- POP CULTURE
- FAMILY STYLE
- ACCESSORIES
- COLLECTIBLES
Lil Yachty's Dad to Older Rap Fans: "It's For Your Kids, It's Not For You"
"He wasn't raised on Biggie or Tupac."
With Lil Yachty at the center of the current debate over whether new rappers should know their hip-hop history or not, his father Shannon McCollum sat down in a recent interview with Hip-Hop Wired to share his thoughts on the matter. An Atlanta-based professional photographer known for shooting artists like Outkast and John Legend , McCollum is well-versed in rap's roots, but understands why his son might not be.
"He wasn't raised on Biggie or Tupac . Growing up we played a lot of music. By the time he got to be five or six, I really was playing Miles Davis , because I was so into Miles Davis, and that's where his name comes from. That's what he first heard."
Explaining that Yachty was born after artists like Biggie and Tupac had already passed away, McCollumn says that Yachty grew up in a house that was dominated by artists like Coldplay , Bilal , Outkast , A Tribe Called Quest , Kanye West , Steely Dan , and The Beatles . Understanding that hip-hop evolves each generation, he had a message for older fans who are upset with his son's lack of hip-hop history knowledge and don't like the music.
“You know what I would say to the older cats — because I’m an older cat,” he says. “I would say it’s not for you! He calls himself the ‘King of the Teens,’ not the ‘King of the Old Heads.’ It’s for your kids, let your kids rock with it.”
McCollumn continues, "You have to realize that he just graduated high school last year. He's a teenager. A kid. Look at our own kids. I would like to ask some of these cats to ask their own kids without going to Google, 'Can you name five Tupac songs? Can you name five A Tribe Called Quest songs?'"
Watch clips from the interview above.
Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi Move to England After Trump Election Win
Kick Off Brie and Nikki Garcia's 41st Birthday With Their Smokin' Shots!
CMA Awards Biggest Moments Through the Years
Guess Who This Flexin' Kid Turned Into!
'Tarzan' Star Ron Ely Cause of Death Revealed
Lil yachty becomes dad for first time, lil yachty he's a first-time father.
Lil Yachty 's celebrating a major life milestone -- and likely losing sleep -- because he's on daddy duty now!!!
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the "Yacht Club" rapper is father to a baby girl who was born in the last couple weeks in New York City.
We're told Lil Yachty is in the Big Apple right now, where he's spending some time with the child.
It's unclear who the mom is ... to us, anyway. Obviously, Yachty knows, but he has had a few different girlfriends recently. Stay tuned.
We reached out to his reps, but so far ... no word back.
Congrats, Yachty, enjoy being a #GirlDad!!!
- Share on Facebook
related articles
Lil Yachty Excited for Live Music Festival Energy Again, Talks Cardi/Nicki Beef
Lil Yachty Tells Guys Why His New Unisex Nail Paint Brand is for Them
IMAGES
VIDEO