Lil Uzi Vert is a student of the game, and attributes some of the influence that got them where they are to what many fans consider Chance The Rapper’s magnum opus, Acid Rap.
Uzi is GQ Hype‘s cover star for the month of August, and the magazine published its conversation with the Philadelphia native on Thursday (August 3).
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Discussing their early influences, Lil Uzi Vert said of Acid Rap: “It was so weird to me. I didn’t understand how he was taking tones of music that I really don’t like but making me like them.”
Released in April 2013 before the streaming era, Acid Rap launched Chance The Rapper’s career in a big way. Despite being released for free, the project still ended up denting the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart due to bootleg downloads on iTunes and Amazon.
The project’s official home was the mixtape site DatPiff, where it has since been certified “diamond” with over one million downloads. The tape features appearances from Childish Gambino, Twista, Vic Mensa, Ab-Soul, Saba and Noname.
Later this month, Chance will perform a series of shows in honor of the tape’s 10th anniversary. After announcing what was planned to be the only show in his Chicago hometown for August 19, high demand led to additional New York and Los Angeles shows being added.
The New York show will take place at the Barclays Center on August 26, while the L.A. concert will happen at the Kia Forum on September 21. Tickets for all shows are available via Live Nation.
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As for Lil Uzi Vert, after dropping The Pink Tape in July, they’re seemingly gearing up to continue Young Thug’s legacy with their next project, Barter 16.
Uzi revealed plans for the project shortly afterPink Tape went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart last month, earning roughly 167,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.
“Sitting here thinking /bout how I went #1 on a experimental tape,” they wrote on their Instagram Stories. “My apologies Barter 16 mixtape on the way.”
Along with the announcement, Lil Uzi Vert saluted Thug — who remains behind bars awaiting trial in the YSL RICO case — by writing: “Free Slime.”
Just this week on Tuesday (August 1), Birdman gave an update on the project, sharing a photo of Uzi laying down vocals in the booth.
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Birdman can be seen sat on a sofa behind the Philly rapper, while London On Da Track — the producer who helped craft Thugga’s 2015 mixtape Barter 6 — leans on the wall next to them.
“THUGGIN @liluzivert @londonondatrack STUNNAMAN RICHGANG @cashmoneyofficial,” read the Cash Money co-founder’s caption.
