Can You Hear Me Now? Lil Yachty Freestyles With Clear Intent (Video)

Lil Yachty has become one of the most recognized rappers under the legal drinking age. He has endorsement deals, a video approaching 120 million plays, a Top 5 charting album, a Grammy nomination, and platinum singles alongside D.R.A.M. and Kyle.

The Quality Control/Capitol Records artist is not without his critics. Yachty is one of the poster-artists for the so-called “Mumble Rap” trend. One year ago, CyHi The Prynce rhymed that his fellow Georgia native was “destroying the game,” and he did not mean it kindly. In 2016 actor-turned-rapper Shia LaBeouf also took multiple potshots at Boat, notably calling the artist “Lil Romeo meets Raggedy Ann.”

Joe Budden & Lil Yachty Have A Battle Of The Rap Generations & Neither Backs Down (Video)

Whereas some of Yachty’s contemporaries have used social media as their defense platform, the 20-year-old faces his critics. He was among the first guests on Everyday Struggle during its first season. One of the show’s early news-making moments came when both former host Joe Budden and Yachty got loud and proud in a heated debate about Rap’s generational gaps. Boat was later part of “Ice Tray” with Migos’ Quavo, making fun of Joe in the video. Yachty shows up and un-apologetically stands his ground, for his generation and the type of music he makes.

Another one of Boat’s recent critics is Funkmaster Flex. HOT 97’s longtime DJ and one of the apparent gate-keepers of music in New York City and the surrounding tri-state thinks Yachty is wack. He said so two weeks ago on social media, @’ing Boat as well as G-Eazy, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Pump, citing inspiration from Diddy. Admitting that he was “in his bag” at the time, Flex then picked up the phone to call Yachty’s management to allegedly own his words. He did not realize it at the time, but the DJ/producer was greeted by Boat himself. In response, the rapper wanted to come on Flex’s platform to talk it out. Flex denied the interview to the “One Night” creator. Instead, the DJ offered him the freestyle mic. Flex admits he did not expect Boat to accept.

He was wrong.

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Yachty showed up. In the latest edition of the series that awakened the global to Black Thought’s elite talent in late 2017, Boat launches with lyrics. To the surprise of no one, the rapper born Miles Parks McCollum is no Tariq Trotter. He knows that. However, on a platform that Flex charges is designed for “real Hip-Hop,” Yachty raps with clarity and thought.

In the freestyle clocking in at roughly two minutes, Yachty spits over Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin'” instrumental (as produced by Salih Williams). “Ni**a, free Reese, free Nino / The world is mine, like I’m Al Pacino / Got more money than a lil’ casino,” he begins in a traditional Rap style. “Why you hate? ‘Cause I’m too rare / Young ni**a, I’m a fresh prince, could’ve bought a crib out in Bel-Air / F*ckin’ on a b*tch from Delaware.” From sex and money, to guns and fame, Yachty does not deviate from the content that’s made him famous. However, few MCs have the heart to show up in a hater’s territory (by Flex’s own admission) and put it on the line.

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Yachty just released Lil Boat 2. It features 2 Chainz, Trippie Redd, Quavo, Offset, and Pump.