West Coast legend, voice of the streets and RESPECT. wall-of-fame cover subject,  YG, has done it again—unleashing his sixth studio album, I got issues via Def Jam Recordings. I Got Issues blasts YG’s smooth, raw and powerful speak in his signature unorthodox style … and while rocking’ a red tux only he can drip in the visual for his new song “I Dance” — featuring Duki and Coco.

Having blown past the 12 billion career streams and over 2 billion YouTube views only few can be blessed with L.A.’s finest comes correct with this highly personal new album which features fellow luminaries J. Cole, Post Malone, Nas, Roddy Rich and more.

Most recently in the run-up to the album release, YG released an in-studio performance for “Alone” as well as “Maniac” ft. Hit-Boy.

I got Issues is YG’s first studio album since My Life 4Hunnid (October 2020).

The album debuted at the top of the Rap Albums charts and top 5 on the Billboard 200 albums. It featured the riveting record “FTP,” which was released during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests and became a social justice anthem for the movement.

Now get your headphones on and put your seatbelt on …

Straight Outta … RESPECT.Archive Issue #19. Cover shot by Justin Borucki. Image Copyright Musinart LLC

YG Photo shot Sunday, April 27, 2014 in NY, NY for RESPECT. Image is Copyright Justin Borucki

I GOT ISSUES TRACKLIST (PHYSICAL – CD + VINYL) 

1. Issues

2. Baby Momma

3. Toxic

4. Maniac ft. Hit-Boy

5. How To Rob A Rapper ft. Mozzy, D3szn

6. I Dance ft. Duki & Cuco

7. Sign Language

8. Scared Money ft. J. Cole, Moneybagg Yo

9. Run ft. Tyga, 21 Savage, BIA

10. Go Dumb ft. H.E.R.

11. No Love

12. Sober ft. Roddy Ricch & Post Malone

13. Drink To This

14. No Weapon ft. NAS

15. Alone

16. Killa Cali

DIGITAL VERSION (DIGITAL) 

1. Issues

2. Baby Momma

3. Toxic

4. Maniac ft. Hit-Boy

5. How To Rob A Rapper ft. Mozzy, D3szn

6. I Dance ft. Duki & Cuco

7. Scared Money ft. J. Cole, Moneybagg Yo

8. Go Dumb ft. H.E.R.

9. No Love

10. Sober ft. Roddy Ricch & Post Malone

11. Drink To This

12. No Weapon ft. NAS

13. Alone

14. Killa Cali

Dope fact: YG and RESPECT. magazine both emerged in 2009! 

RESPECT.

The post YG Turns It Up with New Studio Album appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

By: Richie Valentino

New York rapper Richie Valentino returns to the scene with a fire new EP titled Multiple Personality. As he carries that east coast swag like most New York emcee’s do, this release is by far his most impressive body of work to date. He does an excellent job of creating a project that his thriving fanbase can enjoy any day of the week. I had the pleasure of catching up with Richie for a candid interview centered around his new Multiple Personality release. Check it out below.

Richie Valentino Interview

Respect: What city are you from and where are you based now?

Richie: I represent Long Island, New York. I moved out here to attend Stony Brook University and I never left. I felt like I could contribute a lot to the area with my Queens mentality. NYC in general is super competitive. I feel like it made who I am. Super competitive be daring enough to move my own direction and take my own risks.

Respect: At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music?

Richie: I been deejaying since I was 13. I took those talents to college with me then eventually got into club and concert promotion. I was always freestyle rapping as a kid. “Ready To Die” by Biggie is when I can say I really feel in love with rap. But the moment I decided to take music seriously is when Chinx passed. I felt connected to his music, and I took the pain of his loss and took turned into courage.

Respect: Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your
sound today? If so, how?

Richie: Growing up in Queens, New York made me tough. There was no such thing as crying. No such thing as complaining. You dealt with the cards God gave you. You can hear it in my rap voice, its full of determination and power.

Respect: How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with
you?

Richie: I would like to think I’m two artists in one. That’s why I called my first project “Multiple Personality.” I rap and I sing. I’d describe my rap voice as powerful with a lot of vibrato. My singing voice is calm and soulful. If you didn’t know me or you weren’t a fan of me, you would say that I sound like two completely different people. On my track “Blow My High,” for example, I rap the verses and sing the hooks.

Respect: What ultimately inspired you to dedicate yourself to a music career?

Richie: Like I mentioned before, I’ve been surrounded by music my whole life. My pops was a DJ. I became a DJ and then a nightclub and concert promoter. I guess you can say it was just a matter of time until I built up the courage to show the world my talent.

Respect: What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you?

Richie: What I would consider to be good music is hard to find on the radio these days. Often times I find myself listening to old school R&B and Hip Hop. So my goal is to make new- style hip hop infused with real lyrics that make sense with solid metaphors and plenty of soul.

Respect: Who are some of your main musical influences?

Richie: I respect a lot of artists. Kanye, Nas, Jodeci, and Biggie to name a few, but personally I don’t think I sound like anyone. I really tried to build my own sound.

Respect: What are some of your music career goals for the future?

Richie: I would like to win a Grammy and give it to my parents.

Respect: Tell us about the latest project that you’ve released? What is it about?

Richie: My debut album is called “Multiple Personality.” I can best describe it as a collection of
one of voices in my head. It has seven tracks which basically serves as an introduction to my talent.

Respect: What has the response been like to that project?

Richie: The response has been incredible, it has gotten about 30,000 streams in the first month. Over 100 people reposted my album cover on social media. I was actually shocked how many people showed me love on it without me even having to ask.

Respect: What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects we should be on
the lookout for?

Richie: Soon as outside opens back up, I plan on throwing a huge album release party. I am
also dropping a Latin project Mid-Summer 2020.

Respect: What message do you hope fans take away from your music?

Richie: I want my fans to know all my music is from the heart and I take it very seriously. I hope
they can feel my love my energy and dedication in every word I say.

Be sure to follow Richie Valentino @kingoflongisland_ to stay up to date on his music journey.

The post New York Rapper Richie Valentino Releases New “Multiple Personality” EP appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

California rapper Dough The Freshkid is one of the premiere artists coming out of west coast. As he rolled out his latest project Tals Cafe today, It is clear that his talent is unmatched and superb. I had the pleasure of catching up with the hotshot for a quick interview to discuss his new project and inspiration.

Check it out below.

Dough The Freshkid Interview

Respect: What city do you rep?

Dough: I am from Crenshaw District Arlington of California.

Respect: At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music?

Dough: I was around 13 years old when my homeboy asked me to write a rap for him for the school talent show and he ended up winning.

Respect: Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?

Dough: Absolutely. I was born back east and raised a G on the West which, gave me an open range on sounds and culture.

Respect: How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?

Dough: I consider myself a street-conscious MC. I have a classic 90s Hip-Hop sound mixed with some of today’s sound. Most of my music production includes heavy bass instruments, classic pianos and soul samples.

Respect: What ultimately inspired you to dedicate yourself to a music career?

Dough: I live music on a daily, I am music, it’s not a career to me it’s a lifestyle. So, I said, “Why not get paid for it?” and show the whole world how gifted I am.

Respect: What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you?

Dough: I was born in Gary, Indiana on Jackson street where the great Michael Jackson lived. That played a major part of it. I am inspired by the outcome of the music I create; I love to continue to challenge myself each project. I’m actually a big fan of myself.

Respect: Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?

Dough: I love watching old movies from the ‘60s and ‘70s. I’m a big kid so I’m looking for that PS5 to drop, and I love working out staying healthy.

Respect: Who are some of your main musical influences?

Dough: My influences are some of the veterans like Ice Cube, Nas, Jay-Z , Biggie, Pac, 50 Cent, and Redman. I also pay attention to Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, the late great Hussle and all my brothers from the Crenshaw District and my brothers in NY.

Respect: What are some of your music career goals for the future?

Dough: Continue to build my brand where I’m respected as a major and hopefully connected with a major on a Distribution partnership.

Respect: Tell us about the latest project that you’ve released? What is it about?

Dough: Tal’s Café is my latest project (album) that is out today. It’s simply about bringing the hustle aspect back into the game. We got way too many people glorifying junkies in Hip-Hop these days. Never get high on yo own supplies.

Respect: What are some projects you’ve done that you are most proud of and why?

Dough: I’m proud of all three of my projects that I’ve released through stores. I have a few mixtapes that are on DatPiff that you can’t sleep on either. Arlington Avenue, Black Rome and Tal’s Café demonstrates and shows my supporters the range I have when it comes to composing albums. Each of these albums speak of times that we currently live in. I write movies!

Respect: What’s next for you?

Dough: I’m writing in my head as we speak. I also have a title idea but, I am going to hold on to it for a while. I don’t want nobody biting my style lol.

Respect: What message do you hope fans take away from your music?

Dough: That I’m original and that I’m not concerned about what people thing about me. I’ll put my message out there regardless if it’s mainstream or not. I don’t play by the rules; I create my own rules. As Frank Sinatra said “I did it my way.”

Respect: Where can we find you on social media?

Dough: You can find me on Instagram @doughthefreshkid, and on twitter @doughfreshkid. You can also find me on Spotify, Youtube and Apple music by typing in Dough The Freshkid.

Be sure to press play below to stream his latest EP Tals Cafe.

The post RESPECT. Interview: Dough The Freshkid Talks New EP “Tals Cafe” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photo Credit: J-Bizz (Social Media)

This past week (May 1st, 2020) after a long hiatus, J-Bizz previously released his brand new single, “1st” produced by Cash Money Ap. Now only a week later he returns with another new hitter titled, “Lvl Up;” serving as the third official single to his forthcoming EP, and an ode to starting fresh and leaving all your troubles behind.

Be sure to keep up with J-Bizz, and be on the look out for his upcoming, Bizzness Vs. Pleasure, project scheduled for a  2020 summer release.

“Lvl Up;” releases Friday, May 8th.

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The post East Coast Rapper, J-Bizz, Talks About Returning From His Hiatus, New Music, Thoughts On The Music Industry And More appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

By: Thomas Howard

Texas rapper Thomas Howard, has officially released his new single “The Backstory Pt. 1”. Since gaining the industry’s attention in 2015, after being discovered by Bizarre from D12, Howard has only taken his career to new heights. This single dives into a deeper layer of this emcee’s honest tongue, and raw lyricism.

On this song, you will hear the Texas native rapping about his trials and tribulations, as he pushes through pain in order to garner success. As this single is geared to appear on his upcoming EP The M.I.M.O.E, it sets the tone for what we can expect from Howard all year. His storytelling abilities are out of this world, and thrive like never before on his latest material. The most notable element of this release is the consistent, heavy hitting bars that go on from the beginning to the end of the record.

Being heavily influenced by a long list of greats, such as Big Pun, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Bizarre of D12 and Eminem Howard is figuring out ways to joins the ranks of some of the greats.

With a thriving sound, stead fast fan base, and musical bliss, he is ready to take over the mainstream circuit. Press play below to stream “The Backstory Pt. 1” and tap in with some new vibes.

The post Texas Rapper Thomas Howard Releases An Honest New Single Titled “The Backstory Pt. 1“ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

By: Lacy The Great

Lacy The Great has released a fire new record titled “No City Girls”. Drawing influences from Lauryn Hill, Nas, UGK, and 8 Ball & MJG, the southern-bred artist has an authentic sound destined for greatness. At this point in his career he has matured as a man, which has heavily influenced his decision making when it comes to women.

As a result, Lacy offers up a more vulnerable track showing a softer side to his music. He exclaims that this single was sparked after a conversation with one of his homeboys. “I told him how she was different. She wasn’t trying to twerk everywhere she went. She wasn’t loud and ghetto and saying n*ggas ain’t sh*t. She was literally a girl my mom would want me to date. I told my homeboy I’m done with “city girls,”.

The post Lacy The Great Releases New Single “No City Girls” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

By: Bink Badd

Rapper, mother and entrepreneur Bink Badd is creating her own path toward infinite success. Being the owner of a thriving resume company called @more4lessresumes, this New York creative is showing people a different way to hustle and survive. Through her music she empowers women and pushes the lines of sexy and confidence in ways like never before. As a mother, she is fighting everyday to make sure her daughter can be successful at whatever she decided to do.

I had the pleasure of catching up with this superstar for a candid interview. As she openly discusses being plus-sized in the industry, rapping and and being an entrepreneur, it is clear of her raw confidence and talent.  Check it out below.

Bink Badd Interview

Respect: What made you want to become an entrepreneur and for how long have you been in business?

Bink Badd: I have been in business for about five years. I had just had a baby, and I was in college nearing graduation, and start anticipating all of the money I would have to pay back because of student loan debt. I had been doing resumes and helping people get jobs for free for years when a friend suggested that I start charging for them. So I started doing resumes as a side hustle, to save money for my daughter’s college fund, so she would not have to experience the stress that I did.

By the time my daughter was three, I had drained a lot of the money on expensive therapies. We suspected she had Autism but because she was not diagnosed until age four, my insurance only covered some of the therapies.

In March of this year, I decided to take my business seriously.  I left my corporate job, working in human resources and recruiting for five years. I was fed up, I got tired of seeing our people get overlooked for opportunities because they did not know how to represent themselves on paper or in an interview. I realized that my business was more than a side hustle, that there was a bigger need, and that I had the means to help make a big impact.

So I quit my job, stepped out on faith, and within months it grew bigger than I could have imagined. I had the opportunity to focus more on my music and do something big for the culture, and I just went all-in with it.

Respect: What does it mean to you being a plus size rapper?

Bink Badd: I am not a plus-size rapper. I am a rapper that happens to be plus-sized. I don’t think that I should be defined by my size or my physical appearance. I am a human being.  I have been through a lot of trauma in my life, and I am an emotional eater.

If I coped with cigarettes or drugs would I be a nicotine rapper? Or crackhead rapper? No Id just be a rapper. I think that we need to stop being so critical of people in the industry, how they look and the standards we place on each other. This is something I feel strongly about and as a rapper that is plus sized I plan to break down these barriers.

Respect: What is one misconception about plus size women?

Bink Badd: One misconception is that we have low self-esteem. People think that we are desperate for men. Like the way that we are approached by men and by women who think they are better than us because they are smaller, reflects a sort of prejudice. When in actuality a lot of men like bigger women, and a lot of smaller women are jealous of our confidence.

Respect: When creating music, where do you draw inspiration from?

Bink Badd: I find inspiration from my life, and past experiences. Music is art and it is a form of expression. I reflect a lot on things I have seen, witnessed, and experienced in my music. I also find creative inspiration from some of the greats: Biggie Smalls, Jay Z, Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj and Nas.

Respect: What are you currently working on?

Bink Badd: I am currently working on my EP. I am also creating opportunities for the world to get to know me better and understand what me and my movement are all about.

Press play below to checkout some of Bink Badd’s music.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6hmrKYnTWv8pgzGIqizr8m?nd=1

The post Bink Badd Talks Balancing Being A Mother, Rapper, & Boss appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.