From weaving in tributes during his live performances to his latest album artwork, YG is making sure he represents on behalf of Nipsey Hussle at all costs and at all times.
During a new interview with REAL 92.3 LA’s DJ Hed and Bootleg Kev coinciding with the release of his latest album 4REAL 4REAL, the Compton natives reveals that fans can anticipate a special project with the late rapper.
During the sit-down, YG talks about how he and Nipsey had been working on a special project in the months prior to the Crenshaw rapper’s tragic murder. He says he is determined to ensuring their work together is shared with fans in the future.
“I mean, we got some songs for sure,” he can be heard saying at the 0:45 marker. “Me and Nip was just in the studio like last September, October, we had started to try to work on the project again and we was trying to put it out by December. But, s–t just ain’t happen.” He continued, “I got a special project I was working on with Nip right before he passed. It’s like, it’s special, we gonna make that happen, his family and everybody want that to happen, that’s a priority for me.”
When asked to clarify if the project was a collaborative one or more of a compilation, YG didn’t share too many details but promised it is “something different. It’s some next level s–t though.”
Elsewhere during the conversation, YG touched on his Coachella tribute, explaining how he made sure that he, as a close friend and collaborator of Nipsey’s, did something special for the festival crowd.
“I had my people tell all the rappers at Coachella, they can’t do no Nipsey tribute,” he explained, noting how he had members of his team communicate with other artists on the festival bill ahead of time. “I’m doing it. I didn’t even want nobody to try it, ’cause I was gonna be mad.”
In addition to detailing an upcoming posthumous release of some sort with Nipsey, YG also shared that he’ll be giving some of the profits of 4 REAL 4 REAL to Nipsey’s children.
“I put that ‘In Loving Memory of Nip’ on the album because I’m giving his kids a percentage of every song on the album,” he shared. “So by the time they hit 18, from me, they gonna have a bag.” He also explained that he’d been considering keeping the donations going “probably for about six more albums.”
Take a look at YG opening up about his plans to honor Nipsey Hussle’s legacy in the clip below.