YGB Breaks Down His New Album Releases & Importance Of Storytelling
Intro:
Legendary New Orleans rapper YGB (Yayo Guns Blunts) is today’s featured interview artist who just released his new album “United States vs Yayo Guns Blunts”. This project is actually in three parts & tells a full, detailed story when you listen to all the music releases together (we talk about this more in the interview). He’s had a historic run in the New Orleans music scene and was even able to catch the attention of Cash Money Records in the past. With an undeniable Southern aesthetic, YGB’s music is still extremely universal & commercially viable. Before reading our brief conversation, make sure you check out this new album below.
Me: What was the creative process like while cooking up this new project? How'd you get inspired?
YGB: This album was inspired by Tupac Shakur, his work ethic, and the pace of his work. I worked on this album in a very short period of time, writing and recording the album in a total of three days. Writing and recording under extremely challenging conditions. Realizing I did not have the time or luxury to take my time to perfect each lyric or record each lyric for that matter, I really just had to get everything right the first take or not be able to record the track period. Thus, I had to rely on my natural ability to write or think quick on the spot when writing. And when it came to recording, I was always able to get my songs recorded in 1-2 takes. Therefore, I keyed in on that ability.
That’s honestly incredible! In addition to Tupac, were there any other specific genres or artists that inspired the creative process for this release?
No, I really did not draw any inspiration as far as the creative process. However, I was given inspiration by the late 2Pac Shakur and his work ethic. I followed in his footsteps in respect to recording the vocals and moving on to the next track, because, like he once put it, I did not have the time nor the luxury to step into the studio and take my time to record and get everything perfect. I had to trust the creative process and the mixing and Mastering engineers. Usually, I'm a perfectionist, but here I just let things go. The one person who did give me inspiration, if any, was my son Christian, Mom Latoya, whom I call LT. She directed me to how and what the current music scene was missing. There is a void in the music industry now. Music does not have storylines, nor do albums have themes, nor any songs of substance. Thus, I added the United States vs Yayo Guns Blunts (Indictment Make your Next Move). This album is what hip hop was missing.
Powerful! Now, how would you describe your current overall sound as an artist?
My current overall style of music is more diverse; I make songs that are different from those that were previously in my catalog. Cover more topics and tell more stories. The feedback I got from the people was that they loved my stories. My friend Ryan Pope told me that when he listened to Beautiful Music my lead single from the Exhibit A album, he could visualize my lyrics as if he was watching a movie. He said he could see the whole thing play out like a movie. I had countless others tell me that The Bedtime Story (Da Lick) was like an audiobook. They compared that record to Tee Grizzly stories.
Are there any key themes or messages you hope listeners take away from the album?
One theme is the mockery I made of the criminal justice system. I created several albums that all tie into each other, creating one overall theme. This theme parallels my true-life tragic experience while making a joke out of it.
On this release, I did a collateral release called “United States vs Yayo Guns Blunts (Exhibit A)”. I released that album under my more popular name YGB, which stands for Yayo Guns Blunts. I released my album “Make Your Next Move” under my aka C. Andrews name. Both releases, when combined, make a third release called “United States vs Yayo Guns Blunts Indictment (Make your Next Move)”.
What was the most challenging part of creating the project during the recording process?
The most challenging part was getting into the environment I had to record it in, and all the red tape to get it done. There are alot of top notch producers on this album. Mannie Fresh, DJ JOHN, S. PISTOL, Timbaland, Y.G.B, DJ DUFF, Anno Domini National Rock Wilder. Plus I had the opposite forces working against me recording this album well fighting my legal battles in court. With a lil bit of money and influence and cooperation from officials, I was able to record the entire album while in custody fighting for my freedom. Great Engineering and production, and mastering makes me seem like I was in the studio recording in peace.
This album was inspired by Tupac Shakur, his work ethic, and in with the pace if works. I work on this album in a very short period of time writing and recording the album in a total of three days. Writing and recording under extremely challenging conditions. Realizing I did not have the time or luxury to take my time to perfect each lyric or record each lyric for that matter, I really just had to get everything right the first take or not be able to record the track period. Thus, I had to rely on my natural ability to write or think quick on the spot when writing. And when it came to recording, I was always able to get my songs recorded in 1-2 takes. Therefore, I keyed in on that ability.
At the very beginning, how did you come up with your current stage name? And has it changed at all over time?
My Stage name comes from the environment I grew up in. Yayo Guns Blunts. Where I'm from, people were slang yayo or snorting it, or cooking it up to (crack). Guns were needed because people were using them to protect themselves from the robbers while selling drugs. Plus, violence was at an all-time high. I come from a bad neighborhood; my town was the murder capital and still is to this day. Life is hard where I'm from, and everyone has a vice. Yayo guns and blunts described the Magnolia Projects in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the New Orleans period. It represents where I came from and wanted to escape and do better for myself and my kids. When I hear YGB, I think keep grinding, go hard, bet the odds, and do your best at everything you do. Most black men in New Orleans either die young or end up in prison.
Are there any upcoming releases or plans that you're comfortable sharing with the readers?
The storyline will continue with the next release Losey entitled Trial, followed by the audio and written book entitled The Appeal. You would 100% want to take the time to listen to all three albums.
And finally, in your own words, why should a new listener check out this release today?
This release stands out because it has outstanding lyrics with deep substance merged with incredible production. The album has a theme that is based off the American Justice system. “Make Your Next Move” is subtitled the Indictment. Acknowledging my current situation. The album has skits that play out a storyline. This album is a part of the collateral release “The Discovery of YGB,” which is a nod to the legal proceedings, where the government would tender all of their incriminating evidence to inform the defendant of the case against him.
The collateral release, United States v Yayo Guns Blunts (Exhibit A), continues to tell the storyline. You would have to get all three albums to be fully abreast. And none disappoint. Each album speaks for itself. One could argue that all three albums are just one big album. They come together like transformers and form a Hip Hop classic Album.
