Rapper YG Releases New Song “2004” Featuring Account of Sexual Abuse by Adult Woman

Rapper YG has released his new song “2004,” a collaboration with Compton rapper-singer Buddy. Selected as Billboard’s weekly R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks track, the song has drawn attention for its straightforward lyrics detailing YG’s experience of sexual abuse by an adult woman at a young age. Built on jazz beats produced by DJ Swish, Ya Boy N.O.I.S., and SmokeyBeatz, YG opens the track with the statement that he was sexually assaulted by an older woman when he was young, delivering a powerful impact. It addresses a topic rarely explored in hip-hop culture—sexual abuse of black men and the resulting psychological trauma. Music critics have praised the song for its complex and nuanced portrayal of double consciousness experienced by black men in daily life, as well as their identity as survivors of sexual abuse. With Buddy’s support, YG demonstrates artistic depth by tackling broader themes such as black masculinity, male identity, and hip-hop culture.