YG is a serious guy who in the past couple years has faced death, the crumbling of his oldest friendships, the threat of a sophomore jinx and the Secret Service. He also became a father for the first time. Then this month he released the intricate and straightforward Still Brazy to widespread acclaim.
In our conversation he questions a world that barely ever makes sense and resolves to continue with what he sees as the only rational response to our times and his situation:
"When you getting glorified as a rapper or a rap star or a hip-hop artist, it's certain s*** you should feel like it's an obligation. When it's things like this going on in the communities," he says. "You got to say something, you got to do something about it. Like, period. If not, who gon' be the people that speak for the people?"
