Lil Yachty's Name Change: From Lil Boat To Big Waves

Miles Parks McCollum, better known by his stage name Lil Yachty, is an American rapper who first gained recognition in 2015 for his viral hit One Night. In 2016, he released his debut mixtape, titled Lil Boat, which made him a star and spawned multiple hits. In an interview with Genius, Lil Yachty explained that his alter ego, Lil Boat, is the more aggressive, masculine, and foul-mouthed of his two rap personas, with Boat serving as an acronym for Best of All Time.

Lil Yachty's alter ego

In an interview, Lil Yachty explained the difference between himself and his alter ego:

> "They're the same person. Same soul. Same body. But one is more calm and the other is more aggressive."

The name Lil Boat first came about when Yachty was in high school. There was a group of older kids who called themselves the "Yacht Club," and Yachty wanted to join. They eventually let him in, but he had to start from the bottom as Lil Boat.

The name Lil Boat also served as a fitting alternative moniker for the rapper, helping people to pronounce his name correctly (like "yacht"). Nautical luxury isn't the most commonly-evoked lifestyle in hip-hop, so that theme alone set Yachty apart from other rappers.

The origin of Lil Boat

Miles Parks McCollum, known professionally as Lil Yachty, is an American rapper who rose to fame in 2015 with his viral hit "One Night". In March 2016, he released his debut mixtape, Lil Boat, which spawned multiple hits and solidified his status as a rising star in the music industry. But who is Lil Boat, and how did this alter ego come to be?

In an interview, Lil Yachty explained that Lil Boat is one of his alter egos, representing a different side of his personality. According to Yachty, Lil Boat is the more aggressive, foul-mouthed, and confident version of himself. He describes Boat as "a ruthless dude" who doesn't care about what others think and is willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants. This is in stark contrast to Yachty's usual persona, which is romantic, monogamous, and semi-respectful towards women.

The name "Lil Boat" has its roots in Yachty's high school days. He explained that there was a group of older kids in his school who called themselves the "Yacht Club," and he wanted to be a part of it. He started from the bottom as Lil Boat, eventually earning his place in the club. "They're the same person," Yachty said. "Same soul. Same body. But one is more calm and the other is more aggressive."

The release of his debut mixtape, Lil Boat, in 2016, marked a significant turning point for the Atlanta-based rapper. Not only did it showcase his musical talent, but it also introduced the world to his alter ego, Lil Boat. The mixtape was well-received by fans and critics, solidifying Yachty's place in the industry and paving the way for his future success.

Lil Yachty's unique approach to his music and his willingness to explore different aspects of his personality through his alter egos have undoubtedly contributed to his success and longevity in the industry. By embracing both the calm and aggressive sides of himself, Yachty has been able to create a diverse body of work that resonates with his audience.

The success of his debut mixtape

'Lil Boat' served as a platform for Lil Yachty to explore his emotions and navigate the turbulent years of his late youth. With this mixtape, he fully shed the "mumble rap" label and transitioned from a SoundCloud sensation to a major label star. The mixtape spawned multiple hits, including "One Night" and "Minnesota," which contributed to its success and impact.

The artwork for 'Lil Boat' is also noteworthy. It features a classical painting-like image of a small wooden dinghy, bordered in red, matching Lil Yachty's iconic hair colour. This nautical theme set him apart from other artists and helped establish his unique brand and image.

The release of 'Lil Boat' led to collaborations with notable artists such as DRAM on the hit song "Broccoli," further boosting Lil Yachty's popularity. The success of his debut mixtape also caught the attention of major record labels, leading to a joint venture deal with Motown, Capitol Records, and Quality Control Music in June 2016.

'Lil Boat' marked the beginning of Lil Yachty's successful music career and helped shape his distinctive style and image in the industry. It served as a stepping stone to greater opportunities and solidified his presence in the hip-hop world.

The difference between Lil Boat and Lil Yachty

Lil Yachty, born Miles Parks McCollum, is an American rapper who first gained recognition in 2015 for his viral hit "One Night". In an interview with Genius, Lil Yachty described his alter ego, Lil Boat, as aggressive. Boat is the more masculine, foul-mouthed, and confident rapper of the two. He raps to Atlanta-style trap beats and is interested in money, cars, and diamonds.

On the other hand, Yachty prefers the lighter tones of music, which he has dubbed "boat music" in the past. He tends to lean towards high-pitched, heavily auto-tuned singing and is interested in positivity and good vibes. Yachty is also more respectful towards women, singing about monogamous relationships and showing more awareness of a woman's agency over her body.

In terms of their public personas, Boat is self-assured and confident, presenting himself as the self-proclaimed "King of the Teens". Yachty, however, is unsure of his standing as a public figure and claims to be a normal teenager.

Despite these differences, Yachty has stated that Lil Boat and Lil Yachty are "the same person", with the "same soul" and "same body". They represent different sides of his personality and career, with Yachty using his style to demarcate who is who.

The meaning of 'RD'

The name Lil Yachty is derived from a group of older kids in high school who called themselves the 'Yacht Club'. The rapper, Miles Parks McCollum, aspired to join this club, and when they eventually let him in, he started from the bottom as Lil Boat, which later became his alter ego. Lil Yachty has described Lil Boat as the more masculine, foul-mouthed, and aggressive rapper of the two.

In addition to Lil Boat, Miles Parks McCollum has also been referred to as RD. On his SoundCloud, the name is listed as "Lil Yachty, RD, Lil Boat". He is also credited as "rd" on several tracks, and in the song "Water in My Face", he raps, "Bitches they love RD".

There are several interpretations of what RD stands for. Some sources claim it stands for "Roger Dame", while others suggest it could be "Red Dinghy". One source speculates that RD was the name he used before he rose to fame around 2014 and 2015.

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