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Venita McCollum on Raising A Rapper

Lil' Yachty A.K.A. Miles McCollum, His Mom the Author and Their SoFu Roots

Article by Erikka Searles Mitchell

Photography by Photos courtesy of FreddyO.com

Originally published in SOFU Lifestyle

Venita McCollum is just like you or me. She raised her kids right and hoped they would go off to college and become successful citizens. She managed to co-parent well with Miles’ dad, ex-husband, friend of SFL , celebrity photographer Shannon McCollum. But what do you do when your child’s dream doesn’t match your own? His grandparents attend Cascade United Methodist right here in SoFu, but they probably couldn’t picture the kind of success that Miles just knew was his destiny.

Do you let your son leave Alabama A&M, where the other students don’t seem to “get” him so that he can pursue HIS dream? Venita was thinking that he would go to class, maybe pledge a Divine 9 fraternity, graduate and get a good job. Well, when I saw him rock a crowded Piedmont Park audience at Music Midtown, the hometown boy was nearly doing everything but what his mother had envisioned.

Like Venita, I am a mom. My son is 8. He’s a very artistic, musical person with a flair for the dramatic. Will I have the courage to let him fly and to release my ideas of what his future should look like? In her book, Raising a Rapper , Venita McCollum shows the reader how not to make the mistakes that she made. She gives practical tips on what to do when your creative child thinks differently and is dead set on becoming a world-famous rapper and star. Though, here in the A, in this room, Grammy nominated Lil Yachty is a son, big brother, former classmate and church member. He is just Miles. --ESM

More than 200 VIP guests, music industry executives, Atlanta influencers and media celebrated the book launch of Raising a Rapper , authored by Venita McCollum , mother of Grammy-nominated artist Lil Yachty.

In her debut book, McCollum shares an inside look into her son’s journey from the college dorm room to the Forbes list in just two years, while providing readers an exclusive how-to guide to rearing kids with dreams in the complex entertainment industry — from avoiding pitfalls to the importance of parental support, a strong team, legal decisions, finances and more.

“I was intentional about adding touches of inspiration throughout Raising a Rapper because there are so many things that instill a sense of fear in parents whose kids want to enter into creative industries,” McCollum shared with launch party attendees, who gathered at the Agency Socialthèque. “I’ve learned so much along this journey and hope I can calm these parents’ fears based on my real-life experiences through my son’s rise to stardom.”

“I’m just happy that she’s doing something that she’s happy doing,” said Lil Yachty as he applauded his mom for evolving her career as an author and manager of several businesses. “I remember so many times when my mom would come home at 6:30 at night, and she’d be so tired. Now, seeing that she gets to fulfill all of her dreams and write books is cool.”  

Both McCollum and Lil Yachty shared heartfelt thanks with celebration attendees before signing personalized copies of Raising a Rapper .

“I appreciate every single one of you for coming out here, and to everyone who knew me before the fame, thank you for supporting me and my mother,” Lil Yachty said. 

McCollum, who many fans call “Mama Boat,” had no idea that her son’s joint venture record deal with Quality Control, Capitol Records and Motown Records would lead to a debut mixtape “Lil Boat;”  collaborations with Cardi B., The Migos, Calvin Harris and a feature on D.R.A.M’s Platinum single “Broccoli.”

Venita is now the CFO of Lil Boat Sailing Team, Yachty Touring and Boat Boy Publishing. She also manages In the Closet with V, Raising A Rapper, and her podcast, “Tha Wrap-Up with Venita.”

Raising A Rapper is now available for purchase on Amazon and RaisingARapper.com in paperback, ebook and audiobook versions.

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AD LOADING...

Lil Yachty's Mom Drops Debut Book 'Raising A Rapper'

Given the influx of artists these days, Lil Yachty’s mother Venita McCollum has developed something the growing list of rapper matriarchs may be able to put to good use.

Her first book Raising a Rapper is being billed as a “step-by-step guide for parents rearing kids with dreams in the entertainment industry” and even delves into financial and legal matters.

“There is this belief that all rappers come from poverty, and this simply is not the case,” McCollum said in a press release. “There are so many things that instill a sense of fear in parents whose kids want to enter into creative industries. I’ve learned so much along this journey and hope I can calm these parents’ fears based on my real-life experiences through my son’s rise to stardom.”

Yachty, 22, has since gone on to be a platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated starting player for the mighty Quality Control imprint and admits the confidence to blow up was instilled in him from the get-go.

“I always knew this would be my story, even when I was working at McDonald’s by-day and networking with artists by-night,” Yachty added. “You can’t convince anyone else that it’ll work for you until you convince yourself. When I walked across the stage to graduate, I had a plan, and my mom had another plan. But there’s no way I could have really gotten started without her on board—I wasn’t even old enough to sign deals by myself at the time.”

Since leaving her full-time job in 2016, Venita now serves as the CFO of Lil Boat Sailing Team, Yachty Touring and Boat Boy Publishing in addition to managing her blog In the Closet with V and podcast, Tha Wrap-Up with Venita .

Raising a Rapper is currently available on Amazon and RaisingARapper.com in paperback, ebook and audiobook.

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