Moneybagg Yo

DeMario DeWayne White Jr. (born September 22, 1991), known professionally as Moneybagg Yo, is an American rapper. He is signed to fellow Memphis rapper Yo Gotti's record label, Collective Music Group (CMG), in a joint venture deal with Interscope Records. His first two projects to debut in the Top 20, '' Federal 3X'' (2017) and ''2 Heartless'' (2018), debuted at No. 5 and No. 16 on the ''Billboard'' 200, respectively. His third album, ''Time Served'', debuted at number 3 on the ''Billboard'' 200 in January 2020, while his fourth album, '' A Gangsta's Pain'', was released in April 2021 and became his first chart-topping project.

Early life

Moneybagg Yo, whose real name is Demario DeWayne White Jr, was born on September 22, 1991 in Memphis, Tennessee to a single mother. He is the oldest of three siblings and was raised in the Frayser neighborhood of North Memphis. According to lyrics in his song "''Struggle''," Moneybagg Yo had a difficult childhood where his mother served as both parents and they often struggled with financial issues, including not having lights or running water at times.

Moneybagg attended Mitchell High School in the city but later dropped out in the 12th grade, describing himself as "terrible" during that time. Despite trying to focus on sports and even getting a job at a chicken restaurant, Moneybagg eventually turned in order to sell drugs and provide for his family as Moneybagg had his first child at this time.

DeWayne grew up in the Walker Homes community, which was known for its high crime rates and gang activity, he has spoken about being exposed to violence and drugs at a young age.

His street life would intersect with his personal life on August 8th 2011, in which during Moneybagg Yo's family annual picnics on August 8th, an altercation occurred that resulted in Moneybagg Yo, being shot at. However, he was able to escape unharmed and was later arrested in connection with the incident. It is unclear what exactly led to the altercation or what the specific charges were that Moneybagg Yo faced as a result of the incident.

After the incident at his family picnic, Moneybagg Yo used the traumatic experience as motivation to work harder in his music career. He released his first official song "''F U Pay Me''" later that year. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, Moneybagg Yo remained determined to succeed and used his experiences to fuel his passion for music.

During his spare time, Moneybagg Yo and his best friend Elo enjoyed freestyling. Elo believed that Moneybagg Yo had the potential to become a successful rapper and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. In 2015, Moneybagg Yo released his mixtape "''Federal''", which gained popularity in the Memphis and Tennessee areas

Elo was fatally shot in 2015, which prompted Moneybagg Yo to take his rap career more seriously. As a way to honor his best friend, he released a CD titled ''"ELO" (Everybody Lives On)'', which became a tribute to Elo. The CD resonated with many in the South and North Memphis areas.

Career

Growing up in South Memphis Moneybagg had a love for hip hop music from a young age and was heavily influenced by artists such as Boosie, Yo Gotti, Juvenile, and Future. In an effort to escape the struggles of life in the hood, Moneybagg turned to rapping as a means of making a living.

He began his career in 2011 with the release of his first official single "''F U Pay Me''". Over the following years, he released several mixtapes, including "''Da Block 2 Da Booth''" in 2012 and "''All Gas No Brakes''" in 2016.

In 2016, he released three more mixtapes, one of which won a Memphis Hip Hop Award for Mixtape of the Year. ''Federal Reloaded'', a revision of the first installment of the ''Federal'' series, featured guest appearances from Y Grizzle, Young Dolph and OG Boo Dirty, among others. The follow-up, ''ELO (Everybody Lives On)'', included guest appearances from Yo Gotti and Migos' Quavo, among others. His work with Yo Gotti continued on a joint effort titled '' 2 Federal'', released in October 2016. '' Heartless'' arrived in February 2017 and charted at No. 177 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The mixtape featured guest appearances from YFN Lucci and Lil Durk. In October 2017, Moneybagg released '' Federal 3X'', his debut with Interscope since signing a distribution deal. The mixtape contains a sole feature from YoungBoy Never Broke Again.

In 2018, Moneybagg Yo delivered a compilation album: ''Moneybagg Yo Presents: NLess Ent x Bread Gang''. The project was released on January 1, 2018. On February 14, 2018, Moneybagg released his sequel mixtape to 2017's ''Heartless'', ''2 Heartless'' with features from Quavo, Yo Gotti, Lil Baby, and BlocBoy JB and production from Zaytoven and Southside. On July 27, 2018, he released a nine-track mixtape, ''Bet On Me'', with features from YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Baby, and Gunna with the production handled from Tay Keith, Drum God, Javar and others. Moneybagg Yo released his debut studio album '' Reset'' in November 2018. He released his second studio album, ''43va Heartless'', in May 2019. His third studio album, '' Time Served'', was released in January 2020. It includes " All Dat" and "U Played", his first Hot 100-charting singles. The album reached number three on the ''Billboard'' 200, with 66,000 units sold during its first week of release. It was followed up by a deluxe edition in May. On June 30, 2020, he released the single "Said Sum", his highest-charting song as a lead artist.

After Moneybagg Yo and fellow rapper Blac Youngsta both announced they would be releasing their respective solo albums on a shared day of September 18, 2020, the rappers took this to social media two days before to announce they would instead release a collaborative mixtape titled ''Code Red''. Moneybagg Yo also released a remix of "Said Sum", featuring American hip hop group City Girls and American rapper DaBaby, which is included on the mixtape.

Moneybagg released his fourth studio album, '' A Gangsta's Pain'', on April 23, 2021. It features guest appearances from Kaash Paige, Big30, Future, Polo G, Lil Durk, Jhené Aiko, and Pharrell Williams. The album became his first number-one project, debuting with 110,000 units on the ''Billboard'' 200, and returned to the top in its third week. On June 1, 2021, Moneybagg released the standalone single, "Rookie of the Year", an ode to basketball player Ja Morant.

Legal issues and controversies

Moneybagg Yo has had several legal issues throughout his career. He grew up in the hood and was closely acquainted with Lance Taylor, also known as OG Boo Dirty, who has a criminal history including an arson charge and two attempted second degree murder charges. In 2010, during Thanksgiving weekend, there was an altercation in the parking lot outside Level II nightclub that left six people shot, Yo Gotti and Lance were arrested together with another individual, but the charges were later dropped.

Arrest at CD release party

In March 2016, Moneybagg Yo was arrested at a CD release party for himself and other local rappers in Tipton County, Tennessee. The party, held at the former Maserati Club on Highway 70 in Mason, was targeted by the Tipton County Sheriff's Office for criminal activity, violence, and probation or parole violators. Moneybagg Yo was arrested on drug and gun charges alongside 27 other people. The Tipton County Sheriff's Office confiscated 10 loaded guns, a bulletproof vest, cash, and drugs.

Some of those arrested were known gang members belonging to the Vice Lords, Gangster Disciples, Bloods, and Crips. Federal authorities were also notified of the presence of three undocumented immigrants at the concert and began an investigation into their immigration status. Charges were later dropped.

Fued with NBA Youngboy and Ralo

In 2017, Moneybagg Yo released a joint mixtape with NBA YoungBoy called ''"Fed Baby's,"'' but the two later got into a feud and YoungBoy dissed Moneybagg in a video in which Youngboy can be heard saying ''"Fuck that Tape, Bitch I want smoke"''. Moneybagg tried to keep the peace and eventually the two seemed to have resolved their differences. However, 1017 Label artist Ralo later got involved, dissing Moneybagg as well as labelmate Blac Youngsta who Moneybagg has a tape “Code Red” with.

Ralo claimed that he only wanted Moneybagg's help in connecting him to Blac Youngsta and Yo Gotti to end their own beef. Moneybagg addressed the situation in an interview on The Breakfast Club and tried to stay clear of the drama, focusing on his music and family.

Signing with CMG

There was controversy when Moneybagg Yo announced that he had signed to CMG (Collective Music Group), a record label owned by Yo Gotti.

Moneybagg Yo first gained attention in the music industry with the release of his mixtape "''All Gas No Brakes''". This mixtape caught the attention of CMG (Collective Music Group) label boss Yo Gotti, and he made multiple attempts to sign Moneybagg. After building up a solid trust and rapport with Yo Gotti, Moneybagg finally decided to sign on the dotted line with CMG. Yo Gotti reportedly blessed him with a $200,000 signing bonus up front, jumpstarting his career and helping him achieve success in the industry.

Many people were divided on the decision, with some claiming that it was a great move for the rapper's career and others arguing that it was a betrayal to his roots in North Memphis. The controversy was especially fierce between the north and south parts of the city, with many people in the north accusing Moneybagg Yo of abandoning his roots in favor of chasing fame and success. Others argued that the rapper had every right to pursue his career and that signing to CMG was a smart move that would help him reach a wider audience.

In a Vlad interview, Moneybagg Yo claimed that people were "hating on him for no reason" and that no one had been killed in the shooting, so signing to CMG and getting a record deal shouldn't be an issue. However, it was later revealed that someone had indeed been killed, adding credibility to claims made later by Stupid Duke, a rapper affiliated with Yo Gotti, that Moneybagg was working with the "opps," or rivals of Yo Gotti's crew. OG Boo Dirty, who is also Stupid Duke's blood brother, had previously released a diss track called "Get Em" Moneybagg is seen in the video.

Feud with Stupid Duke

In 2020, rapper Moneybagg Yo was involved in a public feud with rapper Stupid Duke. The origins of the feud can be traced back to around 2010, when the Memphis nightclub shooting occurred in which there was an altercation in the parking lot outside the Level II nightclub in Memphis, Tennessee that left six people shot.

Among those involved in the altercation were Yo Gotti and Lance Taylor, also known as OG Boo Dirty, a member of Moneybagg's crew with a criminal history including arson and two attempted second degree murder charges. OG Boo Dirty is also Stupid Duke's blood brother.

On April 9, 2020, rapper Stupid Duke accused Moneybagg Yo of working with the "opps," or opposing gang. This claim was seemingly supported by the 2010 altercation at the Level II nightclub in Memphis.

The altercation and its connection to Moneybagg Yo's crew added credibility to Stupid Duke's accusations. The tension between the two rappers and their respective crews continued. Duke and his affiliates targeted Moneybagg Yo and those connected to his record label, CMG, with diss tracks and online attacks. Moneybagg Yo responded with his own track, "Thinking Out Loud," from his 2020 album Time Served. This prompted another diss track from Duke.

2020 party shooting

On September 2020, Moneybagg Yo was celebrating his 29th birthday with his crew and girlfriend Ariana Fletcher in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the party, shots rang out and a female, rumored to be a friend of Ariana, was injured. Gunshots were fired outside the location where the group was gathered. The incident was captured on Instagram live, and in the video, voices can be heard saying "They're coming back", before more gunshots are heard. At least one person was reportedly shot and taken to the hospital.

The shooters escaped, and Moneybagg Yo denied that he was the target of the shooting. However, some people have questioned whether he would admit it if he was the target, as this would bring law enforcement attention to him. The incident caused tensions to rise and added to the ongoing feud between Moneybagg Yo and Stupid Duke.

Continuation of Feud with Duke after Release from Jail

In April 2021, Stupid Duke was released from prison and returned home. The beef between Moneybagg Yo and Stupid Duke seemed to have died down, but in May 2021, it was reignited when Moneybagg Yo released a diss track targeting Duke. In response, Duke released a diss track of his own, reigniting the long-standing feud between the two rappers.

The feud continued to escalate, with both sides releasing more diss tracks and taking shots at each other on social media. Affiliates of Duke would join in on targeting Moneybagg Yo on Facebook.

Despite the ongoing beef, Moneybagg Yo and Stupid Duke have both denied that they are involved in any criminal activity. However, the history of violence and criminal activity within their respective crews has raised suspicions and has led some to question their involvement.

The feud between Moneybagg Yo and Stupid Duke has garnered significant attention from both the rap community and the general public, with many speculating about the true nature of the beef and the potential for it to turn violent. It remains to be seen how the situation will play out, but some say that the rift between the two rappers is deep and unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.

Feud with Father

The feud with Duke took a turn in June 2021 when someone claiming to be Moneybagg Yo's father accused the rapper of selling out and switching up after achieving fame, and shared receipts of Moneybagg Yo with his former associates. This added to the perception that Moneybagg Yo was following the "paper trail," or prioritizing financial gain, over loyalty to his roots and crew.

According to HD White, after his son Moneybagg Yo's career took off, Moneybagg acted like he didn't know his father anymore. In response, HD White released a rap song in which he takes shots at his son and posted it on Facebook, along with a message taking shots at Moneybagg Yo. The message reads, "Before the money when everything was cool Now he don’t know us no more." Moneybagg Yo did not respond to the allegations

Personal life

Moneybagg Yo has eight children, four sons and four daughters.

Relationships

In 2019, rumors circulated that
Megan Thee Stallion and Moneybagg Yo were dating after collaborating on two songs. In a January 2020 interview, Moneybagg Yo confirmed that the two had a relationship but that they eventually broke up and remained "cool" with each other. However, it was reported that their strong personalities often caused conflicts between them. However, fans speculated that Megan Thee Stallion had dissed Moneybagg Yo In her 2020 single "B.I.T.C.H.", with lyrics that seemed to reference cheating rumors

In response, Moneybagg Yo reportedly posted a Snapchat story implying that Megan Thee Stallion had body odor. Despite this, the two are said to be on civil terms and have moved on to other relationships, with Megan Thee Stallion rumoured to be dating several other men and Moneybagg Yo confirmed to be dating Ariana Fletcher

Religion

In 2018, Moneybagg Yo converted to Islam, taking his Shahada from rapper, Kevin Gates. He prays five times a day and he fasts during Ramadan.

Moneybagg Yo described Islam as what made him quit drinking lean, stating in an interview that, "I'm Muslim so I'm disciplined... I'm strong-minded."Archived a
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Discography

* ''ELO (Everybody Lives On)'' (2016)
* '' Reset'' (2018)
* ''43va Heartless'' (2019)
* '' Time Served'' (2020)
* '' A Gangsta's Pain'' (2021)

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yo, Moneybagg
1991 births
Living people
African-American male rappers
Gangsta rappers
Rappers from Memphis, Tennessee
Southern hip hop musicians
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American male musicians
Interscope Records artists
Trap musicians
21st-century African-American musicians
American Muslims
Muslim rappers
Songwriters from Tennessee