G Herbo Deluxe

5.30.20

G Herbo PTSD Deluxe Release 5/29/20

G Herbo is an artist that I’ve been interested in for a long time. It is always fun to watch someone grow and evolve, as a person and as an artist. I feel that as of recently, we’re watching G Herbo make some remarkable changes, in the right direction for his career, and his life.

Like many rappers out there, G Herbo spent a lot of time in the street life prior to making it big, specifically the streets of Chicago. Since putting out his first studio album, ‘Humble Beast’ in 2017, he has been arrested on weapon charges as well as battery. The battery situation flooded the media, where it was reported from Ari Fletcher, (the mother of his child who now dates Moneybagg Yo), that she was beaten twice by G Herbo, after he knocked down her door. G Herbo claimed Fletcher has robbed him of some pretty expensive jewelry from his mother’s house, and denies the situation being what it was described as. However, he had just been arrested a few months previously, and this lifestyle would no longer work for the young rapper. He lost his footwear sponsor, his new girlfriend, for the moment, and I’m sure many other things. This has got to be a reset, realization moment for G Herbo.

We already knew how much he loved his son. He takes him to shows, posts about him all the time on Instagram, sometimes interesting father tactics are presented to us, but it is clear how much he loves that baby boy. It was also clear how much he really loved Taina, by the amount he posted her, so he was bound to get her back. I will not say it was her who put the smack down on this man, but positivity has been showering his life ever since.

When you’ve been through a lot and your family and friends are minimal, it must have been pretty amazing to be openly welcomed in Taina’s family the way Herbo has been. We literally watched him cry when he was gifted a chain of his grandmother whom had passed, that he loved so much. He attended many family parties and were in photos with all the men in Taina’s family. Taina’s step dad is Fabolous, and that has got to be a great man, and mentor to have on your side.

The passing of Juice WRLD has also had taken a toll on G Herbo. Multiple times G Herbo referred to Juice WRLD as his little bro. He has grieved publicly many times, and the two share a number of songs together, including ‘PTSD’, which certified as gold earlier this month. After Juice’s passing, many artists took this to heart and had a change of priorities when it came to living life sober or not.

So, I think there comes a point in time when everyone realizes it is time to make a change and be a better person. G Herbo is staying out of trouble, and he is grinding so hard. PTSD was on of my favorite albums so far this year. We know him from his extremely deep and gutter sound, constantly rapping about violence. This album sheds light on where he came from and what he has been through, which is violent, but he explains to us that he is moving forward. There is a song about attempting to make amends with Ari for their sons sake. Overall, it is emotional. It is a lot, and I’m sure it took a lot for him to show his fans this side. However, it was incredible. Multiple songs could be played on the radio, which is more than I can say for his previous bodies of work.

So, with the success of the album, how about a Deluxe version? Not just five more songs either, fourteen more songs. G Herbo’s album resonated so well within hip-hop, he went back in and basically doubled his project. Not only do I think this shows how hard working he is right now, but it puts him in a position to be taken more seriously by a larger group of consumers within today’s hip-hop community. You went Gold with Lil Uzi Vert, Chance the Rapper and Juice WRLD. Lil Uzi Vert is on your Deluxe and there is more of the duo on the way? G Herbo just gained so many more downloads with this. Who puts out a deluxe album nowadays? Everyone. Drake did it, Lil Uzi Vert did it multiple times, Moneybagg Yo just did it, Young Thug, Future, everyone is doing it. G Herbo putting out this second album, is crazy, and puts him in the conversations with todays rappers as such. He also launched new merchandise and had a tour planned prior to coronavirus lockdowns.

G Herbo recently posted an Instagram story shouting out all his friends in hip-hop. From Lil Durk, to 21 Savage, to Lil Uzi Vert and many others. I think he may have once been an outsider because he wasn’t ready to give up the violent life his past once was, but he has found his way out. I hope that he continues to make meaningful music, tell his story, and lead as example to those who look up to him, or have gone through similar situations. Also, to be an amazing father to the cutest boy I have ever seen, and to raise him well, which he has been showing us with videos on Instagram. I am excited to continue to watch where he takes his music career, and how his sound evolves over time.