Tame Impala and rock band Pink Floyd, with Yachty's opening track The BLACK Seminole sharing a very similar vocal bridge to the track The Great Gig in the Sky. Being very heavy and well produced album, Boat was able to offset his lack of singing prowess for catchy rhythms, rhymes, instrumentals, and features whose vocals did more than enough to compensate for where Yachty doesn't necessarily excel in. 

Lil Yachty intended to showcase his vast talent, not just to be seen as a Soundcloud, mumble rapper, but as an artist that has the ability to push new sounds and elevate genres, to be seen as an inspiration to future up and coming artists. He continues to drop new music, delving back into the rap scene, but 2023 showed fans everywhere that Lil Yachty has the ability to "switch it up" when ever he feels like it, and we'll like the music no matter what the genre is.

8/10