When YG revealed on the latest observe “2004” that he was the sufferer of childhood sexual assault by the hands of an older lady, he was blown away by what number of others may relate.
The 35-year-old Compton rapper, whose actual identify is Keenon Dequan Ray Jackson, opened up about making the tune launched in March and the influence it’s had throughout a latest interview with ABC Information.
After enjoying the observe for mates, the “Huge Financial institution” rapper mentioned he was stunned to study what number of of them had related experiences to the tune, which delves into how he was preyed upon by a 30-year-old lady at 14.
“90% of the those that I performed it for — the boys, the males — all of them obtained related tales. That was the dialog everybody was having,” he mentioned. “It was like, ‘Yeah, I used to be sexually abused.’”
Within the tune “2004,” the rapper particulars how the aunt of a girlfriend of his on the time initiated a sexual relationship with him. Recalling the state of affairs now, he admitted, on the time he thought it was “lit” and positively didn’t have the understanding that he was being sexually assaulted.
On the time, he mentioned, “It wasn’t a factor.” Nevertheless, he added, “You undergo life and also you see stuff and also you study stuff and it’s like, ‘I obtained raped.’”
To compose the tune, YG mentioned, on the urging of music producer Jason Kilos, J.LBS, he dove “deep” for a narrative he hadn’t instructed anybody earlier than.
“I stored it inside for a very long time,” he defined. “My household’s first time listening to about that was when the document got here out.”
The rapper hopes that his story can encourage others to share their very own.
“Particularly coming from an artist — any person like me — it’s sudden,” he added. “Folks put me in a field … They take a look at us like we gang members, we animals, we not human, however it’s like, bro, I’m human. I am going by means of real-life stuff.”
Since “2004” dropped, an increasing number of Black male celebrities have opened up lately about going by means of related ordeals, together with Ray J and rapper Kanye West. In April, West revealed the surprising which means behind his latest observe “COUSINS” about how he might have, as a toddler, dedicated child-on-child sexual assault with a younger member of the family. Earlier this month, Ray J opened up throughout a stay stream about being sexually assaulted by a babysitter.
Whereas discussing “2004,” YG indicated followers may count on much more private reveals on his forthcoming album, “The Gentleman’s Membership,” slated for launch this summer time.
“Folks say I stay a harmful life — I speak about that and I give it to you straight like that,” he mentioned. “Now, me going by means of this rising stage of my life, it ain’t exhausting for me as a result of I’m telling my reality.”
