Keenon Dequan Ray Jackson, popularly known by his nickname, YG, is an American rapper and singer from Compton, California.
The famous rapper is known for releasing hit singles such as “Big Bank,” “Toot It and Boot It,” and “My Nigga.” He released his debut studio album “My Krazy Life,” which featured guest appearances from high-profile American artists such as Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Nicki Minaj.
The album debuted in the second position on the Billboard 200 charts and later, it was certified platinum by the RIAA. YG is credited for other albums like Stay Dangerous, Still Brazy, My Life 4Hunnid, and 4Real 4Real.
The Comption-born rapper has a net worth of $8 million. This post gives you details on everything you need to know about YG, including his biography, net worth, career, family, girlfriend, and more.
| Full Name | Keenon Dequan Ray Jackson |
| Stage Name | YG |
| Place of Birth | Compton, California, united States |
| Date of Birth | March 9, 1990 |
| Age | 33 Years (2023) |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Gender | Male |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Education | Mayfair High School, Paramount High School |
| Height | 1.78m. (5’ 10”) |
| Weight | 68 kg (149 lbs) |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Girlfriend | Catelyn Sparks |
| Profession | Rapper, Songwriter, Actor |
| Nationality | American |
| Net Worth | $8 Million |
Early Life and Biography
YG was born on March 9, 1990, in Compton, California. At the time of birth, he was given the name Keenon Dequan Ray Jackson.
The city of Compton has a serious taste for hip-hop/rap music. Compton is famous for the hip-hop group N.W.A, and breeding rappers such as Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, King Tee, YG, The Game, DJ Quik, MC Ren, Guerilla Black, and MC Eiht.
It is also the birthplace of celebrities like Ava DuVernay, Anthony Anderson, Kevin Costner, Venus Williams, and Serena Williams. Compton is notorious for gang violence and this was the city where Tupac Shakur was murdered.
He was raised in a toxic environment, which caused him issues growing up. YG joined the Bloods gang at 16 and was involved in a brutal war with other gangs in the neighborhood.
His father was arrested and imprisoned when he was 16. Jackson attended the Mayfair High School and also enrolled at Paramount High School.
He took an interest in rap music when he was 14 years old. He released his first single as a teenager but he didn’t have the street credibility and finances to push the music. His name “YG” is an acronym for ‘Young Gangsta.’
Career
In 2008, YG created the Pu$haz Ink record label and music group with DJ Mustard. He released several tracks such as “Aim Me” and “She A Model” before getting signed to Def Jam Recordings in 2009. After getting signed by the label, he began working on releasing mixtapes, touring, and launching his 4Hunnid brand clothing line.
YG’s breakthrough song “Toot It and Boot It” was released in 2010 featuring Ty Dolla Sign. He was 20 at the time he released the song. Fortunately, the song turned out to be a hit song, gathering momentum from different quarters and it reached the 67th position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It stayed in the #67 spot for over a month.
YG has released several singles, mixtapes, and album projects such as 4 Hunnid Degreez, The Real 4Fingaz, Just Re’d Up, Just Re’d Up 2, My Life 4Hunnid, and I Got Issues.
In 2013, he signed another deal. This time around, he signed a deal with Young Jeezy’s company. Eventually, he appeared on Yo Gotti’s track “Act Right.” In the same year, he appeared on several songs on the CTE World mixtape entitled “Boss Yo Life Up Gang.”
YG released a lead single from his forthcoming album titled “My Nigga” featuring the likes of Jeezy and Rich Homie Quan. The song was a success as it reached #19 on the Billboard Hot 100. Shortly after, he dropped the DJ Mustard-produced single titled “Left, Right.” In February 2014, YG dropped the track “Who Do You Love?” featuring Drake.
In March 2013, he released his long-awaited debut studio album titled “My Krazy Life.” The album contains several songs featuring artists such as Jeezy, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill, and Lil Wayne. My Krazy Life reached #2 on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA.
YG has made several appearances on film and TV as an actor, sometimes playing small roles. In 2012, he appeared in Mario Van Peebles’ comedy “We the Party” along with another rapper Snoop Dogg.
The same year, he appeared in the direct-to-DVD stoner film entitled “Mac & Devin Go to High School.” Also, YG had played roles in the FXX comedy series titled “Dave,” which features rapper Lil Dicky. He is also credited for his work on the biographical crime drama “White Boy Rick” featuring the likes of Richie Merritt and Mattew McConaughey.
YG’s other film and TV appearances include the following works Blame It On The Streets, The Demi Lovato Show, White T, We the Party, and Good Mourning.
In 2014, YG was featured on Jeremih’s “Don’t Tell ‘Em,” which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The chart-topping song is one of Jackson’s highest-charting songs ever.
Before the release of his sophomore album in 2015, YG put out three tracks “Cash Money,” “Twist My Fingaz,” and “I Want a Benz” featuring Nipsey Hussle and 50 Cent.
YG’s second studio album “Still Brazy” was released in 2015 and it debuted in the sixth position on the Billboard 200. Later, it was certified Gold by the RIAA.
In 2016, YG headlined his first tour as an artiste. The tour titled “Fuck Donald Tour” caused some stir when Jackson kicked out a 17-year-old fan, Austin Joyner, at his concert for refusing to chant “Fuck Donald Trump” on stage.
Joyner was pushed and called a racist before he was escorted off the stage. After being kicked from the concert, Austin was advised by staff to leave the premises as YG could attempt to plant a target on his back. Later, Austin Joyner revealed his reasons by claiming he was apolitical.
In 2016, YG parted ways with Def Jam Recordings, accusing them of stealing money. The label also accused him of stealing from them. The rapper claimed he was young when he signed the Def Jam Record deal and knew nothing about the music business.
He claimed he wasn’t making money from his music despite releasing an album that was later certified platinum under the label. After leaving Def Jam Recordings, rumors of YG floating his record label under the name ‘4Hunnid.’
YG released a clothing line, bearing the 4Hunnid logo. Rumors of a new label were confirmed in August 2016 when Billboard Magazine reported the Compton-born rapper had signed a distribution deal for his company, 4Hunnid Records, with Empire Distribution and Interscope Records.
The name ‘4Hunnid‘ is a reference and reminiscence to the 400 block of West Spruce Street in Compton, California, where he was raised.
In 2017, YG made a guest appearance on Mariah Carey’s “I Don’t.” In 2018, he released his third music album entitled “Stay Dangerous.” The album has songs featuring the likes of Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Quavo, and others. The reached number five on the Billboard 200.
His single “Big Bank,” featuring Big Sean, 2 Chainz, and Nicki Minaj from the Stay Dangerous album is another chart-topping single. The song peaked at 16th on the Billboard Hot 100.
Jackson headlined another tour called “Stay Dangerous Tour” to promote his third studio album. Asides from his own tours, he has played a supportive role in the tours of other musicians, having appeared in Kendrick Lamar’s “The Damn Tour”, J.Cole’s “Forest Hills Drive Tour,” Endless Summer Tour (with G-Eazy & Logic, as well as Future and Meek Mill’s “Legendary Nights Tour”.
He also released the studio album “4Real 4Real” in honor of Nipsey Hussle. He released singles such as “Money Mouf” featuring Tyga and Saweetie. He also released a track dubbed “Out on Bail,” which was highly inspired by Tupac Shakur.
In October 2020, YG released an album “My Life 4Hunnid,” which was recorded and produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. He performed Public Enemy’s song titled “Fight the Power” alongside other music artists such as Nas, Rapsody, Questlove, and Public Enemy himself at the 2020 BET Awards.
In 2021, YG released a collaborative studio album “Kommunity Service” with rapper Mozzy. The project had singles such as “Bompton to Oak Park” and “Perfect Timing.” Kommunity Service reached the number 44 position on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
In 2014, YG won the BET Awards in the Best Collaboration category for his song ‘My Nigga‘ featuring Young Jeezy and Rich Homie Quan. The next year, the song “Don’t Tell ‘Em” (with Jeremih) won the Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year award at the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
YG has been nominated for other awards such as the BET Hip Hop Awards, BET Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and the MTV Europe Music Awards.
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Controversies and Legal Problems
YG has a troubled youth and his career has never been controversy-free. He has been linked to several legal troubles and problems over his music career.
In October 2016, he drew wide media attention when his song “Meet The Flockers” from his debut album ‘My Krazy Life’ was interpreted as being racist and discriminatory towards the Asian-American community.
Many perceived the lyrics of the song as a shot at the Chinese Americans. The song was the subject of protests and scrutiny, as many parts of America were experiencing a rise in the burglary and robbery of Asian Americans. However, YG described the song as repping the culture he was raised in.
On July 3, 2019, a Cadillac Escalade believed to be registered to YG was allegedly involved in a hot police chase in Compton. The police had tried to stop the vehicle for reckless driving near West Elm Street and North Acacia Avenue but the vehicle sped away.
During the chase, a person in the SUV opened fire on the police, prompting an exchange of bullets from both sides. Sadly, Rickie Cornell Starks, a 65-year-old bystander died after receiving multiple bullet shots near Aranbe Avenue and Spruce Street in Compton, CA.
Investigators believe Rickie was a bystander who had nothing to do with the gunfight. YG took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to show his innocence. He claimed to be in a Hollywood recording studio, which was miles away from the spot when the shooting occurred.
In January 2020, the rapper was arrested in his Southern California home on robbery charges. The arrest took place within hours before he was to perform at Nipsey Hussle’s tribute at the Grammys.
The reason for his arrest was not revealed as the police were investigating an allegation that his Cadillac Escalade was involved in a fatal shooting that occurred in Compton some months earlier.
Personal Life
YG has two daughters (Harmony and Vibe) from a previous relationship with longtime girlfriend Catelyn Sparks. On September 6, 2019, he announced that he was dating singer Kehlani but the couple parted ways when Jackson cheated.
In January 2012, gunshots were fired during the filming of a music video for YG’s “I’m a Thug.” The police appeared and closed the set.
On June 12, 2015, the rapper was shot in the hit area at a music recording studio in Studio City, California. YG sustained three separate injuries in his hip from the shots.
At a point in time, YG rented one of Tyler Perry‘s properties in Hollywood Hills, which was raided while he was away. The incident happened weeks after the shooting incident that happened on July 3rd, 2019. One of the occupants was arrested by the police and slammed with a weapons charge.
YG went house hunting and reported claimed the rapper prefers buying a property in Southern California, where he will not be affected by Los Angeles traffic congestion.
Eventually, he purchased a large mansion in Chatsworth, California for $3 million. On January 24, 2020, the rapper was arrested in his Southern California mansion on robbery charges. He was incarcerated at the Men’s Central Jail and was held on $250,000 bail.
YG supports the Los Angeles Rams NFL team. He is a big fan of the team and has been seen at different Rams’ home games and has been caught on camera wearing the team’s home jersey. His love for the team has helped him befriend the then-running back Todd Gurley.
YG Net Worth
Keenon Dequan Ray Jackson (YG) has a net worth of $8 million. The rapper’s catalog and discography are pretty impressive. The rapper claimed to have been cheated by his former label Def Jam Recordings. If the claims of theft of true, it is believed that YG would have garnered a larger net worth.
Regardless, he earns a decent fee and income from his shows, tours, concert performances, song features, music & album sales, film & TV appearances, streaming royalties, and fashion line.