What do vampires, hardcore drugs, and abandoning your family all have in common? If you said that they are all part of Playboi Carti’s signature aesthetic, then you are right. Add in some nonsensical ad-libs and unusually pointy hats, and you got it—you are now successfully tapped in to YVL.
YVL, an abbreviation for the phrase “Young Vamp Life,” is a facet of American rapper Playboi Carti and his label Opium’s aesthetic. Opium, which manages artists such as Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and Homixide Gang, has become something of a cultural phenomenon.
Though the label was originally founded in 2019, the aesthetic has just begun gaining traction recently following the release of Carti’s long-awaited album “MUSIC” last March.
Since then, the rapper has gone viral online. From students greeting friends across the courtyard by throwing up the YVL (as seen below) to fans decoding his trademark gibberish ad-libs, almost every facet of the aesthetic has infiltrated pop culture in some way.
And though many similar trends tied to aesthetics have appeared throughout the years, like the “clean girl” and “preppy” aesthetics, the additional connection to music makes Opium stand out amongst the rest.
Because unlike emo, punk and goth music-based subcultures that feature similar dark themes, there is really no uniform or activity that unites them all. Instead, their bond is the ridiculousness of it all.
For most fans, the irony of pretending to be nonchalant while also idolizing a deadbeat “vampire” who has trouble singing his own songs on tour is not lost on them. Almost just as popular as the music and fandom itself are all the memes that have spawned ridiculing the Vamps and their dedication to their leader.
For context, Playboi Carti, whose real name is Jordan Carter, is a pioneer of the mumble rap genre (which is exactly what it sounds like), which has not only gathered him admiration from many, but also criticism from “old school” hip-hop fans, claiming that his nonsensical lyrics and overdone Auto-Tune are an embarrassment to the genre.
As a result, Vamps became the very thing they sought to avoid. Instead of nonchalant, many see them as… cringe? Because, truly, there is nothing mysterious about repeating “seeyuh” under your breath with your head down and your hoodie up while you claim to “move in silence.”
But, still, I must admit that for a while, there remained a “nonchalant aura” about Carti’s music and his fans, at least a little bit. Despite many people’s private aversion to live-action-roleplaying as a vampire, there is something to be said about Vamps’ ability to find deep meaning and enjoyment in what most of the time sounds like an Auto-Tuned pots and pans cabinet.
This very factor, their ability to laugh at themselves and also appreciate music that to me, at first sounded awful, is what draws new fans in. It feels like an inside joke and exclusive club at the same time.
So, maybe living the Young Vamp Life is not so much about glorifying an absent father and pretending that “Pop Out” is good, and instead more about the ability to appreciate the unique aesthetic without taking it too seriously.
After all, you know what they say: Maybe the real opium is the Vamps we made along the way.
