This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The video for the banger "Why You Always Hatin'" off Compton rapper YG's album Still Brazy was released today, and it's very L.A.! But we would love to know—where are they going? What are they up to? Are they gonna stop for lunch? L.A. is featured on film constantly, but it's always fun to see the streets onscreen, especially when the Six God is involved.
Much of the video shows YG and his crew, which includes Drake and Oakland rapper Kamaiyah, driving down Melrose through Hollywood, WeHo, and the Fairfax District, but in classic rap video fashion, all the brands and storefront signs have been blurred out. They were near the Grove—perhaps they were on their way to the Cheesecake Factory, Drake's favorite restaurant? Or maybe Drake's OVO store on La Brea? Let's investigate.
The video opens with this shot of a young man with a manbun and his cigarette-smoking companion standing in front of a nice-looking Spanish style home like you might see around Hancock Park, as a helicopter carrying YG himself flies overhead.
He then gets dropped off from the helicopter and hops into a red Mercedes S-class. Where's he going? Looks like a #beachday! Here's a caravan of luxury vehicles in what looks like Playa del Rey.
YG must have swapped cars with someone at the beach, because now he's driving a silver Lamborghini. We see them drive by one street sign in the background for Willoughby, which runs east-west through Hollywood and West Hollywood, suggesting that they must be traveling on one of the north-south streets. And then we get another clue: we can see the "Ibiza Tan" sign, a tanning salon on Fairfax.
Let's briefly interrupt the mapping of this odyssey to cut to featured rapper Kamaiyah (who sings the hook) being treated like the queen that she is inside some quasi-Grecian mansion getting a foot massage and being served champagne. There is feasting, there are bottomless pours, there is the counting of stacks, and a really good looking fruit bowl. This is probably where YG is heading.
Ok, back out to the streets and now it's time for the Drake verse, so get ready for some toolish, but endearing posturing. Here he is at Melrose and Crescent Heights, right by the old ivy-covered Fred Segal center which was, coincidentally bought by a Canadian investor earlier this year. Drake is also a noted Canadian, so it's possible he was stopping by to support one of his fellow countrymen.
He continues to ride down Melrose, passing the many fancy stores on that strip of West Hollywood, and also drives by the Improv. Drake does love to laugh!
It seems like they spent most of their time aimlessly driving, a common pastime for Angelenos. The crew wraps up the day on what looks like the top level of a parking lot, which everyone in L.A. knows tend to have the best views. A great place for a party, if you think about it!
Of course, it wouldn't be a truly L.A. rap video without the appearance of a vintage Rams jersey (we're guessing YG will have plenty of cash to pay for parking). Here he is rocking a Todd Gurley jersey with his crew at the beach.
We are left with many unanswered questions, such as: why did YG need to take a helicopter to a random airport to pick up a car, only to swap it out for a Lambo? Where did they stop for lunch? Did they get alkalized at the new Moon Juice Melrose location?
But most importantly, why is Drake still so sad?
