YG's Impact on Protest Culture

From FDT to FTP, the LA based heavyweight has shown us he’s capable of more than good music: he’s an advocate for freedom and revolt against power.

Let’s go back to 2016, the US Presidential Election. We have quite a few serious candidates, but can only remember one.

An inherently racist, misogynistic, Islamophobic, orange-faced creature. Need I say more?

As someone based in the UK, I can confirm his vocal attacks on various communities have not only been heard by those in the US, but also all over the world, and it’s undeniable that we’re angry.

So YG, constructing his second studio album ‘Still Brazy’ decides to make the people’s word known, and creates a lyrical masterpiece, FDT. He releases it on the 30th of March, and from then on, it is played almost religiously at anti-Trump rallies and Black Lives Matter protests.

It condemns Trump in every way: his racist comments, threats against the Islamic community, and questionable morals.

YG revealed after the song’s release that the Secret Service was threatening to entirely block the whole album’s release if he didn’t censor some of the lyrics on the song, including:

‘Surprised El Chapo ain’t tried to snipe you’

‘Black love, brown pride in the sets again’

‘If yo ass do win you gon prolly get smoked’

As you can tell, YG makes his statement with complete honesty and clarity, with no padding.

Although I love and always will love trap music, to me, there’s something very refreshing about an artist, a rap artist in particular, who says what he or she feels about a controversial topic through their music.

This is not just music—it’s debate, protest. YG, through his music, is empowering thousands—millions—who see his videos and stream his music, to fight back. That, in my eyes, is a true artist, and I can’t express how much respect I have for him.

Fast forward four years and here we are. YG doesn’t stop; he’s just released FTP, an anti-police song, and we all know it’ll carry on influencing and driving protests. It has uncontrollable energy, and some would call it repetitive, but what else can we do but be repetitive? It’s the only way people will take notice and really listen.

The label was reluctant to release his protest songs, but YG went ahead and did it anyway. We need more artists like him, more who are willing to push the boundaries and make their inner thoughts and feelings heard.

He led a huge BLM protest not long ago in LA, filming it for his FTP video. It’ll go down in history, most likely. This kind of action cannot be ignored; the grouping and connecting of thousands and thousands of people all fighting for the same cause, with one man leading the way.

So, I conclude, although I don’t live in the US and have never attended a YG protest, I still feel his impact all the way over here, in the UK. I don’t say this often, but that kind of power isn’t confined to one city or one country—anyone who listens to his music will feel driven and inspired to make their own words heard.