YG (rapper)
The Compton storyteller who turned West Coast gangsta rap into a raw, chart-topping diary of street life and survival.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American rapper·Birthday: March 9·Millennials
Biography
Born Keenon Dequan Ray Jackson in Compton, California, YG’s music is a direct transmission from the streets that raised him. His breakthrough, the brash and unapologetic 'Toot It and Boot It,' was just a prelude to a career built on vivid, sometimes confrontational, narrative. His 2014 debut studio album, 'My Krazy Life,' was a critical and commercial landmark, a cinematic and sonically cohesive project produced largely by DJ Mustard that defined the 'ratchet' sound of the mid-2010s. YG’s identity is rooted in his Bloods affiliation, a theme he explores with complexity rather than glorification, and his work often serves as political commentary, most notably on the protest anthem 'FDT.' He has maintained his relevance through high-profile collaborations and a steadfast commitment to his uncompromising West Coast perspective.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
YG was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When YG Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
YG's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His debut studio album 'My Krazy Life' (2014) was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards.
- The single 'FDT (F*** Donald Trump)' became a viral protest anthem during the 2016 presidential election cycle.
- He founded his own independent record label, 4Hunnid Records, after his tenure with Def Jam.
- His collaborative album with Mozzy, 'Kommunity Service,' debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 in 2021.
Did You Know?
His stage name stands for 'Young Gangsta.'
He was a childhood friend of fellow Compton rapper and frequent collaborator, Ty Dolla $ign.
He survived a shooting in 2021 after being struck in the chest during a studio session in Los Angeles.
He voiced a character in the popular video game 'Grand Theft Auto V.'
“I'm from Bompton, that's all I know. I'm just telling my story.”
