Photos: Mi-Mi Sessions

The night was November 26, 2014, just two-days after the St. Louis Grand Jury refused to indict police officer, Darren Wilson.  A little over 100 protesters huddled around a stair case, near Downtown Santa, Ana, California, an urban suburb in North Orange County.  The crowd was quiet and surprisingly calm, as the organizers spoke about justice for Michael Brown. The unarmed 18-year-old was shot and killed by the on-duty officer in Ferguson, Missouri , earlier this year. The vigil joined thousands of protests around the nation, stemming from Ferguson, and trickled to New York, L.A, Atlanta and Washington D.C. Even London joined in.

Organizers and protesters walked the streets of Santa Ana yelling “No Racist Police”, “Black Lives Matter!” and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!” The march was peaceful and served as a platform for freedom of expression through the creative arts. Local and respected rap artist Emcee Classiq spit his “Ferguson Freestyle” to the crowd, and ended with his fist up yelling, “Power to the People.”  Others read poems about their struggle in society and reminded goers that this isn’t just a black issue, but an American issue. Santa Ana, a predominately Hispanic community, is known for their combative relationships with local officers. However, on this night protesters sat in the middle of the street declaring change, while officers monitored giving space for free speech.  Orange County, often forgotten about, made a statement- that they are to ready for justice to be served.

The post “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” Protests in O.C. appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Last Wednesday, just two days before his 23rd birthday, YG started a 15 city tour in support of his newest mixtape Just Re’ed Up 2. The tape features production almost entirely from fellow Pu$haz Ink label-mate DJ Mustard, as well as features from Dom Kennedy, Joe Moses, Nipsey Hussle, Young Jeezy, Wiz Khalifah, Juicy Jay, Ray J, Ty$, and a host of other heavy hitters. As a result, Just Re’ed Up 2 has already surpassed 2011’s Just R-ed Up with over 277,000 downloads. On Thursday, YG took the Brooklyn Knitting Factory stage to celebrate the release of his mixtape NYC-style and prove why his new project is a must have for 2013.

For those who havent heard, YG, short for Young Gangsta, is an MC on the comeup from Compton, California. He was featured as one of 11 rappers on 2011’s XXL Freshmen list, and now serves as the CEO of his own record label, Pu$haz Inc, while also enjoying a joint contract with Def Jam. Between his label, mixtape, YouTube series, and upcoming birthday, YG has a lot on his plate. Of course, he still managed to find the time to sit down with RESPECT. minutes before his show to talk music, touring, Boolin’ and more.

How is Just Re-ed Up 2 different from the first Just Re’ed Up?

Man, it’s just so different. The songs are heavier, the beats is crackin, and the whole thing is really just more of me as an artist.

On “I’m from Bompton” you say you hate interviews because criminals hate talking. I find that even though criminals hate talking, rappers loves talking about themselves. So, is that really true, do you really hate interviews?

Nah, I’m just a real quiet kind of guy, you know what I’m saying. I dont like to be talking all the time, I don’t like to say too much. Just keep it simple, I keep it G.

On your Tupac Interlude, did you find that piece yourself? What was it about that cut that made it want to put in on the tape?

Yea, that shit is exactly how I feel right now; That’s how I feel about the game, that’s how I feel about my money, and that’s how I feel about my music.  That shit was real. I wanted to put some Tupac on my shit, because there’s some young kids that don’t even know who Pac is! Not the black kids, but the other kids. I meet all kinds of kid on tour, and you gotta let em know. I found that cut on youtube, just looking through old Pac stuff.

When’s episode six of your YouTube series Boolin’ coming out?

Boolin’ should be out soon cause we on tour now. So its coming. But, nothing here [at the Knitting Factory] is gonna be on there cause I don’t even got my camera or nothing. But Boolin is fun, its fun to make it and its fun to watch it, so we about to be on there again soon.

In episode one of Boolin‘, you let us know you’re a bit of a skater. You really about that life though?

I don’t got my board right now, but I do skate. You saw me doing real tricks on Boolin. I used to skate when I was young, and I was just throwing stuff at Wayne on that video though. I do like to skate though, so I gotta get some more tricks.

From the Boolin’ series I can tell you’re a 2Chainz fan because of all the work he’s done with DJ Mustard. Do you see any more future collabs? Do you see any collabs with any more artists you like?

Yeah, I already got a song with 2Chainz, but I want to work with everybody all over again. Making music with different people from different groups with differnt styles is always cool, and makes your music better every time. So I want to work with 2Chainz again, everybody again.

How is it going with your PushazInc Record Label? How do you balance being the CEO of you’re own record label while under Def Jam at the same time? Is there any conlfict of interest?

PushazInk is crackin right now. We doing really good, and we got alot of stuff about to come out. Ty$ about to drop something hot, Reem (Reem Riches) bout to be crackin’. PC, Ace, TeeCee4800, everybody is crackin right now. DJ Mustard on and cracking always. Its good cause everybody is working hard and dropping new stuff. I can do mine, they do what they gotta do, and I go back to [PushazInk] and see everybody is really putting in work, you know what I’m saying. There’s no conflict of interest [with Def Jam] or anything; it’s a good situation right now.

You’ve said in previous interviews that you do most of your music work outside of the studio in your house. What do you like about working at home that you don’t like about the studio.

Yea I used to do a lot of stuff at home, but now I gotta be in the studio. The studio is nice but I just started in the house, so I’m just used to doing everything in the house. Work all day in the crib, have people come over and put on some more work. But now I gotta be in the studio, you know, so its not bad, its just not the way I started. But you gotta keep up with your music, so if I gotta be in the studio, I gotta be in the studio putting out records.

On “Make It Clap” you tell a bitch to hit the Kermit. I’m not from Cali, so what does that mean?

It’s “Nigga, hit the Kermit,” like get them legs, frog leap the fuck outta here! Jump!

So why kush and no purp?

Haha, I don’t know. It’s just West Coast; you smoke kush, it keep you chilling, you know what I’m saying. Purp have niggas fallen asleep. But that’s just how it is out there. I don’t know because I’m not even a smoker like that though. Niggas here smoke whatever y’all smoke but on the West Coast kush just got everybody feeling right.

You’re birthday is on Saturday. Happy birthday. Whats the game plan for the big 23?

We gonna be on tour in Pheonix, so the show is gonna be turnt up. Its gonna be a wild show, a wild performance with lots of energy. Then after that probably go back to the hotel for the after party. Its just another tour day, but its gonna be turnt up.

Check of the live stream of the Knitting Factory show, plus the full album and concert dates.

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