02-04-2025
B.G.'s new album released despite court-ordered review
With B.G.'s release from prison, the New Orleans rapper wanted to make sure his latest album gave fans as much of an inside view as he could to its making.
Why it matters: The new tracks were produced under court-ordered review, which makes their production a fascinating case for the First Amendment.
"It challenged me to really still try to be myself," he says. "But at the same time, it's hard trying to please the streets, please your fans and please the court."
The album, out now, is (not by coincidence) titled "Freedom of Speech."
What he's saying:"We saw 2 Live Crew and NWA go through that 30 years ago and fight censorship," B.G. tells Axios New Orleans, "and we're still saying that rap is pretty much on trial."
Catch up quick: B.G. rose to fame in the 1990s as part of the New Orleans rap group the Hot Boys, a star-packed crew that also included Juvenile, Lil Wayne and Turk.
In 2012, he was sentenced to spend more than a decade in federal prison on gun charges and obstruction of justice.
He was released in 2023, but arrested the following year for violating parole when he performed with Boosie in Las Vegas, where B.G. was living.
When he was re-released, a judge ruled his new music must be reviewed before fans could hear it, lest it promote "future gun violence/murder," The Guardian reported, quoting prosecutors in the case.
B.G.'s case has been cited as part of a broader story of prosecutors pointing to rap lyrics as court evidence, much like the recent trial of Atlanta rapper Young Thug.
The trend was characterized as a "racially targeted practice" in a 2022 letter signed by many of music's heavy hitters including Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Christina Aguilera and dozens of other artists and labels.
How it works: Before any release, B.G. says, he turns his raps over to his probation officer.
"If the prosecutor feels like I'm going too hard or if I'm name dropping and talking about active cases and real individuals and real life situations, then he could file a motion to bring me back in front the judge," B.G. says.
As a result, B.G. says, "it definitely made me dial it back a little bit."
Zoom in: Still, B.G. pulled together an entire new album, " Freedom of Speech," and released a documentary to go along with it.
"I … wanted to take back the narrative to my story and just let my fans know and see first-hand everything I went through to even be able to drop this album," he says. It was "a perfect setup for the album and just to let people understand why exactly I named the album that."
Yes, but: B.G. hopes the court-ordered review is over sooner rather than later.
If nothing changes, his probation ends Jan. 31, 2026, he says, but he hopes a motion to end it by July comes through with an approval.
What's next: B.G. has new projects on track for release throughout this year, including albums with Mike Will Made It and Boosie. He's also stockpiling music for when he doesn't have a court-mandated review between him and its release.
Oh, and that Hot Boys reunion? B.G. says new music is coming there, too, but likely not until 2026.
"It's a beautiful feeling just to be able to, after all these years, still sell out arenas with the dudes you came in it with," he says. "It reminded me that the music we did passed the test of time."
