Miles Parks McCollum, known as Lil Yachty, changed hip-hop by going from bubblegum trap to psychedelic rock. Born August 23, 1997, in Mableton, Georgia, he’s now 28 years old. His journey from McDonald’s worker to Grammy-nominated artist shows real artistic courage.
Lil Yachty stands 5’11” tall with a $25 million net worth in 2025. He’s signed to Quality Control Music, Capitol Records, and Motown Records. His Instagram @lilyachty connects millions of fans who watched him transform from controversial rapper to critically acclaimed rock musician.
Quick Facts About Lil Yachty
| Category | Details |
| Real Name | Miles Parks McCollum |
| Stage Name | Lil Yachty |
| Date of Birth | August 23, 1997 |
| Age | 28 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Mableton, Georgia, USA |
| Height | 5’11” (1.80 meters) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $25 million |
| Profession | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Producer |
| Record Labels | Quality Control Music, Capitol Records, Motown |
| Children | 1 daughter (born October 2021) |
| Partner | Selangie Henriquez (designer) |
| @lilyachty | |
| Active Years | 2015 – Present |
Early Life And Education
Miles Parks McCollum grew up in Mableton, Georgia, where his photographer father shaped his creative vision. His dad played Bon Iver, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, and James Brown around the house. This diverse musical background explains why he later broke hip-hop rules so easily.
In fall 2015, Lil Yachty attended Alabama State University but dropped out after one semester. As afrotech reported in a 2016 profile, he moved to New York City, lived with friends, and worked at McDonald’s while building his Instagram following. While flipping burgers, he networked with online street fashion personalities and built his Instagram following.
Those long shifts and late nights taught him patience and persistence — qualities that later shaped his creative process. Instead of chasing quick success, he learned to take his time experimenting with new sounds and ideas. That real-world struggle kept his music grounded, even as his fame grew.
His childhood prepared him for stardom in unexpected ways. He spent nights at 3 AM performing in front of mirrors while everyone slept. His father’s creative background as both photographer and artist influenced him to become what he calls simply “an artist,” refusing to be limited by labels.
Lil Yachty Breakthrough Moment (2015-2016)
Lil Yachty’s viral hit “One Night” dropped in August 2015 as the lead single from his debut EP Summer Songs. The song gained real traction in December 2015 when the SoundCloud version appeared in a viral comedy video. This accidental success launched his career without traditional industry gatekeeping.
In February 2016, Kanye West chose him to model in his Yeezy Season 3 fashion line at Madison Square Garden. This wasn’t just fashion—it positioned him alongside hip-hop’s most avant-garde figure. The move showed his understanding of cultural momentum and strategic branding.
April 2016 brought his biggest commercial success with “Broccoli” featuring DRAM. The melodic track peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance, according to Grammy.
Kyle’s “iSpy” featuring Lil Yachty became another major hit, while his appearance in XXL Magazine’s 2016 Freshman Class alongside Denzel Curry, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, and Kodak Black created the most-viewed cypher in XXL history with over 180 million YouTube views by March 2021.
The Polarizing Years (2017-2020)
Lil Yachty called his early style “bubblegum trap,” mixing playful samples from Mario Bros., Rugrats, and GameCube sounds. His bright, cartoon-like image stood out in a time when trap was getting darker and heavier.
Critics tagged him a “mumble rapper,” a label he rejected. Still, his debut Teenage Emotions (2017) hit No. 5 on the Billboard 200 with Migos and Diplo features. Lil Boat 2 (2018) climbed even higher to No. 2, proving his staying power.
Beyond music, he voiced Green Lantern in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018) and appeared in Long Shot and How High 2. His Sprite ad with LeBron James and a Nautica fashion campaign showed his crossover appeal.
The Transformation (2023)
Let’s Start Here (January 2023) marked a bold shift — a full psychedelic-rock album that stunned fans and critics alike. According to Pitchfork’s album review (2023), Lil Yachty spent eight months crafting Let’s Start Here with producer SADPONY, crafting songs with Mac DeMarco, Nick Hakim, Alex G, and members of MGMT.
The album earned high praise. Rolling Stone ranked it #4 of 2023, Billboard #8, and Complex #10. It debuted No. 9 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on multiple rock charts. He even secured the first-ever Bob Ross sample clearance for “We Saw the Sun!”
Recording took him far from Atlanta — from Brooklyn’s Greenpoint to Texas’s Sonic Ranch. A leak on Christmas 2022 forced him to cancel planned rollout videos, yet the album still made major cultural impact.
Lil Yachty Personal Life: The Private Side
On October 20, 2021, Lil Yachty welcomed a daughter with designer Selangie Henriquez. He’s never posted her on social media or spoken about her publicly. “My career is my career, and then, you know, I try to keep my private life as private as possible to protect my sanity,” he explained in a 2024 podcast.
He describes watching her experience firsts—seeing her shadow, tasting candy, trying lemon—as his favorite part of fatherhood. His daughter listens to Selena instead of his music since Selangie Henriquez is Dominican and Puerto Rican. She plays his older trap songs for their daughter while he focuses on new experimental sounds.
His lifestyle differs from most rappers. “I don’t hang out. I don’t go to clubs ever. I don’t party,” he stated. According to Harper’s BAZAAR video,He doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, and famously has never eaten a vegetable. His daily routine involves waking up, playing video games, then recording at the studio all night until morning.
Beyond The Music
Lil Yachty founded the Concrete Boys label and collective in 2023, signing artists Karrahbooo, Dc2trill, and Draft Day. His first signing, Draft Day, joined in 2021, showing his long-term vision for nurturing talent. In December 2023, Concrete Boys released their debut single “Mo Jams.”
His business ventures extend into various industries. He launched YachtyCoin cryptocurrency in 2020, invested in Jewish dating app Lox Club, and created Yachty’s Pizzeria frozen pizza line in September 2022. He joined FaZe Clan as “FaZe Boat” in December 2018, participating in competitive Fortnite tournaments and building his gaming presence.
In February 2022, he faced a class-action lawsuit against cryptocurrency company SafeMoon alongside Jake Paul, Nick Carter, and Soulja Boy for allegedly promoting the token with misleading information. In March 2023, the SEC charged him with violating investor protection laws for promoting cryptocurrencies without disclosing paid sponsorship. He settled for over $400,000 without admitting or denying the claims.
Lil Yachty Key Relationships
Drake became one of Lil Yachty’s most important creative partnerships. He co-produced several tracks on Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss (2022) and stayed deeply involved in For All the Dogs. “As a friend, I just care a lot… I’m a very supportive, open friend,” he told Complex in 2023.
Tyler, the Creator inspired his complete genre switch. “He’s the reason I made this album. He’s the one who told me to do it, just go for it,” Lil Yachty revealed about Let’s Start Here. Their friendship led to him opening for Tyler’s Chromakopia: The World Tour alongside hip-hop duo Paris Texas in October 2024.
Coach K (Kevin Lee), co-founder of Quality Control Music, has managed him since 2015 with Adam Kluger joining as co-manager in 2021. “Yachty was me when I was 18 years old,” Coach K explained, revealing Lil Yachty wanted to make a psychedelic rock album from day one. As reported by Variety (2023), HYBE America acquired Quality Control Music in a $300 million deal.
Artistic Evolution
Lil Yachty records constantly with an intense work ethic. His approach differs from Drake, who selectively chooses recording days and enjoys social life while Lil Yachty admits he “doesn’t like people that much.”
His influences span multiple genres. He cites Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Frank Ocean’s Blonde, and Tame Impala’s Currents as transformative listening experiences. In 2023, he heavily listened to John Carroll Kirby, a jazz musician whose “spin on jazz is so cool.”
His creative philosophy centers on unpredictability. “You should never expect anything because I will always do something unexpected,” he told Complex. His ultimate aspiration? “I want to be Quincy Jones,” he stated, focusing on production and working with other artists rather than just performing.
Cultural Impact & Legacy
Lil Yachty represents a generation that rejected hip-hop traditionalism. “I came into music in a time where rap was real hardcore, it was real street. And a bunch of us kids came in with colorful hair and dressing different and basically said, ‘Move out the way, old f-cks,'” he explained. His cherry-red braided hairstyle became instantly recognizable.
His willingness to embrace joy, color, and playfulness in an increasingly dark genre opened doors for Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, and countless SoundCloud rappers. Questlove wrote on Instagram: “This lp might be the most surprising transition of any music career I’ve witnessed in a min, especially under the umbrella of hip hop.”
His collaborative album Bad Cameo (2024) with English singer James Blake continued experimenting with psychedelic and alternative sounds. Though it failed to chart, critics praised the artistic risk. Before release, he played Let’s Start Here for Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Post Malone, Cardi B, Kid Cudi, and A$AP Rocky to validate the genre switch.
Present Day (2024-2025)
Lil Yachty continues touring in 2025, balancing his hip-hop fanbase with the alternative rock audience he cultivated. His 2023 tour was his first solo headlining show in five years, featuring an all-women touring band he personally auditioned. “In my life, women are superheroes,” he explained about his selection process in a Billboard 2023 interview.
He’s created “hundreds of songs” since finishing Let’s Start Here, experimenting with “electronic pop sh-t” he describes as “tight.” His pipeline includes new rap music with producer TheGoodPerry, collaborations for Zack Bia’s upcoming album, and dreams of writing a ballad for Elton John. “I know I could write him a beautiful song,” he stated.
His partnership with C4 Energy launched in 2023, aligning with his lifestyle of working long hours with minimal sleep. He chose C4 because the brand’s aesthetic matched his style without feeling like “some muscle man drink.” He recently flew eight superfans to Atlanta, played them unreleased music, took them bowling, and introduced them to his parents.
Conclusion
Lil Yachty defied every industry expectation by transforming from polarizing trap artist to critically acclaimed rock musician. His journey from McDonald’s employee to Grammy-nominated artist with a $25 million net worth proves artistic evolution trumps genre loyalty, according to Celebrity Net Worth. At 28, he’s released five solo albums, one collaborative album, launched Concrete Boys label, and become a father while maintaining creative integrity.
His story centers on creative curiosity over commercial safety. From “Broccoli” on the Billboard Hot 100 to Rolling Stone’s top albums list, he rewrote the rules for hip-hop artists. As he told fans before his 2023 tour: “Come with an open mind.” That advice applies to anyone trying to understand Miles Parks McCollum—expect the unexpected.
FAQ About Lil Yachty
What is Lil Yachty’s real name?
His real name is Miles Parks McCollum, born August 23, 1997.
How tall is Lil Yachty?
He stands 5’11” (1.80 meters) tall.
What is Lil Yachty’s net worth in 2025?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, His estimated net worth is $25 million from music, business ventures, and brand partnerships.
Does Lil Yachty have children?
Yes, one daughter born October 2021 with designer Selangie Henriquez.
What genre is Lil Yachty now?
He transitioned from trap to psychedelic rock with his 2023 album Let’s Start Here.
Who are Lil Yachty’s biggest influences?
Pink Floyd, Frank Ocean, Tame Impala, Tyler, the Creator, and Quincy Jones.
What is Concrete Boys?
His record label founded in 2023, featuring Karrahbooo, Dc2trill, and Draft Day.
Is Lil Yachty friends with Drake?
Yes, he co-produced tracks on Her Loss and For All the Dogs.
What awards has Lil Yachty received?
Grammy nominations for “Broccoli” and Donda as featured artist.
What is Lil Yachty doing in 2025?
Touring, recording electronic pop experiments, and managing Concrete Boys label.
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