YG has revealed the title, release date and cover art for his new album I Got Issues.
The Compton-bred rapper shared the all-important details on Instagram on Thursday (September 1), announcing the project will arrive on September 30 via Def Jam.
The album cover depicts YG striking a menacing pose while wearing a black turtle neck and several chains with a plastic red cup in his hand. His head is illuminated by a red glow in front of a dark, shadowy backdrop.
The striking artwork brings to mind VIBE’s iconic 1996 Death Row Records cover featuring 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Suge Knight.
“‘I GOT ISSUES’ My 3rd studio album,” YG wrote on Instagram. “pre order 9/9, Official release date 9/30. go brazy in the comments if you relate!”
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YG has released several singles in anticipation of I Got Issues, including “Sign Language,” “Scared Money” featuring J. Cole and Moneybagg Yo, “Run” with 21 Savage and BIA and, most recently, “Toxic.”
The 4Hunnid honcho spoke about the album (which was initially titled Pray For Me) during an interview with Power 106 Los Angeles in February, saying it will showcase his personal growth and evolution.”
“It’s just the growth of me. Like, my headspace and what I’m on in life,” he said. “I think the whole COVID pandemic shit, I hated it but I also look at it like, this shit kinda helped me get to where I’m at with my self, mentally.
He added: “My personal growth is going to show with everything I do … The music is just going to be my truth as far as my life right now. It’s gonna be dope.”
Got Issues will serve as YG’s first solo album in two years following 2020’s My Life 4Hunnid, which boasted appearances from Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Gunna, Tyga, Ty Dolla $ign and others.
The project debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 after earning 64,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, earning YG his third top five effort on the chart.
The 32-year-old followed up with Kommunity Service, a full-length collaboration with fellow West Coast rapper Mozzy, in May 2021. That album cover was also inspired by ’90s Hip Hop, with the duo recreating the 1998 Hype Williams movie Belly.
YG has also made a string of guest appearances since his last solo outing, delivering guest verses on songs with Nas (“YKTV”), The Game (“Outside”), Lil Wayne and Rich the Kid (“Buzzin”), Cozz (“Control Problems”) and Terrace Martin (“Evil Eyes”), among others.
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