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Let's Start Here

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Let's Start Here
Studio album by
Lil Yachty
ReleasedJanuary 27, 2023
Studio
  • Blue Room (Atlanta)
  • The CRC (Brooklyn)
  • Electric Lady (New York City)
  • Hit Gallery (Atlanta)
  • Jizz Jazz (Los Angeles)
  • Sonic Ranch (Tornillo)
  • The Tree House (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length57:16
Label
Producer
Lil Yachty chronology
Michigan Boy Boat
(2021) 		Let's Start Here
(2023) 		Something Ether
(2024)

Let's Start Here is the fifth studio album by the American rapper Lil Yachty, released on January 27, 2023, through Motown Records and Quality Control Music. It is his first studio album since Lil Boat 3 (2020) and follows his 2021 mixtape Michigan Boy Boat. The album marks a departure from Lil Yachty's signature trap sound, being heavily influenced by psychedelic rock.

Let's Start Here received generally positive reviews from music critics. It debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200, earning 36,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.

Background

[edit]

Throughout his career, Lil Yachty has been referred to as a rapper.[4] Lil Yachty's fourth studio album, Lil Boat 3, received mixed reviews from critics, with some calling it "sloppy and forgettable" and the album saw Lil Yachty "tak[ing] steps backwards".[5] During January 2022, Lil Yachty hinted at his next release being "a non-rap album" and consisting of "all live instrumentation."[6] His 2022 single "Poland" received critical acclaim,[a] and created "a mild international incident" according to Rolling Stone.[12] In December 2022, an old and low quality version of Let's Start Here[13] dubbed Sonic Ranch leaked on the Internet.[14] Lil Yachty said experiencing the leak being shared online was the "saddest [he's] ever been".[13]

Writing and recording

[edit]

Lil Yachty started recording Let's Start Here in 2021.[15] Tyler, the Creator motivated Lil Yachty to start creating the album during a phone call with him. After that, he reached out to his friends who also served as the album's instrumentalists, who then introduced Lil Yachty to new instrumentalists.[16]

Promotion and release

[edit]

Lil Yachty officially announced the album on Instagram on January 17, 2023, posting the cover art, title, and release date. Created by Jon Rafman,[17] the cover is an AI-generated photograph of men and women wearing suits in a boardroom with "contorted facial features and warped smiles".[18] Yachty's caption referred to it as "chapter 2", with Variety calling it "a potential redux" of the leaked Sonic Ranch.[18]

On January 24, 2023, Yachty released a "thriller-style" skit in promotion of the album titled "Department of Mental Tranquility", in which he arrives at the titular department and is asked a series of questions by the receptionist in a waiting room full of people behaving erratically. He then walks down a narrow hallway and into a bright white room.[19] The album was released on January 27, 2023.[20]

The music video for the album's tenth track "Say Something" was released on January 27, 2023.[21] It was directed by Crowns & Owls.[22] The song debuted at number 24 on the US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs.[23]

Critical reception

[edit]
Let's Start Here ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.1/10[24]
Metacritic73/100[25]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Beats Per Minute75%[26]
Clash7/10[27]
Exclaim!8/10[28]
HipHopDX3.4/5[29]
Pitchfork6.0/10[3]
Spectrum Culture75%[30]
Sputnikmusic3.8/5[31]

Let's Start Here was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received a weighted average score of 73, based on nine reviews.[25] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[24]

Jeff Ihaza of Rolling Stone praised the album, stating, "The rapper and musician's ambitious left-turn incorporates experimental rock and jazz with near-flawless execution, arriving at something that feels genuinely brand-new".[32] Exclaim! critic Alex Hudson said, "Sure, he did appear on a Tame Impala remix last year, but few could have expected such a vivid and exploratory psych album as Let's Start Here".[28] Fred Thomas of AllMusic praised the album, stating, "The cluttered labyrinth of weird experiments is held together by Yachty himself, still exhibiting the bold personality and curious spirit he showed on trap beats when singing emotively over psychedelic rock instrumentals".[2] Tom Johnson from Beats Per Minute enjoyed the album, saying, "While opinions will certainly be divided on Let's Start Here, it's undeniable that a rapper hasn't committed so impressively and effortlessly to a rock genre since Kid Cudi's Nirvana-inspired Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven. If anyone was going to do something this unexpected it was going to be Yachty".[26] Robin Murray of Clash remarked that the album abandons Yachty's previous "straight-up rap for half-sung, half-spoken interludes", finding that "the results – though patchy – contain some of his best work yet". Murray concluded that with "every clipped, Silk Sonic esque moment – step forward 'drive ME crazy!' – there are moments of meandering musicality, and uncertain songcraft" but overall it "seems to point to a fresh beginning for Lil Yachty".[27] Connor Flynn of Spectrum Culture said, "Despite its flaws, the album successfully blends psych and hip hop and puts a new spin on an old sound".[30]

Reviewing the album for HipHopDX, Rebecca Barglowski stated, "Let's Start Here is exciting at the first listen because the style is new to Lil Yachty himself. Alas, the shiny sheen of new experiences tends to dull over time and with repetition".[29] Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork described the album as "a highly manicured and expensive blend of Tame Impala-style psych-rock, A24 synth-pop, loungey R&B, and Silk Sonic-esque funk, a sound so immediately appealing that it doesn't feel experimental at all". While Pierre complimented Yachty's "versatility" and for giving the "standout performance" on the "crowded project", Pierre remarked that he found Yachty's 2022 single "Poland" "stranger than anything here".[3] The Wire's Mosi Reeves opined that Let's Start Here "has a middlebrow sensibility" despite Yachty's "pretensions", viewing the album as being most effective "when he unleashes his oddball trill, an evocative sound that bland sentiments like 'So surreal, the vibes I feel' can't quite diminish."[33]

Year-end lists

[edit]
Select year-end rankings of Let's Start Here
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 50 Best Albums of 2023
8
[34]
Complex The Best Albums of 2023
10
[35]
Crack The Top 50 Albums of the Year
17
[36]
Esquire The 20 Best Albums of 2023
13
[37]
Exclaim! Exclaim!'s 50 Best Albums of 2023
38
[38]
NME The Best Albums of 2023
50
[39]
Rolling Stone The 100 Best Albums of 2023
4
[40]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Let's Start Here debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 36,000 album-equivalent units (including 4,000 copies in pure album sales) in its first week.[41] This became Lil Yachty's third US top-10 debut on the chart.[41] The album also accumulated a total of 41.34 million on-demand streams of the album's tracks.[41]

Track listing

[edit]
Let's Start Here track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Black Seminole"
6:51
2."The Ride"
  • Lil Yachty
  • Wimberly
  • Justin Raisen
  • SadPony
  • Jam City
3:10
3."Running Out of Time"
4:29
4."Pretty"
  • Wimberly
  • Justin Raisen
  • SadPony
  • Jam City
2:42
5."Failure"
Portrait2:47
6."The Zone"
  • McCollum
  • Wimberly
  • Jeremiah Raisen
  • Portrait
  • Robinson
  • Wimberly
  • SadPony
  • Portrait
  • Robinson[a]
  • Khaya "Baby K" Cohen[a]
4:09
7."We Saw the Sun!"
  • Wimberly
  • Justin Raisen
  • SadPony
  • Portrait
5:31
8."Drive Me Crazy!"
  • Wimberly
  • SadPony
  • Halm
3:49
9."I've Officially Lost Vision!!!!"
  • McCollum
  • Wimberly
  • Jeremiah Raisen
  • Portrait
  • Romano
  • Wimberly
  • SadPony
  • Portrait
5:22
10."Say Something"
  • McCollum
  • Wimberly
  • Justin Raisen
  • Jeremiah Raisen
  • Latham
  • Wimberly
  • Justin Raisen
  • SadPony
  • Jam City
3:32
11."Paint the Sky"
  • Wimberly
  • Justin Raisen
  • SadPony
  • Lopez[a]
3:05
12."Should I B?"
  • McCollum
  • Wimberly
  • Justin Raisen
  • Jeremiah Raisen
  • Portrait
  • Wimberly
  • Justin Raisen
  • SadPony
  • Portrait
2:48
13."The Alchemist"
  • McCollum
  • Wimberly
  • Jeremiah Raisen
  • Portrait
  • Fousheé
  • Wimberly
  • SadPony
  • Portrait
2:56
14."Reach the Sunshine"
5:58
Total length:57:16

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from liner notes.[42]

Musicians

Technical

  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Steve Fallone – mastering
  • Tom Elmhirst – mixing
  • Miles BA Robinson – engineering (1–3, 5–14), vocal programming (1–3, 8)
  • Justin Raisen – engineering (1, 3, 7, 11, 12, 14)
  • Jake Portrait – engineering (1, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13)
  • Anthony Lopez – engineering (1, 10, 14)
  • SadPony – engineering (2, 10)
  • Gent Memishi – engineering (3, 4, 10–13), vocal programming (4, 10)
  • Patrick Wimberly – engineering (5, 11, 14)
  • Ainjel Emme – engineering, vocal programming (10)
  • Adam Hong – mixing assistance

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Let's Start Here
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[43] 37
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[44] 23
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[45] 31
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[46] 118
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[47] 10
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[48] 24
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[49] 37
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[50] 44
French Albums (SNEP)[51] 109
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[52] 50
Irish Albums (OCC)[53] 27
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[54] 18
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[55] 11
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[56] 11
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[57] 13
UK Albums (OCC)[58] 32
US Billboard 200[59] 9
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[60] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[61] 1

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for Let's Start Here
Region Date Label(s) Format(s) Ref.
Various January 27, 2023
[62][63]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[7][8][9][10][11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (January 27, 2023). "Lil Yachty's New Album Let's Start Here. Is A Wild Psychedelic Rock Odyssey". Stereogum. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Thomas, Fred. "Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Pierre, Alphonse (February 1, 2023). "Lil Yachty: Let's Start Here Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Jeffries, David. "Lil Yachty Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More ..." AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  5. ^ "Lil Boat 3 by Lil Yachty Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Mamo, Heran (January 17, 2023). "Lil Yachty Announces New Album 'Let's Start Here'". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  7. ^ Skelton, Eric (October 6, 2022). "Lil Yachty Took the WoOoOOoOoock to Poland". Complex. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Ech, Joey (October 7, 2022). "Lil Yachty 'Poland' Lyrics". XXL. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Russell, Scott (October 12, 2022). "Lil Yachty Drops "Poland" Music Video". Paste. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Curto, Justin (October 11, 2022). "Okay, But When Did Lil Yachty Take the Wock to Poland?". Vulture. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022.
  11. ^ Selenou, Serge (October 11, 2022). "Lil Yachty: "Poland" Track Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  12. ^ Ihaza, Jeff (January 30, 2023). "With 'Let's Start Here' Lil Yachty Emerges as Music's Boldest Creative Director". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Cowen, Trace William (September 7, 2023). "Lil Yachty Looks Back on 'Let's Start Here' Leak: 'The Saddest I've Ever Been'". Complex. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Gonzalez, Alex (January 17, 2023). "Lil Yachty Shared The Release Date And Creepy Cover Art For 'Let's Start Here,' His Much-Anticipated New Album". Uproxx. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Ramirez, Matthew (February 8, 2023). "Lil Yachty's delightfully absurd path to 'Let's Start Here'". NPR. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  16. ^ Gee, Andre (March 16, 2023). "Lil Yachty's Psychedelic Relaunch: 'I Don't Have To Be High To Make It Sound High'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "Fact Focus: Jon Rafman". Fact. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Srour, Yousef (January 17, 2023). "Lil Yachty Reveals AI-Generated Album Cover for 'Let's Start Here,' Depicting Demented Boardroom of Executives". Variety. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  19. ^ Saunders, Brycen (January 24, 2023). "Lil Yachty Drops "Department of Mental Tranquility" Skit Ahead of Forthcoming Album". Hypebeast. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  20. ^ Mamo, Heran (January 27, 2023). "Lil Yachty Guides Listeners on a Trippy Journey with 'Let's Start Here' Album: Stream It Now". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  21. ^ Larisha, Paul (January 27, 2023). "Lil Yachty Says 'I Love You' Too Fast and Ruins the Vibe in 'Say Something' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Elibert, Mark (January 28, 2023). "Lil Yachty Takes Rejection To The Extreme In Bizarre 'Say Something' Video". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  23. ^ "Lil Yachty Chart History: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Let's Start Here by Lil Yachty reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Let's Start Here by Lil Yachty Reviews and Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  26. ^ a b Johnson, Tom (February 2, 2023). "Album Review: Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  27. ^ a b Murray, Robin (January 27, 2023). "Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Hudson, Alex (February 1, 2023). "Lil Yachty's Psych Rock Enthusiasm Is Contagious on 'Let's Start Here.'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  29. ^ a b Barglowski, Rebecca (February 8, 2023). "Lil Yachty 'Let's Start Here' Is A Bold Departure That May Leave Some Fans Adrift". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  30. ^ a b Flynn, Connor (February 6, 2023). "Lil Yachty: Let's Start Here". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  31. ^ Rowan5215 (February 2, 2023). "Review: Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 2, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Ihaza, Jeff (January 30, 2023). "With 'Let's Start Here' Lil Yachty Emerges as Music's Boldest Creative Director". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  33. ^ Reeves, Mosi (April 2023). "Hiphop & R&B". The Wire. No. 470. pp. 68–69.
  34. ^ Brown, Eric Renner (December 6, 2023). "The 50 Best Albums of 2023: Staff List". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  35. ^ McKinney, Jessica (December 14, 2022). "The Best Albums Of 2023". Complex. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  36. ^ Kazandjian, Robert. "The Top 50 Albums of the Year". Crack Magazine. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  37. ^ McNeal, Bria (December 1, 2023). "The 20 Best Albums of 2023". Esquire. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  38. ^ Barnabe, Dylan (November 30, 2023). "Exclaim!'s 50 Best Albums of 2023". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  39. ^ Smith, Thomas (December 8, 2023). "The best albums of 2023". NME. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  40. ^ Dolan, Jon (November 30, 2023). "The 100 Best Albums of 2023". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  41. ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (February 5, 2023). "Tomorrow X Together Lands First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  42. ^ Motown and Quality Control (2023). Let's Start Here (Vinyl liner notes). Lil Yachty. Motown and Quality Control. B003692801.
  43. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here.". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  44. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here." (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  45. ^ "Ultratop.be – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  46. ^ "Ultratop.be – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here." (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  47. ^ "Lil Yachty Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  48. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here.". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  49. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  50. ^ "Lil Yachty – Suomen virallinen lista" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  51. ^ "Lescharts.com – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here.". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  52. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here." (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  53. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  54. ^ "2023 5-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. February 3, 2023. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  55. ^ "Charts.nz – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here.". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  56. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here.". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  57. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here.". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  58. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  59. ^ "Lil Yachty Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  60. ^ "Lil Yachty Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  61. ^ "Lil Yachty Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  62. ^ Mamo, Heran (January 27, 2023). "Lil Yachty Guides Listeners on a Trippy Journey with 'Let's Start Here' Album: Stream It Now". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  63. ^ "Lil Yachty – Let's Start Here. [2 LP]". Record Store Day. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
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