In a Rolling Stone's Musicians on Musicians interview with Tierra Whack, Lil Yachty emphasized that he has never glorified drugs or violence in his music. Whack brought up Yachty's presence on the 2016 XXL Freshman cover, suggesting he wasn't promoting negative themes in his lyrics. Yachty responded, referencing the 2016 Freshman Class's inclination toward glorifying drugs and other aspects.
Reflecting on his journey, Yachty expressed gratitude for his fan base but acknowledged that he didn't attract the same attention as peers who glorified negativity. He clarified his stance, stating, "I always realized that I never had the fan base of certain peers because I didn’t glorify negativity. I didn’t glorify things that I didn’t stand by, you know."
Addressing criticism on Instagram Live, Yachty clarified that he was discussing his brand, endorsements, and maintaining a clean image. He argued that his early music, at 18, didn't delve into themes of violence, alcohol, or drugs. "If you listen to my first project... I wasn't talking about guns and drugs," he asserted.
In the same conversation, Yachty previewed an unreleased collaboration with J. Cole and discussed their unexpected connection. Despite initial skepticism, Yachty and Cole collaborated on "The Secret Recipe" earlier this year, with Yachty expressing their newfound connection on a different level.
