YG

YG possesses a commanding, slightly gritty vocal timbre that aligns seamlessly with the rumbling low-end grooves anchoring many of his signature recordings. This approach has allowed the Compton, California native, born Keenon Jackson, to secure lasting mainstream traction while avoiding obvious pop concessions. Initially recognized on the Hot 100 through the 2010 players anthem “Toot It and Boot It,” the “brazy” yet “bool” West Coast rapper later solidified his market strength via successive Top Ten albums beginning with My Krazy Life in 2014 and extending through My Life 4Hunnid in 2020; his sixth studio effort, I Got Issues, arrived in 2022 and entered the Top 20 despite falling short of prior peaks. Multi-platinum singles such as “My N*gga,” “Who Do You Love?,” and “Big Bank” have highlighted the Def Jam releases, while YG joined Tyga for the 2023 project Hit Me When U Leave the Klub: The Playlist and issued his seventh studio album, Just Re’d Up 3, in 2024.

After aligning with the Bloods, Jackson distributed his opening two mixtapes in 2009 and 2010. The second of those projects contained “Toot It and Boot It,” a understated partnership with Ty Dolla $ign that climbed to number 67 once Def Jam secured commercial rights. Continuing to emphasize mixtape output, YG made his major-label album bow in March 2014 with My Krazy Life. Bolstered by the multi-platinum DJ Mustard productions “My N*gga” (alternately titled “My Hitta” and featuring Jeezy and Rich Homie Quan) and “Who Do You Love?” (featuring Drake), the set opened at number two and later earned platinum certification. By year’s end the short film and soundtrack Blame It on the Streets had surfaced. YG’s second proper album, Still Brazy, reached stores in June 2016 and debuted at number six, driven by the platinum-certified “Why You Always Hatin’?” (with Drake and Kamaiyah) together with the anti-Donald Trump protest cut “FDT” (featuring Nipsey Hussle).

Previewed by the further Mustard collaboration “Big Bank,” which also included 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Nicki Minaj, the track advanced to the Top 15 on R&B/hip-hop charts before crossing into the pop Top 20 ahead of Stay Dangerous in August 2018. That release became YG’s third consecutive Top Ten album, bowing at number five on the Billboard 200 shortly before his appearance in the film White Boy Rick. Within twelve months Stay Dangerous achieved gold status while “Big Bank” became the rapper’s third multi-platinum lead single. His fourth Def Jam LP, 4REAL 4REAL, followed in May 2019 and peaked at number seven. After issuing several interim tracks including “FTP,” YG delivered his fifth studio album, My Life 4Hunnid, in October 2020; the project, which featured Lil Wayne, Ty Dolla $ign, and Gunna, entered the Billboard 200 at number four. The subsequent year brought the collaborative set Kommunity Service with Mozzy, which landed at number nine on the Top Independent Albums chart.

The early-2022 singles “Scared Money” (featuring J. Cole and Moneybagg Yo) and “Toxic” preceded YG’s sixth studio album, I Got Issues, released that September and debuting at number 18. In 2023 YG and Tyga issued the full-length Hit Me When U Leave the Klub: The Playlist, which included appearances by Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, and Blxst. The Stunna Girl collaboration “Stand Up” and the solo cut “Knocka” surfaced in 2024. That August YG unveiled Just Re’d Up 3, his seventh studio album and the latest installment in a series that had remained dormant since the 2013 mixtape Just Re’d Up 2. Guest spots from G Herbo, Tee Grizzley, Babyface Ray, and additional artists graced the project, which opened at number 151 on the Billboard 200.