It had been 15 years since the infamous Def Jam Records had approached a West Coast rapper with a recording contract. That was the case until they stumbled upon YG. At just 19 years of age, YG signed with the prestigious label and began feverishly writing and recording. With the help of hit single “Toot it and Boot it,” YG found himself on a surreal track to stardom. He is currently working on a new album and is set to drop a mixtape in a few weeks.

The recent 21-year old is having the time of his life: a growing fan base, countless birthday celebrations, radio airplay, and a blossoming career. While in the studio to put the finishing touches on his mixtape, YG sat down with ChinaShop to explain how he landed his deal with Def Jam and how he’s celebrating his newly found success.

How did you hook up with Def Jam Records?
Before it happened, I was popping in the streets in LA and all over. I put out music on the Internet like crazy and then I had to go to jail for four months. When I was in jail, my promotion team at the time, we used a promotion team called Pussy Inc., were promoting my music real crazy. I was in jail and I had to turn myself in. Before I turned myself in, I made a song called “Free YG,” so I put it out the day I turned myself in and the song just blew up on the Internet. All my songs just blow up on the Internet. I shot a video to “Toot it and Boot it” and put it out when I was in jail – the first video, and then it blew up. After I got out of jail, 3 months later, I got signed to Def Jam because there was somebody I knew that knew the dude who signed me and the dude that I knew was like ‘Oh yeah he poppin’ woo woo and I’m gonna hook you up with my dude.’ That’s how I got hooked up with Def Jam’s Max Gousse. I had a meeting with him and he was like, ‘Oh yeah man. I like your stuff.’ I was like, ‘I got a show in Hollywood, and you should come out.’ He came to the show and saw me rock it and it was crazy. After that he flew me to New York a week later then I came back out here and after that I got signed.

Are you allowed to tell us what you went to jail for?
Residential burglary

You just had a big 21st birthday celebration. How was that?
It’s crazy. I had a party at Drai’s on Wednesday, the night of my birthday March 9th. Then I went to the Bay and I had 2 parties out there on Friday and Saturday then I came back on Sunday and I had a party on Monday at Colony in Hollywood. It was crazy. It ain’t done yet. I’ve got a party tomorrow at the Highlands then I’m going to Vegas on Saturday – 21st birthday party crazy – like 8 parties!

Where in Vegas?
The Aria – pool party in the club.

You know how to celebrate your birthday.
Hell yeah.

So what has been the best party yet…or do you think the Vegas one will be the best?
I don’t know. I gotta see. I gotta go through all of them first.

And you’re shooting a video tomorrow…
Yep. I’m shooting a video tomorrow with me, Tiger, and Nipsey Hussle. It’s a song off my mixtape. We’re gonna do my scene in my hood, which is in Compton. We’re gonna do Nipsey’s scene where’s he’s from then we’re gonna do Tiger’s scene where he’s from where he’ll be with his homies and stuff.

Are you working on new material or are you pretty much done writing for now?
I’m writing but my mixtape is like sewed up though. We’re mixing it right now at the studio. We’re gonna put it out in a week or two, it’s gonna be crazy.

And you have a new album coming out. When will that be out?
Yeah I’ve got an album called “First on Campus.” It should be out by the end of this year. I want to put it out at the top of next year so I can build my fanbase up this year.

“Toot it and Boot it” has been a popular hit for you. Did that take off faster than expected?
I didn’t know it was going to do what it did but I knew the song was a big song because when I put it out, everyone started talking about it. Every time I performed it, wherever I was at, I always performed that song last and it was like the craziest song. I knew there was something special with that song.

What is the song about in your own words?
Going to Vegas having fun for one night – one night stand.

Maybe it will be the story of your birthday party.
Yep. You already know.

The anthem of the 21st birthday party.
The anthem. That’s the anthem of life you feel me? Toot it and Boot it’s a lifestyle.

What does YG stand for?
YG stands for Young Gangster.

You’re covered in tattoos. What is your favorite?
My favorite tattoo s the back of my neck and the side of my head because I’ve got Jesus’ face and it says God’s son and on the back of my neck I’ve got R.I.P. my cousin named Delilah with angel wings.

Did you shave your head and then they tatted under your hair?
Yep. I usually have my hair cut like bald on the side so you can see all of my tattoos.

So how does it feel to be 21 and legally able to do all the things you’ve already been doing?
I am drinking every day. Every morning I wake up and sip some. I’m faded right now; just living life faded. It’s wonderful.

What’s the first thing you bought when turning 21?
The first thing I bought when turning 21 was 2 bottles of moscato. I went straight to the liquor store and said, ‘I need 2 bottles.’ She said, ‘let me see your ID’. I said, ‘I’m 21 ahh’ and I laughed at her – 2 bottles moscatos.

It’s very sad that Nate Dogg passed away. Were you a big fan?
Yes. I’m a big fan of Nate Dogg. That’s like OG West Coast and my little brother knows his son so it’s really crazy. I’m gonna do something for Nate Dogg though and show my love for him.

Your songs have been credited as provided the unofficial soundtrack to L.A.’s jerkin’ dance movement. What exactly is jerkin’?
Jerkin’ is something that all the little kids are doing out here in LA. It’s just like a movement. They are having fun dancing and stuff. They do that to all my club songs.  They always jerk to my music. I love it though because it just promotes my music more and gets it in a little kid’s ear and stuff so that’s cool.

How long have you been rapping for?
I’ve been rapping for like 5 years now, since I’m 21. I’ve been rapping since I was 16.

Was it something that you always wanted to pursue?
I started rapping because somebody dissed me so I think that if I wouldn’t have gotten dissed, then I wouldn’t have been rapping. I started when I was 16. I had never rapped. I was just playing football and running track and playing basketball and doing other stuff.

What rappers out there today do you idolize?
Little Wayne, Tupac, Drake now, Snoop Dogg, The Game

Are there any up and coming rappers that you’re a fan of?
Wiz Kalifa – well he ain’t up and coming anymore…Big Shawn, Tiger, and yeah I got homies out here. The reason why I rap is because one of homies who I’m a big fan of, his name is PC, he’s up and coming. He’s one of the reasons I kept doing music after I started. He’s one of the reasons why I got better.

For more information on YG, check out:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/defjamyg
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/yg400
Twitter: @DefJamYg

Words by Nicole Pajer. Photos by Sidney Bensimon.