Original subtitles

What do you have to say to the people who say that all lives matter

in response to Black lives matter?

They don't know how it feel to be Black

and dealing with the type of stuff we gotta deal with

when we walk outside the house, you know what I'm saying?

Today I'm talking to a platinum-selling artist, actor, and entrepreneur.

Recently, he stood at the forefront of one of the most powerful protests

for social justice.

I'm so happy he's here-- Compton's very own YG.

Hi, YG.

Thank you for having me.

- Your outfit popping, the green. - Thank you.

- That's tight. - I'm so honored and excited

to get to talk to you because I respect you so much,

and you're such an activist, and that brings me to my first question.

You helped put together protests where 50,000 people

showed up to march together in Hollywood

against police brutality and injustices.

Can you describe what that moment was like for you?

I mean, I just feel like I did what I was supposed to do.

I've done stuff like that in the past. Me and my friend Nipsey, rest in peace,

we did a song called "FDT."

You know what I'm saying is, me who I am as an artist

and me representing the streets,

I wanted to do--you know, I feel like I gotta speak up.

Was there ever a time in your life where you just knew

that it was so important to you to make a difference?

You gotta, like, stand for something. You gotta represent something.

That was always in the back of my head. Since I was, like, 20, 21,

when I'm in the game, I'm seeing how this stuff goes,

and I'm studying the people who I used to look up to and all that.

And I'm just like, it's bigger than music and songs, you know?

So once you know that you got a community,

people that's following you, your family, your homies,

you can't just be regular and just do music

and don't have no substance and meaning with nothing to do

so I represent the streets, but it's bigger than that, though,

you know what I'm saying? I represent a whole community of people.

You actually shot your music video during the protest.

Some people thought that it wasn't the right time to make the video.

Were you surprised?

I was like, mad. That's the part that had me hot.

It's like, I'm involved. I'm out here.

I don't give a... if I'm shooting a video. So what?

I'm an artist. Yeah, I'm documenting this time.

- Mm-hmm. - I thought I did the right thing.

I understood the artistry in it and the importance.

- Yeah. - And I think by making that video there,

you are only elevating that message even more.

And I think that that's what sets you apart,

and I've always wanted to work with you. Like, I just think you're super talented,

but was so excited that we have this song together "Say a Prayer,"

because I knew that you would bring the truth like you always do,

and you just...chills. I cried when I heard it.

Recently, I wrote an essay about how Black singers have shaped me

into the artist that I am today,

so I feel a responsibility to lend my voice.

Do you think that a non-person of color has a place or can make a difference?

Hell, yeah, absolutely.

That's what making this whole situation even bigger

in order for the United States or the world to change,

like, it was for sure gonna have to be more than just the Black community

and a Hispanic community that's coming together.

- I don't give a...what color you is. - Mm-hmm.

We need all that, and it's been working.

It's been helping, and we all have been seeing that.

I was watching the news when all this first started happening.

And I'm like, I barely see Black people.

You all are serious. I was like...

So I was like, yeah, this fire, like, we need that, you know?

What do you have to say to the people who say

that all lives matter in response to Black lives matter?

They don't know how it feel to be Black

and dealing with the type of stuff we gotta deal with

when we walk outside the house, you know what I'm saying?

So if you could put one of them people and put 'em in the hood, in the ghetto

with they kids in the same situation,

they gon' understand why we saying, "Black Lives Matter,"

'cause all this shit is happening to us. It's not really happening to them.

- You know what I'm sayin'? - Mm-hmm.

I read a horrifying story.

The police raided your home while you and your family were asleep,

and they even pointed guns at your daughters.

- That's a fact. - Can you take us through that?

Police raided my house, trying to tie me into a situation

that I ain't got nothing to do with, and they go upstairs,

and they got the AKs, and they got 'em out to my kids.

You feel me? They had the gun in their face,

and now they outside with no clothes on.

And then my daughter-- she turned 5 in May.

She already got this little traumatizing situation

with the police, so when she see the police, she hide.

And it's become normal to us.

I don't think that's right. It ain't 'posed to be like that.

It shouldn't be.

You tweeted that, "When they see me,

they don't see the proud Black man.

They see the kid from Bompton," which is Compton for anyone who doesn't know,

and they expect violence."

Is it difficult knowing people expect violence from you?

People be trying to put me in a box a lot.

"He's just a gang member, a rapper."

They use that as the reason why I can't do these type of shows,

or I can't get these type of deals because of my "perception,"

you know what I'm saying?

All that stuff that I've been through with my perception

turned me into the businessman I am today.

I started my own shit. I said, " ,y'all.

I'm-a start my own brand." - Yes.

You feel me? So I'm like, "Okay, y'all turned me who I am today."

I recognize that when people are able to see the bigger picture,

it's because they have struggled.

And the person that I see in front of me is an artist

that uses his platform and his message to literally change the world.

I've made mistakes in my past or choices that I'm not proud of necessarily,

and I sometimes get frustrated that people only see me as,

you know, the girl that OD'd.

But I've chosen to rewrite my narrative,

and it sounds like that's what you've done.

- Yeah. - I admire you getting past

those struggles and becoming the mogul that you are today.

- I appreciate that. - Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah, congrats on everything you overcame, too.

Thank you. I just appreciate you so much coming on this show

and sharing your experiences.

- Thank you. - Yep, thank you for having me.