YGB

Derek—Question: The indictment feels like both a testimony and self reflection. Did you see the Album as a way of defending yourself, confessing, or telling the full story?

YGB—Answer: The indictment is a testimony. It is a narrative—a story of a true to life ambitious, talented and resilient individual that found his calling as an artist. One that was born and raise in the slums. In the projects by a single mother without a father in sight. I did not see the indictment as a way of defending myself—no. I seen it as a way to tell my story perhaps my full story using multiple avenues or methods. e.g. The three part book series “The Appeal (Appellant’s Initial Brief)”, “The Record On Appeal vol. 1 and vol. 2” Then you have the video game—YGB Present’s Drug Lord2, which captures the Yayo Guns Blunts culture. The reason I called myself YGB is because everything around me was comprise of one of those things in that acronym. That was the life I seen and the life style of the ones in my community. And, of coarse the music. The full story is told like a movie using four albums. Reflections of Sin (Don Files) Yayo Guns Blunts, United States vs, Yayo Guns Blunts (Exhibit A), Make Your Next Move (Indictment). The promotional album Discover of YGB, and State’s Exhibit C (visual album) are just concept accessories. This story in a sense is also a confession. One based on Self reflection and trying to provide explanations for some of my questionable maybe illogical choices. And use the trial and tribulation of my legal battles as a way to tell a story of it’s own—while making fun of the criminal justice system.

Derek—Question: In don’t Want to Lose You” you personify success temptation, and responsibility as a women. What made that approach feel right for this song?

YGB—Answer: The personification approach brought life to each element of the song. This approach was taking because I wanted the song to have a life of its’ own. Each of us have things we deal with in life and those things have a life of its’ own. Just like dealing with people, dealing with issues can take a life of its’ own and become complicated just like a person. You find your self trying to provide a balance to the tug of war that goes on. I wanted to give each issue I have struggled with a personality so it could provide a sense of reality to the listener. Then explain how I deal with these multiple aspects of my life.

Derek—Question: The album shows success as something powerful but also demanding. How has success changed the way you see yourself?

YGB—Answer: Most of the time I see myself as a target. Let me explain exactly what I mean. When some one want to borrow money, they ask me; When a women trying to find her self a new man, or baby daddy they try me; When someone looking to try and come up off someone—on some scam, they try me; When someone looking for an investor, they ask me; When someone trying to break into the music industry, they ask me; When someone trying to find a reason to file a law suite, that could be me. The list goes on and on. There are so many scenarios. Now, to be clear this point of view is not to be taken as totally bad or totally good. It is only to be taken as just the reality of success. Because of success you can become the object of someone else eyes—their target. Just followed by their motive to what ever end that may be. Thus, I stay guarded because success makes me feel like a target.

Derek—Question: Don’t want to lose you has a strong spiritual and moral layer. How important was faith when writing this album?

YGB—Answer: Faith played an important role because in having that faith, I believe this album was able to be conceive and delivered. I mean just the creative process was hard. Then you have the recording process that at one point seem to just be impossible. Not to mention that the actual conditions in which I had to perform. I wanted you to realize this fact, to do what I done in the environment in which I done with out dying requires grace, Then to create like I have created, in the ways I have created, in the circumstances I have created without feeling forsaking requires faith. Then to rhyme like I rhyme with out crying and then tie my life experience into my music with out lying expecting success required belief. So having hope, faith and belief was of the up most importance. In fact, it was one of the three essential elements to all my success in life. I walk by faith and not by sight.

Derek—Question: The lyrics often like you are judging your self before anyone else can. Was that intentional?

YGB—Answer: Was the judgmental aspect of the lyrics intentionally done, I would say no. I don’t think so. I would say the lyrics are not self judgments—if I had to describe them, I would describe them as unbiased assessments and conclusions. Arrived at after a completed reflection period and analysis of my life. And, the moments and people in my life that inspired the creation of those particular bars.

Derek—Question: In I Got A Different Life “the luxury and confidence are tied to memories of struggle. Why was it important to show both sides?

YGB—Answer: It was important to show both sides because both sides is who I am. I never forget where I come from or what motivated me to get where I am at today. It is also what will motivate me to get where I’m going. My struggle is a constant motivator. When you lived how I live and came where I’m from it activates that hustler, that grinder, that thing inside of you that makes you know that you have to take advantage of every opportunity, nothing is promise and through God all things are possible. I mean I went from public housing to a five bed room mansion. I went from a astro mini van to a BMW 760 all black with chrome wheels. I went from a casio watch to a presidential Rolex. Now tell me God is not good. If you did you would be wrong in my eyes. My heavenly father is awesome, and my confidence came from him, and him being on my side. My transition from a life of poverty to luxury living came from my faith, my many talents and abilities, and his blessing that was bestowed upon me.

Derek—Question: You mention growing up poor and remembering nights of hunger. How much your past still drive your writing today?

YGB—Answer: My past is a constant source of inspiration. It is deeply diverse. I have so much diversity when it comes to things I have experience. My past is rich I mean I have been all over the world and back again. I have been on five out of the seven continents. I was a kid that had be in a house at times were I did not have food to eat. I could not wait to go to school so I could eat breakfast or lunch. There was times we did not have lights. I had to get dress by the sun light. The other option was to go stay with a relative. There was times we did not have a phone and I could not call my girlfriend or the girl who I just exchange numbers with. And if she tried to call me she would get the infamous standard message from the telephone company message “the number you have reach is not in service” So sometimes I think back to them days and it keeps me grounded. No matter where I may be today or what possession I have obtained, I had the motivation of a has not. And the desire to change my situation. And the determination to do it not matter what. The courage to swing at whatever fastball, curve ball, or slider life pitched me. I’m a home run hitter. I always believed I could knock the ball out the park. My past is what drives me to write. If my past was a person and my writing was car, my past would be the driver of the vehicle.

Derek—Question: Your lyrics carry a lot of pride, but a lot of pressure. Do you feel like people sometimes miss the pain behind the confidence?

YGB—Answer: Yes!! They most certainly do. They think the pain is natural arrogance. They don’t realized I have suffered and endured much pain and strife. And despite suffering that pain and experiencing that strife with the odds against me I have succeeded. However, even do I have succeeded I carry with me the pain from my experiences, and the many scars that I earned in battle. I have shed so many tears and lost plenty of blood while in war. The pride and the confidence comes from being victorious against all odds. When god is for you who can be against you. I have God. As a soldier at war on the front line or in the trenches, you stand a high chance of being wounded. You may even have near death experience, especially when you come from where I come from. Uptown new Orleans, Louisiana is a battle ground. It is nick named Chopper City. Most youth die before they ever fully become mentally or physically a grown up.

Derek—Question: The Album title the Indictment suggest judgment and accusation. What does that title means to you personally?

YGB—Answer: The word indictment is just as you suggest,accusation. However, it does not necessarily have to carry a negative notion, as it may usually does. Some accusatory pleading instruments such as this one is an example of the positive variation. Although, the introspective nature of the lyrics and the reflection on past conduct that would invite a criminal indictment. This album the indictment goes a step further and indicts on a man acknowledging his wrongs, embracing his struggles and trying to correct what can be corrected. Creatively, the skits provided a story-line that is a parody of the criminal justice system. Drawing a hilarious parallel to my actual legal battles. Which is why the e-book series the Appeal, and the Record on Appeal Vol. 1 and 2 are important must haves for listeners of this album.

Derek—Question: How did navigating the correction system affect the way you wrote these songs?

YGB—Answer: The process was the biggest thing. I sometimes write new thought in iPad or iPhone when I’m out and about. Or record lyrics when they come to me. I had none of that. I had to go back to how I created Reflections of Sin and Street Lessons 2nd Edition. With them albums I wrote them in my mind and recorded the tracks whenever I had the time. I used to repeat each song to myself 2-3 times a day until I dead bolted the song in my brain. Once I did that I realized I could do my recording in one take. I was able to do 3-4 songs in a hour. Using that approach made this album easy to record but the biggest obstacle was being able to physically record due to my circumstances. The other way it affect me was I had to find new ways to block out distractions and find new ways to focus. I mean fro a very long time I did not have a desire to create music. There was no inspiration for a period of time that made me want to make music. My focus was on my freedom. But then you have those positive influences in your life. Ones with talent that inspire you like Mannie Fresh, Timbaland, Rockwilder, and DJ Duff. They want let you leave it alone. There talent and there words of motivation made me want to write and create again. That’s why you hear me say “I’m not trying to be insensitive I’m just being real/ Just like the glare coming from my chrome wheels/ or that YGB up on my gold grill/ I just do this for my rounds in the 3rd still/ If it wasn’t for them I would have been left this game alone”/ –I Got A Different Life. To be clear my rounds in New Orleans Uptown ask me for this album. The artist and producers I grew up with ask me for a new album because they not feeling the new music from today’s up coming artist. The offered major production to make sure I had the right sound to represent Uptown. DJ- Fresh did 80 % of the production.

Derek—Question: Did writing this album feel different from writing your earlier projects?

YGB—Answer: Yes this album was created as part of an overall project it is just one piece of many pieces on the board. The game and the book series all had to be planned into the way the indictment was constructed. Once you get the first installment of the book series The Appeal, you will instantly see how the book picks up where the album left off, and how the album was laying the tracks for the book series. No other artist has ever done what I done with the indictment project—music, visual album, game, and book series.

Derek—Question: The Album talks about ambition, addiction, fatherhood, loyalty and legal battles. Which theme was the hardest to write about honestly?

YGB—Answer If anything was hard to write about, I would say addition. Addiction is hard because you have to be honest with one self. You have to face the man in the mirror and look him deep in the eye. Allow your self to look into your soul. Admit your wrongs, and acknowledge your weakness. Above all recognized your addiction because addiction comes in many forms. It is bigger then drugs. Some people have food addiction, or sex addiction like my self. Success feeds my addiction and cause my life to have a crash. Being in multiple relationship and never being satisfied because I had a unquenchable thirst. That thirst being a new women to have sex with and manipulate. That’s why in “Don’t Want to Lose You” There are many lyrics that touch on infidelity. Even though I wanted to be a faithful spouse, I believe i was genetically incapable. And even though I had great women in my life that was being faithful to me, I was incapable of being faithful to them. I believe it is because of my sex addiction. The pain I cause them and coming to terms with it is what makes it hard to write about. But admitting my wrongs and my addiction is the only true way I can reconcile. I also send my sincere apologies to all who heart I broke. Please for give me I was just being me—YGB

Derek—Question: Do you feel the indictment shows who you are now, or who you have been fighting to become?

YGB—Answer: The indictment shows both sides of me. I’m a Gemini, so there is two sides to me both are always fighting to involve and become better. The indictment is who I always been and who I have involved to become all in one. Actor, rapper, producer, gamer_YGB presents Drug Lord 2, hustler, author—the Appeal Appellant’s Initial Brief), Scene play writer—The Report Card, Jack town Take 1, 2nd Semester documentaries), poet-( The Record on Appeal vol. 2)music executive—Junyor Boy Entertainment. This project brings all those side of me to life. Like I said before, this project brings to life who I am and who I have been fighting to become.

Derek—Question: You write with a very visual style, almost like scenes from a life story. Do you picture the songs like movies when you write?

YGB—Answer: I once said in my song “Afraid of Nothing” from the Reflections of Sin album “My life is like a movie I see it vividly fast forward rewind just like a DVD” so I would say I don’t see the song that way I see life that way and I write my songs based upon how I see my life. And I tell a story from how I see from my vantage point, I have been told by many that my songs from now I see from my vantage point. I have been told by many that my songs are like movies to them and that they can see everything so clear like a picture or a motion. I would say God gave me a gift to explain things clear. And, for those that listen to me—my words are crystal clear. And the pictures they paint are art gallery master pieces.

Derek—Question: In the album success does not erase the past. Why do you think it is important to keep your roots visible in the music?

YGB—Answer Keeping your roots visible in your music allows your fan base to know you have not sold out. It shows you are staying to who you are. The artist who they identified with and related to when they became a fan of your music. A lot of your fans will never own a mansion or travel the world or become a millionaire and have million of dollars. So if you start creating entire albums were you only talk about luxury cars, clothes and jewelry, places that they only can see on TV and never go, then they will lose the ability to relate to you. That’s not to say you can’t make music that touch on those things or other things that show growth, but you have to remain relatable. Your hood is your home. Your roots is who you are. Success is an experience. The industry is a business, you have to balance what keeps you street credible and grounded, while also keeping you in demand and profitable to the record execs.

In the end stay true to who you are and where you from. The hood will embrace you. Now that’s Uptown energy right there. One time for the Nolia baby all the way from the 3rd to the 17th.

Derek—Question: Fans of Southern reality rap connect with honesty and lived experience. What do you hope they hear in the indictment?

YGB—Answer I hope they hear the honest approach. The true to life unexaggerated life experience that are brought to this production and giving life. I hope the hear a artist don’t want comprises his life work for money and fame. I hope the hear something that inspire them to keep fighting to be resilient and never give up no matter how hard it is or how the deck is stack against you. I hope they hear things to make them laugh. If they are artist in their own right, I hope they hear things that make them want to create and make their new project the best they ever created. I hope they hear my hunger, my pain, my struggle, my sorrow. I hope they hear my joy, my love for music and my loyalty to God almighty.

Derek—Question: After everything you survived what does resilience mean to you today?

YGB—Answer Calvin Andrews Jr., C. Andrews, YGB, Mr. C, Yayo Guns Blunts, YGB Chedda. To me resilience defines my character. It is who I am resilience is synonymous with me. When you think of resilient think of me—C. Andrews, Andrews . Jr.

Derek—Question: When listeners finish the indictment what do you want them to understand about YGB that they might not have understood before?

YGB—Answer I want them to understand that I’m just an artist at heart that loves to create music. I’m always just searching for the right kick, or high hat, or bass drum. I want to captured lighting in a bottle and give it to my fans and the world. I want my music and creations to spread worldwide so the whole world can enjoy them from infinity and beyond! I want them to understand that all of my work, body of work is apart of a bigger play. I’m playing chess so Make Your Next Move.