Lil Yachty is best known as one of the most creative, outspoken, genre-allergic artists in hip-hop.

After establishing himself as a purveyor of what he’s called “bubblegum trap,” in the last few years the rapper has gone in a trippier, more psychedelic direction. His latest release, Bad Cameo, which came out this summer, is a moody collaboration with the esteemed English musician James Blake. Style is a moving target for Yachty in music, and, as he explains in this conversation with Burberry’s Daniel Lee, in fashion. From altering people’s sweats for extra cash as a kid growing up in Atlanta to serving a look for his latest music video, Yachty is always trying on new ideas of self through dynamic creative expression.

DANIEL LEE: What is the earliest memory you have of wearing a good outfit?

LIL YACHTY: In middle and high school, I used to wear uniforms. We could go with white, blue, or maroon, and my mom would go to TJ Maxx or Marshalls to get me polo uniforms. I’d have a polo shirt and could get a polo sweater to wrap around my neck. I thought that was sick, like, I thought that was hot.

I remember getting one dress-down day in sixth grade. The outfits were awful. This was before skinny jeans came back. Before then, they didn’t sell skinny jeans in stores. I remember going to see my grandma in North Carolina, and on the way home, we stopped at an outlet with a Rue 21 store. For months I had been trying to find skinny jeans before Hot Topic and Spencer’s were selling them. I couldn’t find them anywhere. I had a pair before they became popular.

The first outfit I thought was good was on my first day of high school. I’ll never forget wearing a Hundreds shirt. I loved Bobby Hundreds. It was The Hundreds’ collaboration with Lil B, the “Thank You BasedGod” shirt, with Abercrombie and Fitch camo shorts. I still have the picture. And Vans. That was my idea of a good outfit. Then in 9th and 10th grade, I really started learning fashion. I won best dressed senior year.

DL: What was your style like as a teenager growing up in Mableton, Georgia?

LY: Hundreds, Diamond Supply, Supreme, and vintage clothes. I was shopping at thrift stores and there was a lot of 1996 Olympics gear. I love throwback jerseys, I still wear them. I wear 90s all-over print shorts, like 90s swim trunks. They just had crazy tribal patterns. I loved hockey jerseys. I had a fake pair of Cartiers. I always had a grill; I’ve been wearing a grill since the ninth grade. I used to wear a 16-piece grill, eight top, eight bottom.

I think I was one of the first people in my town to wear skinny sweats. You could get skinny sweats from Zara but Adidas didn’t make soccer pants yet so I used to take a sewing machine—my mom taught me how to sew—and I would alter them to make them tighter. I made a job out of it, sewing people’s sweats to make them tighter and that’s how I started making money.

DL: What were some of the first musicians you remember being influenced by, in terms of what they wear?

LY: 100% Kris Kross. When I was a child, my dad gave me a Kris Kross tape. They wore their clothes backwards. I never wore my clothes backwards but I did love the style, the fashion, the baseball jerseys, the big jeans, and then the hair. As soon as I got to high school, I started copying the swag. I started doing my hair like that. I grew out my locks. I started braiding it.

DL: Where do you go, or what do you do, to find new ideas?

LY: I’m just on the internet, I’m outside, I watch movies. You just have to live. I find ideas by just living life and indulging in all life has to offer, good and bad.

DL: When do you feel at your most creative?

LY: While getting dressed or when recording music. It feels super creative when I’m filming. When I’m shooting a video, I honestly feel like a character. I feel creative in so many different spaces, whether it’s with fashion, music, or filming.

DL: What makes you feel confident?

LY: A fresh haircut and working on my appearance helps. I believe in myself and I believe in everything I say and stand on, so confidence comes from within—without worrying too much about how anyone else feels, you know? I wear what I want to wear, I say what I want to say, I walk how I want to walk.

DL: What is the most inspiring city you’ve been to?

LY: It’s between Tokyo and New York when it comes to fashion. If we’re talking just inspiring in general, probably Tokyo. Tokyo was really amazing and really different. Switzerland is also really beautiful. The scenery was really inspiring to me. It gives off really trippy and peaceful vibes.

DL: Having a supportive community is important. Who are some of your biggest mentors?

LY: Drake, Tyler, the Creator, Lil Baby, and Coach K, my manager. I’d say those are the people that I trust and can talk to and respect and really look up to.

DL: So far, what are you most proud of in your career?

LY: I’m proud of everything, you know? I’m proud of writing songs. I’m proud of the respect from guys in the fashion industry. I did so much at a young age, and have so much more to do.

DL: You have collaborated with Drake, A$AP Rocky, and Tyler, the Creator and, in June, released the album Bad Cameo with James Blake. What is next for Lil Yachty?

LY: I never stopped doing music and I think getting into the fashion spaces, that’s what’s next for me. I’m starting my brand this year. That’s really important for me and I’m really excited.

DL: So much of life is online now. How important are real-life exchanges to you?

LY: I can’t stress enough how extremely important real-life experiences are between friends, family, loved ones, people you’re trying to get to know. Virtual reality can be so fabricated…it’s important to indulge in real-life experiences. I think what I was saying earlier about just living life, so much emotion gets lost in virtuality. Seeing real-life reactions, experiences, facial expressions, all that just means so much more.

DL: What is currently on your playlist?

LY: I’m making an album right now, so… Sister Nancy, Luther Vandross, Antonio Adolfo, Con Funk Shun, Mazzy Star, Ben Flocks. I mean so much. Piero Piccioni. I’ve been listening to a bunch of jazz. Royel Otis. Cocteau Twins, PARTYNEXTDOOR, The Cranberries, Beach House. I love Beach House. Faye Webster of course, Nightlight, Ready for the World, Sampha. Definitely Sampha. I listen to DJ Screw. Seal, Frank Ocean, Bon Iver, Mark Fry, Oasis, BADBADNOTGOOD. I can literally keep going—you know John Carroll Kirby? Heavy. Elton John. Mel McDaniel. Michael Levy. So much, man.

DL: What do you enjoy most about performing live?

LY: It’s a free feeling. It’s all just so real, you know? You can’t fake it. I love that.

This story appears in the pages of VMAN 53: now available for purchase!

Photography Blair Getz Mezibov

Fashion Director Gro Curtis

Interview Daniel Lee

Grooming Fernando Torrent (L’Atelier)

Manicure Pika (SEE Management)

Executive producer Anastasia Suchkov (Noted Collective)

Production manager Lauren Beck (Noted Collective)

On set producer Oli McAvoy (Noted Collective)

Set Designer Alexa Polanco (Born Artists)

Digital technician Jamie O’Brien

Lighting director Corey Danieli

Stylist assistant Liv Vitale

Production assistant Nick Grady (Noted Collective)