My Krazy Life
My Krazy Life is the debut studio album by American rapper YG. It was released on March 18, 2014, through CTE World and Pushaz Ink, and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Rich Homie Quan, Ty Dolla Sign, Schoolboy Q, Meek Mill, Jay Rock, Tory Lanez, Jeezy, TeeFlii and RJ, while the production was primarily handled by frequent collaborator DJ Mustard, along with production from Ty Dolla Sign and Terrace Martin.
My Krazy Life was supported by four singles: "My Nigga", "Left, Right", "Who Do You Love?" and "Do It to Ya". "My Nigga" peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was later certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. YG also released multiple mixtapes leading up to the album's release including the Just Re'd Up series, and the DJ Mustard-produced 4Hunnid Degreez.
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and sold 61,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in April 2017.
Background
In 2009, after serving six months in jail on residential burglary charges, YG signed a deal to Def Jam Recordings. While he was still in jail, his music had been generating buzz on Myspace. When YG was released from jail, he began going into meetings from Atlantic Records to Def Jam, where they just chose him to sign with the latter due to brand recognition. The majority of label attention had come from his collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign on his song "Toot It and Boot It", which ended up peaking on the US Billboard Hot 100, after being re-released by Def Jam. After he revealed that his debut album would be named I'm From Bompton. He explained that title saying, "I changed the C to a B because it's where I'm from and it's also bringing something new. It's drawing more attention, you feel me? And it's, like, I'm not doing it to draw attention. I'm doing it to because that's really what I say and that's really where I'm from. I'm from Bompton...You gonna feel like you're from Brompton too when you're done listening to the album."File:Dr. Dre at Coachella 2012 cropped.jpg|thumb|left|150px|When working on the album YG took inspiration from various classic West Coast hip hop albums, including Dr. Dre's ' The Chronic.
In January 2012, YG changed the album's tentative title to Freshman on Campus, however, that title would not last long and he would change it back. In June 2013, YG revealed that he signed a deal to Jeezy's record label CTE World. On September 4, 2013, YG announced that he had changed the name of his debut album from I'm From Bompton to My Krazy Life. He explained the change saying Jeezy asked him, "Who do you want to support your album? Do you want a certain type of people or do you want the whole world?" YG responded saying the whole world. He then explained, "If my album was called I'm From Bompton it means like, I'm gangbanging, so certain people might feel some type of way. They won't purchase my album because I'm gangbanging." He said that the new title and the album summarize a "day in the life of YG."
On December 16, 2013, YG told HipHopDX, "My album is catered to my life, my culture and the West Coast. It’s like a day in the life of YG from the morning until the night." He further explained the subject matter of the album saying, "It's a lot of crazy shit. My album is catered to my life, you feel me? Shit that was really going on in my lifestyle, coming from where I come from, the West Coast, the culture out there. Gang banging, drugs, parties, and, just like every other culture, the same shit. It's a lot of gang banging going on. It's shooting going on. It's robbing going on. It's fucking bitches. All that shit." He also said the album would discuss the hardships he faced growing up in Compton. He elaborated to Vibe saying, "Game told it his way, Kendrick told it his way, I’ma tell it my way. That's what it is, and we all from the same city but we're not the same people. We didn't go through everything the exact same ways. Our rapping style is different, so how I’m coming at shit that's finna' be different. You feel me? At the end of the day it’s all the same, talking about money, bitches and homies. It’s all the same shit it’s just different ways."
Speaking of the music that influenced the album, YG said, "I always listened to Quik, N.W.A, Snoop, Dre, E-40. I was banging all that. Honestly though the shit I was really listening to was Weezy. I think it was the type shit he was rapping about and the way he was doing it that made me want to rap more. I have been listening to Doggystyle and The Chronic and even Kendrick's shit a lot more once I started talking about doing an album." He later included 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death'' as albums he had taken influence from for this album.
"Meet the Flockers" controversy
In April 2021, the album was briefly pulled from streaming services due to backlash spurring from the song "Meet the Flockers", which contained a lyric about robbing "Chinese neighborhoods". The album was restored to streaming services with the "Chinese neighborhood" lyric removed from "Meet the Flockers" as a result.Recording and production
In 2010, while he's been putting out the releases of his mixtape, he released his debut single, titled "Toot It and Boot It", a collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign. In 2011, YG met a fellow Def Jam artist Jeezy. They formed a relationship and began working together later, as Jeezy used his notoriety to put in a good word for YG at Def Jam. During 2012, YG have been doing some recording in Miami, Florida. The majority of the album was recorded in Los Angeles, California and Atlanta, Georgia. On January 27, 2014, YG told MTV, that the album was 90% finished and he only had one record left, until the album is officially completed.On March 11, 2013, YG told MTV, that it was his intention to keep the featured artists to a minimum on the album. On September 4, 2013, YG confirmed that he would have a song featured on the album titled "Who Do You Love" featuring Drake. He also confirmed collaborations with Jeezy and Rich Homie Quan. XXL reported that he also worked with The Game on the album. The Source also reported that he had collaborated with Yo Gotti and Nipsey Hussle on the album. The track listing revealed guest appearances on the album would come from Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Tee Cee, Jeezy, Rich Homie Quan, Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Ty Dolla Sign, TeeFlii, Meek Mill, Tory Lanez, Charlie Hood, Reem Riches, Slim 400, Big TC and RJ.
YG has said that he did not want to work with any producers besides the ones he has been working with for years. Shortly after the release of Just Re'd Up 2, YG confirmed that Young Jeezy would be the album's executive producer. In a December 2013 interview with Vice, YG said that DJ Mustard would produce at least seven of the album's tracks. On December 16, 2013, YG told HipHopDX that DJ Mustard produced 90% of the album, with Ty Dolla Sign and Terrace Martin also producing one track each. The final version of the album featured production from DJ Mustard, Ty Dolla Sign, Metro Boomin, Terrace Martin, B. Wheezy and Chordz 3D.
Music and lyrics
The album begins with "Momma Speech Intro" a 15-second intro of YG's mother screaming out to him, warning him that he "better not be outside with them gangbangers." This sets the tone for the rest of the album, as it is filled with skits that reenact moments of YG's life. "I Just Want To Party" features fellow Los Angeles rappers Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock. The song is notable for featuring a collaboration with rappers affiliated, with the Bloods, and Crips street gangs. However, the song aims to put affiliations and street politics aside to party. On the Ty Dolla Sign-produced "Really Be ", YG and Kendrick Lamar rap about using substances to numb the pain. Lamar justifies his affinity for alcohol and other vices by detailing the messed up things that's happened to him recently, including the death of his friend Chad. The album closer "Sorry Momma" is an ode to YG's mother that features a gospel-like chorus sung by Ty Dolla Sign and a soulful saxophone backed instrumental created by Terrace Martin.Release and promotion
While building his buzz for his debut album, YG released various mixtapes throughout the year of 2012, including 4Fingaz, The Real 4Fingaz, Just Re'd Up and 4Hunnid Degreez. On January 21, 2013, YG released another mixtape, Just Re'd Up 2. Just Re'd Up 2 featured guest appearances from Jeezy, Wiz Khalifa, Nipsey Hussle, Dom Kennedy, Juicy J, Ty Dolla Sign, TeeFlii, Ray J and Young Scooter, among others. The mixtape received generally positive reviews from critics. Before its release, he decided that it would be his final mixtape before his debut studio album's release. He was then featured on seven tracks on the CTE World mixtape Boss Yo Life Up Gang.In March 2013, YG stated that the album would be released in August 2013. Then on September 4, 2013, YG appeared on MTV's RapFix with Jeezy, and announced that the album would be released on November 19, 2013, however that date would shortly be pushed back. On December 11, 2013, YG revealed that My Krazy Life would be released on March 18, 2014 by YG's Pushaz Ink, CTE World and Def Jam. He chose to release the album that day, as it is the five year anniversary of him going to prison. This was done to represent his journey and growth as an artist since then.
From September 25, 2013 to November 19, 2013, YG toured as a supporting act during Yo Gotti's I Am Tour. Then on March 6, 2014, YG announced the My Krazy Life concert tour. The tour begun on March 29, 2014 and will visit over 30 cities, before ending on June 4, 2014. YG is accompanied by DJ Mustard for the entirety of the tour. YG released the first part of a new webisode series named, after the album on January 9, 2014. Then on February 18, 2014, the album's cover artwork was revealed. The artwork features YG posing for a mugshot, with his name and album title detailed in the placard around his neck. YG will also release a documentary to coincide with the album's release. The short trailer featured Drake, ASAP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, Jeezy, Meek Mill, Terrace Martin, DJ Mustard, Don Cannon and Rich Homie Quan praising the growth and progress of YG.