On the surface is a teen with brightly colored hair and an abysmal IQ. Inside is a bright vision and a really not much more to be added to his IQ. But a bright-ass vision regardless.
"Hi, I'm Lil Yachty and I really really really like Tyler, The Creator". I can't tell if people like him because of the aesthetic he's cultivated, because he sure as hell isn't a great hip-hop artist.
He's not a great hip-hop artist. He's just got a likable story imo. I think a lot of kids, myself included, idealize a dude who was able to say fuck college, I'm gonna flex on my weird and slightly ripped-off style and make a lot of money. It cannot be argued that Lil Yachty is out there somewhere having a good time.
Sooooooo like Jay Z, Beyonce, Lil Wayne, etc etc etc? edit: regarding the college argument
Sure, being a successful artist means not owing anyone anything before achieving success. It's like winning the lottery. All the work you put in is immediately part of your career product. It's only afterwards that labels, streaming services, and the record company that took you on start mooching off your brand, generally speaking. I can't speak for Beyonce, but Jay and Lil Wayne used their power in pop culture to build business empires bigger than a lot of people who worked through their MBAs.
Wikipedia quotes glowing reviews containing the words: amateurish, bubblegum and dinky-sounding.