Michigan Boy Boat - Lil Yachty
Intro:
Lil Yachty has been one of the most polarizing rappers in the genre over the past 5 years. With that being said, I can’t deny that his skills as an artist have improved. This is actually the 2nd time we’ve featured a Yachty album on our page. The Atlanta native decided to deliver a Detroit/Flint themed album, and he’s been showing a lot of love to the local talent out there. Let’s see what this sudden new mixtape has to offer.
Strengths:
The main highlight is how well Yachty uses the signature Flint, Michigan flow that has grown very popular in 2021. Some rap fans say that he sounds very off beat, but I’d argue that has really perfected the style. Plus, he’s stepped it up so much lyrically & proves most of his haters/doubters wrong. Yachty stays true to himself & while still coming off gangsta with metaphors like:
“I’m Martin Luther in a room full of Malcolm X’s”
Yachty’s unique vocal delivery is hit or miss for most people. On this project, Yachty does a good job at making his inflection sound less “goofy”. It results in his verses coming off as animated as the complimentary Detroit flow.Production wise you’re getting the signature Detroit style as well. Here’s a great video that breaks down the key elements to creating this type of production. There’s a number of captivating melodies on these beats too (Ex. Stunt Double & Concrete Goonies).
If Michigan Boy Boat was a group project, every feature deserves an A+ in my book. Yachty mainly brings a lot of native guests for the mixtape, and even Swae Lee comes through with some pretty catchy lines on “Never Did Coke”. Veeze is a show stealer & still remains my favorite artist from this underground Detroit scene.
Weaknesses:
I thoroughly enjoyed this mixtape, but there are some drawbacks I do have to acknowledge. Again I enjoy this style of rap, but I could see the “off beat” flow being a turn off for more traditional Hip-Hop listeners. Likewise, the production is very similar to each other & would be an obvious negative for some people.
There are also some questionable lyrics that do have to be highlighted. I don’t necessarily think they’re trash, but somewhat out of pocket:
“Lately, I’ve been thinking bout putting my d*** inside Kali Uchis”
Upon first listen, that specific line completely caught me off guard. I actually had to run it back a few times just to be sure it was actually said. Some of the lines are pretty hilarious too, to be fair. On “Ghetto Boy Shit” he raps:
“This bitch could lay on her back and let her ass walk”
Overall:
Lil Yachty showcases his versatility & creativity as an artist on this new mixtape. More importantly, he is rapping very well & is doing it one of the best projects to come out this year so far. Despite being a Georgia native, he respectfully puts a spotlight on Michigan & its local rap scene. It’s safe to say that Detroit/Flint will be running the rest of the year with their catchy underground sound. Thank you all for reading and be sure to listen to the EP yourself with the link below.
