With the GT World Series and the inaugural “Fan Fest” event coming up on us this weekend, the official Gran Turismo social media channels have announced that Grammy-nominated Lil Yachty will be headlining the musical offerings.
If you’re not familiar with Lil Yachty, also known as “Boat” of the Concrete Boy collective he founded though it does say Miles Parks McCollum on his birth certificate, there’s a good chance it’s time for your cocoa and nap. He’s been pretty hard to miss since arriving on the scene in 2015, and not just due to his variously styled scarlet hair.
Having released five studio albums to date, Lil Yachty has racked up over 2.5 billion streams of his tracks though he has yet to score a solo number one. His most recent album, Let’s Start Here, did hit #1 on the Billboard Top Rock Album and Top Alternative Album charts, along with a solid #9 peak overall — a third top ten, after the debut Teenage Emotions and the #2 Lil Boat 2.
A recording with DRAM, Broccoli, from the Big Baby DRAM album did hit #1 and earned the duo a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2017. However you might be more familiar with Lil Yachty from another 2017 collaboration: with LeBron James, as an adjunct spokesperson for Sprite.
As well as music and commercials, Lil Yachty has also turned his hand to acting, playing the role of Cole Hudson in Black-ish spin-off Grown-ish, and the voice of an un-named Green Lantern Corps member in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies. He was reportedly set for a starring role in a movie based on the UNO card game, though the mind boggles at that one; as a red Reverse card, perhaps?
While it might seem like an off-the-wall choice as a headline musical act — you may have been expecting Pharrell Williams — Lil Yachty does have more than a touch of the gamer about him. Several of his tracks use gaming samples, although primarily Nintendo-based, and he has played Fortnite as a member of FaZe Clan (which has an LA house for its esports players), FaZe Boat. Maybe Sony is hoping to flip him to the blue side…
The musical side of things is just one of myriad attractions at the first ever GT Fan Fest, which will also see the return of the GT Awards as part of a modified car show and grant one winning vehicle the privilege of being digitally immortalized in a future GT game or update. Attendees will also get to try out some of the upcoming Spec III content and features on rigs around the venue.
There’s also a wide range of panels to be presented by names across the automotive sphere, the reveal of a new collaboration with LA streetwear brand Union, food trucks and a kids’ zone — as well as the little matter of the GT World Series Round 3 itself.
All the action will happen at the Orpheum Theatre on Broadway in Los Angeles this coming Saturday, November 8. GTPlanet members wishing to attend can grab an exclusive 30% discount on ticket prices, should any be remaining at this point.
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