The news of the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States of America is still swirling, especially after Kanye West revealed he didn’t vote, but would have submitted his ballot for the Republican candidate.
Another Hip Hop figure who now reveals he didn’t vote either is Lil Yachty. Although he was an early supporter of Bernie Sanders, the 19-year-old rapper told Big Boy on Real 92.3 that he sat this election out.
“I’ve had a lot going on this year,” he says. “I’ve barely been at home able to get registered to vote. I’ve been using my voice to push the youth and let them know how serious it is to vote because a lot of the youth took it as a joke.”
Yachty was vocal against his fans writing in his own name for the office of presidency. Other popular write-ins included Harambe and Hennessy.
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Despite missing out on this election because he didn’t register, Lil Boat shares that it won’t happen again.
“Even though I’m not eligible yet, I will definitely be eligible for the next time,” he promises.
Lil Yachty has also used his voice to speak up about his opinion on Hip Hop legends. After he got ripped for calling Biggie “overrated” in a recent video, the Atlanta artist insists he meant no disrespect in his comments and explains his journey into music after he grew up on Southern greats including Outkast and T.I. and his father had him listen to rock such as Elton John and Coldplay as well.
“When I came into this music industry, I came into a shift to not go to college,” he says. “I was making music just for fun, my type of music I would like to listen to. It was never intentionally for a specific crowd. Then when I started making this music, I started getting put in this category, this big Hip Hop category that I never put myself in. It’s to this point where everybody has all these standards and guidelines. Every time I did an interview this year damn near, I got asked about Biggie. I’m like, bro, I don’t even classify myself a rapper. I’m just having fun enjoying my life. I feel like he was overrated to me because the simple fact that I kept getting asked questions about him. Not his music, not his legacy. A lot of people took it as disrespect and I never meant to disrespect anybody. I know who the legends are and I know the legacy that he brung.”
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The Quality Control signee adds that he has taken the time to listen to Biggie’s Ready to Die and Life After Death albums in order to educate himself, but maintains there’s no guideline or rule book to be a part of Hip Hop culture.
“I came out of high school and started posting songs on SoundCloud,” he says. “Then they blew up. Then I started doing shows. Then I signed to a label. Now I’m here. Nowhere in between last November in my dorm room and this November in my penthouse did somebody say you gotta know.”
Watch the full interview with Lil Yachty talking about voting and The Notorious B.I.G. above.
