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Another Boat Controversy Unfolds
Lil Yachty appears to be in the spotlight again over another dispute. The rapper released a new single titled ‘We Ball Forever’ and its official music video which he dropped on the 20th of October year 2022. However, only one day after its release, Yachty was accused by one of his colleagues, Curtis Williams, of having used the concept in one of his unreleased songs. This stirred up fans and social network users and caused heated exchanges.
Curtis Williams was frustrated enough to take Lil Yachty to task. He took to Instagram, posting images of both videos playing simultaneously so that fans could notice the similarities. For instance, a large number of fish-eye lenses were used on many shots and other shots had the same framing. These visual choices seemed too close for comfort, raising eyebrows across social media. To add to the controversy, Williams also suggested that Yachty did not only borrow the visual idea but the entire sound concept as well.
Williams expressed himself by posting a video on Instagram where he says, “LMAO COME ON NOW”. Also, in this post, he added some crying-laughing emojis that seemed to have a sarcastic tone. He did not explain much more as the post was self-explanatory. His decision to let the visuals speak for themselves left fans and viewers to draw their own conclusions. Williams did not offer a narrative but permitted the pictures to create the narrative for him.
Fan’s Reaction
Fans of course couldn’t keep calm and jumped into the conversation each with their own take on the situation. Some wondered if Curtis Williams had originally created the video first and Lil Yachty was just a coincidence. Others disputed that it’s possible both of the artists simultaneously inspired themselves to use almost the same music video camera techniques and angles. In music videos, it is common to see a wide variety of angles, and the use of glasses (such as a fish-eye) and framing a shot in a creative way.
One critical point that fans highlighted during the debate was the fact that Curtis Williams’ video is still unreleased. This raises an important question: how would Lil Yachty have had access to a video that hasn’t been made public? The unreleased status of Williams’ project casts doubt on the idea that Yachty intentionally plagiarized the concept. Unless there was some behind-the-scenes exchange or information leak, it would be difficult for Yachty to have seen the video in advance.
Lil Yachty is no stranger to being accused of copying other rappers’ styles. This practice does not seem new or concerning. Earlier this year in March, the controversy surrounding the rapper didn’t seem to end quite soon after a popular streamer Kai Cenat streamed one of Yachty’s songs that was not released yet. Immediately, fans noticed the striking similarities in the flow and rhyme patterns taken by Yachty that other famous rapper Playboi Carti has also used. The similarity attracted a lot of ire with fans claiming that Yachty is biting Carti’s style.
Yachty’s Response to Playboi Allegations
As expected, Yachty does not remain silent because of the backlash he faced. He took to Twitter and cleared his confusion with tweets directed at the accusations that some individuals had made, making it clear that he didn’t see the connection between his work and Carti’s. In a tweet that quickly gained attention, Yachty asked, “Biting him? How did I bite him?” He seemed genuinely puzzled by the accusations, and he followed up by explaining that he had been working with Carti since 2019, dismissing the claims as overblown. His frustration with the fans’ accusations was evident when he added, “Y’all fans be smoking the strongest dk,” pretty much portray how angry the musician was.
This blunt response didn’t exactly calm the situation, but it did show that Yachty was standing firm in his defense. He seemed adamant that there was no intentional copying on his part, and he was not going to let the criticism shake him. It is important to note, however, that this is not the only scandal that his fans will know of Yachty for in 2024.
From the look of things, it seems that Lil Yachty is going to attract all sorts of drama this year. Just when the claims surrounding Yachty’s alleged imitation of Playboi Carti began to subside, the Yachty once again found himself in another drama. This time it is in connection with the remarks he made with regard to the quarrel that exists currently between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Yachty’s sentiments on the issue raised sharp reactions and he became one of the targets for the supporters of both Drake and Kendrick within a short time. The matter heightened very fast and it looked as if Yachty’s words inadvertently worsened an already bad situation involving two popular entertainers in the industry.
Yachty vs. Karrah Boo: A New Feud
As if the Carti and Drake-Kendrick situations weren’t enough, Yachty soon found himself embroiled in a personal beef of his own. This time, the drama involved former Concrete Boys rapper Karrahbooo. The two took their grievances public, airing out their issues during an Instagram Live session that left fans buzzing. Yachty went up a notch and during the live session claimed that he was the one who had written all of Karrahbooo’s songs. This statement caused supporters of both Yachty and his rival to argue on social media. The clash became the latest in the series of conflicts that appeared to be the only activity course of Yachty in the year of 2024.
In an effort to turn attention away from the non-stop controversies, Lil Yachty made a move to refocus on his music. On Sunday, he dropped not just one, but three new songs, including “We Ball Forever.” The goal seemed to be to get people talking about his work, not the drama that had been surrounding him for months. Sadly, Yachty’s new release does not seem to have settled the storm. It seems that Curtis William’s accusations of Yachy about plagiarizing his music video concept have disenfranchised Yachy’s drama, which he must be thinking will bring the focus back to his music.
Conclusion
As 2024 marches on, it is becoming apparent that “Lil Yachty” seems to be gripped by controversies and drama and this trend isn’t likely to die down soon. From being charged with jacking other rappers’ swags to having beefs with other rappers, Yachty has had to play defense for most of the year. Even though the latest string of releases were supposed to steer the focus back to music, the unsettled controversy seems to stick around Yachty. It is too early to tell whether Yachty will be able to move beyond this phantom, but one thing is for sure: he is never off the sartorial radar as, it seems, he has fans and critics unified in talking about him.
While the similarities between the two videos are evident, the situation remains unclear. Was Lil Yachty inspired by Curtis Williams’ unreleased project, or did both artists simply happen to choose similar creative techniques? The debate continues among fans, and neither artist has publicly addressed the situation further. What’s clear, though, is that this controversy has added another layer of tension in the music industry, leaving fans speculating and awaiting more information from either side.
