A complete break down of Ian and Lil Yachty's new single 'Hate Me'

Upcoming rapper Ian O'Neill Smith, who recently released his debut mixtape titled Valedictorian, has teamed up with Lil Yachty for a new single Hate Me which was distributed to all major streaming platforms last Friday.

The record was first previewed by Kai Cenat, on his Twitch livestream, in the weeks leading up to its release. Almost two weeks before Hate Me was distributed to fans, Yachty posted a teaser for the song on social media.

The post on Boat's X (formerly Twitter) account included still shots of him and Ian in what appeared to be the song's upcoming music video. His caption hinted at the lyrics and themes that would appear on the duo's upcoming track.

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Lil Yachty and Ian's Hate Me was uploaded to all major streaming platforms on July 26, 2024, via Quality Control Music, under an exclusive license to UMG Recordings and Motown Records.

Breaking down Lil Yachty and Ian's new single 'Hate Me'

Lil Yachty and Ian's latest track was produced by ChildBoy, who put together a production comprising hard-hitting drum sequences and an exciting blend of trap and hip-hop genres.

The duo also enlisted Cole Bennett and Lyrical Lemonade for an official music video which was uploaded to the production house's YouTube channel. Notable themes Hate Me delves into include success, wealth, fame, status and luxury.

Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader discretion is advised.

(Intro)

Lil Yachty and Ian in the music video for 'Hate Me' uploaded to YouTube on July 26, 2024 (Image via YouTube/@lyricalemonade)

"Shouldn't be drinkin' on lean, I'm already half dead / Give a f--k, I'm a gangster, I'm thuggin' (I'm thuggin', brrt, frrt-frrt) / Yeah (Grow up, n---a), huh, yeah, huh, come on (Us) / Huh-huh, huh, yeah, yeah, yeah (Brrt) / Come on, huh, huh"

Lil Yachty opens on Hate Me with an aggressive intro, asserting himself over his peers and competition. The rapper also alludes to his affinity to excess and intoxication before Ian delivers a sequence of bouncy ad-libs leading into the record's opening verse.

(Verse 1)

"Weddin' cake in my blunt with no bride yet / If I face me another, I'll die here / I'm just prayin' I make it 'til Friday / Either way, I'ma die with my pride / Fell in love with the Cullinan parked out front, b---h, wait 'til you see the garage"

Ian opens his first verse by proclaiming his love for marijuana, making references to 2019's Leafly Strain of the Year "Wedding Cake," citing how if he smokes another blunt he may "die".

The rapper goes on to explain that if he does lose his life, he wishes to die with his pride, which is a statement Ian has brought up on other records as well. Smith then proceeds to flex his expensive lifestyle making references to the luxury "Cullinan" SUV by Rolls Royce.

"I done made me a promise, I'll fight back once, next time, I'ma leave it to God / On God, I ain't play 'bout nothin' oncе / When it's game time, jump in, clutch / First thing in thе mornin', blunt / First thing in the mornin', I jump off the porch and head straight to the Porsche, get to drivin' like somebody chasin"

The rapper proceeds to speak on his relationship with God, citing that although he leaves his fate in the hands of God he's still willing to "jump in" and assert himself over his competition.

This matched with his ecstatic flow and delivery, is well accentuated in Cole Bennett's direction which is filled with funky edits and pop cuts.

"Rock it 'cause I can afford it, my pockets enormous, every time that I walk, I'm chafin' / You don't know how to ball, you lazy / You ignorin' my call, s--t crazy / One time for the ho-s I'm savin' / One time for the ho-s that hate me / Two times for the ho-s that hate me / Three times for the ho-s that hate me"

Ian spends a significant portion of this bar speaking about his wealth and luxurious lifestyle. An interesting sequence on these lines is when the rapper shouts out everybody who "hates" him.

"3.5 in the blunt, I'm spacin' / Four doors on the Rolls, s--t spacious / I don't know if it's—, uh / I don't know if it's smart I stay here / I don't know if I want that Maybach / I don't know if I'll find my way back / I ain't never gon' buy my way in"

Continuing on themes of wealth and drug abuse, Ian contradicts his previous statements by explaining how he's unsure whether he wants to continue indulging in an excessive lifestyle.

"I ain't never gon' bow to no man / I don't care who the f--k you came with / I don't care what the f--k your name is (What?), huh"

Ian ends his verse by once again asserting himself on his competition stating he "doesn't care" about their status or accomplishments, and will not "bow" or accept defeat in the industry.

It's possible that this statement stems from the multiple accusations from people online calling the rapper an "industry plant" when he began blowing up early this year.

(Verse 2)

Lil Yachty in the music video for 'Hate Me' uploaded to YouTube on July 26, 2024 (Image via YouTube/@lyricalemonade)

"My Chrome unfindable / Like I did me a hit and I threw it away / Pop out that b---h and hit him in his fa— / Uh-huh / We open up doors in the summer / I took the roof off of the Hummer / I snuck in that b---h with a Llama / I'm sneakin' outside like Osama"

The track then introduces listeners to Lil Yachty's first verse, where the rapper builds on themes set during Ian's performance.

Boat reintroduces his status and wealth in the opening lines before the lyricism begins to take a darker turn, with Yachty speaking on aggressive themes like death and violence which includes a comparison to Osama Bin Laden.

"Know I'm richer than your favorite rapper / If I'm not, then, God, kill my momma, huh / Biggest house on the street / The first Blacks here like Obama / Okay, let's see that thunder / On the plane, we took drugs under / And my b---h a-- dumb like Yolanda"

Yachty spends these bars downplaying the wealth and success of his competition by flexing his residence as the "biggest house on the street". The rapper proceeds to compare himself to the Obamas by referring to himself as the first "black" resident to move into a wealthy, possibly white, neighborhood.

"I'ma put the junk up from La Fonda / Fah-fah-fah-fah, yeah, f--k 'em / I be twistin' my fingers, I bang / And Concrete the gang / Same n---a, just rich, I ain't change / Same n---a, I'm totin' that flame"

Lil Yachty ends the verse by excitedly citing his plans to take over the rap game, while simultaneously flexing his hip-hop collective "Concrete Boys". His final line in this verse highlights how the only thing that changed since he became popular was his wealth.

(Verse 3)

"Huh, I'm the same old kid / But I gotta grow up now, I'm a grown-up now / I've been havin' some long a-- nights / One more long a-- flight 'fore I'm right there next to you, huh, damn / Driver, move up, my legs need room, huh, huh, damn / Huh, I really could cop this backseat, huh (Brrt)"

Ian opens on the third verse with a few insightful bars into his perception of life-changing after becoming famous.

He re-introduces himself as "the same old kid" to people from his past before recounting the various luxury and lifestyle changes that impacted his career.

(Verse 4)

"I know all of my ex h-es miss me / I was drifting, poured a whole sixteen / I'm gon' clutch it, I don't do no wrestling / And my mouth diamonds look like a cuff link / Put my b---h in no DG, free B.G"

The final verse is delivered by Lil Yachty who recounts his relationships, affinity for jewelry, and an excessive lifestyle. Boat also shouts out rapper Christopher Noel Dorsey, also known as B.G., congratulating him on his release from jail in 2023.

"We on TV, I'm makin' a mo— / We on TV, I'm makin' a movie / Durag on my head, it's The Boonies / F--k whoopin' his a--, he gon' sue me / I'll f--k it up fast, then re-up / Sip drank like I don't wanna be up / When we catch you, don't call for Jesus"

Yachty's final bar is a mix of emotions as we see him referencing the 2005 Adult-Swim animated show, Boondocks, when explaining his fashion style and decision to treat life as a movie.

With a final couple of lines alluding to his drug and excess abuse, Lil Yachty effectively closes out Hate Me.

This collaboration marks Lil Yachty and Ian's first time working together on a song, alongside an added Lyrical Lemonade assist on the song's video production. The duo delivered a track that mixes hype and trap elements into its composition, making Hate Me a very enticing listen.

Edited by Perrin Kapur