BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene

Lil Yachty’s ascension continues with his cover boy status on the upcoming summer music issue of The Fader.

 Photo: The FADER/Brad Ogbonna

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

icon to expand image

Credit: Melissa Ruggieri

The upstart Atlanta rapper, who turns 20 next month, exhibits his buoyancy in the in-depth story, whether discussing the first tape he ever owned (Kriss Kross) or taping an episode of "Martha and Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party" with the business icon and rap kingpin.

Reporter Rembert Browne spent five days with Yachty shortly before the May release of his first studio album, “Teenage Emotions.” Browne noted that Yachty would prefer Domino’s, soda and Fruit by the Foot to weed and liquor and that in their time spent together, the colorful young MC was rarely alone.

"I hate being alone. That's why I like being with my friends: we've got energy, we're social as hell. I'm not 30 or anything - I'm 19,” Yachty said.

He also confirmed that he and Lil Uzi Vert are not friends (“It’s just competition”) and talked about his relationship with Atlanta manager Kevin “Coach K” Lee of Quality Control Music.

"It makes things pretty one-sided sometimes. Like, technically the manager works for the artist. What the artist says goes,” Yachty said. “But I know Coach always has the best intentions, so sometimes he just tells me what to do. And I don't really have any say. I mean, I have a say so, but for the most part I don't really care to say anything."

Check out the online version of the story here. The print edition will be available July 25.

Follow the AJC Music Scene on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Jessica Chastain attends the Kering Caring for Women Dinner in New York on Sept. 11, 2025. Later this month, you might see her around Atlanta. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Featured

Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com