Ya Boy was given his name by his cousin Bailey, and was helped to develop into a rap artist by his other cousin San Quinn. In the Summer of 2005, Ya Boy released his first solo mixtape, Future of The Franchise, and it sold 10,000 copies in the first month alone. This was to be followed up by his debut album, Rookie of the Year. His album features E-40, Turf Talk, Clyde Carson of The Team, San Quinn and more. The first single off the album was produced by Rick Rock and is titled "Step Ya Game Up."
In 2006, Ya Boy began an affiliation with The Black Wall Street. The Game took him under his wing and the two began to network. His affiliation with Game brought him a step higher in the rap game, as he began to collaborate with big name producers such as JR Rotem, Nu Jerzey Devil and Scott Storch to name a few. Pop star Britney Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline, aka [artist[K-Fed[/artist], called upon Ya Boy's talent for writing, and had him ghost write for his debut album Playing With Fire.
Ya Boy makes a cameo appearance in the 1996 crime film Mad Dog Time.
Barbershop
Ya Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spray it how I say it
Get it how I live it and sell it how I weigh it
My name in they streets I'm a tell you what they sayin
They know ya boy got them birds like ronald reagon
Getten kinda famous getten kinda paid
And them girls love me cause the dick good like meagan
They sayin he traded in his coupe and bought a range
They sayin he put a few bitchs on the blade
And he's pimpin now getten money in differnt states
And he's on the radio they hearin him on differnt stations
They herd he's in l.a. with game
He's gang bangin nah
I herd he still in the bay he yay slangin
They herd he got hitters that keep the k bangin
When they see em they gone rob him
Balla block ya boy turn the whole world to a barbershop
Everyday I hear them talkin about me
Everywhere I go the talk is bout me
The people wanna no what the talk is bout
So welcome to the barbershop
Everyday I hear them talkin about me
Everywhere I go the talk is bout me
The people wanna no what the talk is bout
So welcome to the barbershop
Ayo I call it like I see it
Live it like I breathe it
Set the hood on fire ya boy got the street fien
They sayin I'm a demon I should'ntbe breathen
I guess they mad cause my name buzz like bees
And I'm rich for no reason ballin all season
But still I squeez and leave ya brains on the cement
They sayin I'm a heathen they sayin that I'm teasen
Roll threw the jects with my whole mouth gleemin
They herd that I'm a sucker but still they won't touch em
They herd I chop shit up like west coast customs
His jewels got took they herd I was in the buildin
They wanna no about fat rat and about the million
They herd I'm in l.a. recordin with the docter
They no I'm fitten to blow it's clearer than a glass of vodka
They herd I run shit call the shot
Ya boy turn the whole world to a barber shop
Everyday I hear them talkin about me
Everywhere I go the talk is bout me
The people wanna no what the talk is bout
So welcome to the barbershop
Everyday I hear them talkin about me
Everywhere I go the talk is bout me
The people wanna no what the talk is bout
So welcome to the barbershop
[Bishop Lamont:]
Yo I get my shit chopped
Fake niggas don't stop
If it ain't our people then it's brothers cuttin up spot
When niggas plot and niggas pop and get popped
Over the usual cash, pussy, n pharmasoticals
Motavated by jelousy inremovable
When cematarys get so filled ain't no room for no more funerals
Preety soon they'll hang no vacancy signs
Niggas will have to get cremated and add to the smog line
It's pathetic I admit it I regret it
When you no where u headed it's a curse bein pathetic
I tried to stand by keep quit and just let it
But once u touched by god till u die u gotta rep it
Hard got lines it's easy to over step it
That's why I never mind when rappers gossip on a record
Cause there's worse problems then niggas lien on a record
I'm a real soldier nigga world wide respect it
Everyday I hear them talkin about me
Everywhere I go the talk is bout me
The people wanna no what the talk is bout
So welcome to the barbershop
Everyday I hear them talkin about me
Everywhere I go the talk is bout me
The people wanna no what the talk is bout
So welcome to the barbershop
In Ya Boy's song Barbershop, he boasts about his success and fame in the rap world. He confidently proclaims that he lives the life he raps about, selling drugs and making money. He talks about his reputation on the streets and how his name is buzzing. He even tells about how he has birds like Ronald Reagan, a reference to the former US President's involvement in the Iran-Contra affair. Ya Boy talks about his lifestyle, and how it has earned him a lot of attention from women who love him because of his prowess in the bedroom. There are also rumors about him putting some girls on the blade and being a pimp.
The second verse of the song continues in the same vein as the first. Ya Boy talks about his reputation on the streets, the rumors, and people talking about him wherever he goes. He also talks about his critics and how they don't like him because of his success. Bishop Lamont joins him for the third verse and talks about how fake people don't stop talking about other people. He goes on to say that it's easier to overstep the hard lines, and that he has learned to ignore gossip in the rap world because it's not as bad as other issues.
Interpretation: The song is a braggadocious anthem about rappers' lifestyles, the gossip on the streets, and the power they wield. It tells the story of the rappers' ascent to fame and how they've acquired money, women, and respect. It's a celebration of success and making it big in the rap world, even though it comes with its own set of problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Ayo I walk it like I talk it
I back up my words with my actions
Spray it how I say it
I express myself authentically and honestly
Get it how I live it and sell it how I weigh it
I live my life and do business in a straightforward and honest way
My name in they streets I'm a tell you what they sayin
People talk about me in the streets and they have opinions
They know ya boy got them birds like ronald reagon
People know I have drugs
Getten kinda famous getten kinda paid
I'm gaining popularity and wealth
And them girls love me cause the dick good like meagan
Women are attracted to me sexually
They sayin he traded in his coupe and bought a range
Rumors are circulating that I bought a fancy car
And it's all black just like a baltamore raven
The car I supposedly bought is black like the Baltimore ravens' uniforms
They sayin he put a few bitchs on the blade
People are saying I have women working as prostitutes for me
And he's pimpin now getten money in differnt states
I'm allegedly involved in the prostitution industry and making money in different states
And he's on the radio they hearin him on differnt stations
My music is being played on various radio stations
They herd he's in l.a. with game
People heard I'm in Los Angeles recording music with Game
He's gang bangin nah
Contrary to rumors, I'm not involved in gang activity
I herd he still in the bay he yay slangin
I'm still dealing drugs in the Bay Area
They herd he got hitters that keep the k bangin
People heard I have armed associates who protect me and use firearms
When they see em they gone rob him
People are planning to rob me if they see me in person
Balla block ya boy turn the whole world to a barbershop
I'm so popular and talked about that it's like being in a barbershop where people gossip and share opinions
Everyday I hear them talkin about me
I hear people talking about me every day
Everywhere I go the talk is bout me
Wherever I go, people are talking about me
The people wanna no what the talk is bout
People are curious about what others are saying about me
So welcome to the barbershop
Join the conversation
Ayo I call it like I see it
I speak my truth
Live it like I breathe it
I live my life genuinely and passionately
Set the hood on fire ya boy got the street fien
I'm causing a stir in my community
They sayin I'm a demon I should'ntbe breathen
Some people don't like me and think I'm evil
I guess they mad cause my name buzz like bees
People are jealous of my success and popularity
And I'm rich for no reason ballin all season
I have wealth but people may not understand how I acquired it
But still I squeez and leave ya brains on the cement
Despite my controversy, I'm prepared to protect myself by using violence
They sayin I'm a heathen they sayin that I'm teasen
People are calling me derogatory names
Roll threw the jects with my whole mouth gleemin
I'm showing off my expensive jewelry and flashing my wealth while going through the projects
They herd that I'm a sucker but still they won't touch em
People may insult me but they are still intimidated by me
They herd I chop shit up like west coast customs
People are saying that I cut or edit my drugs, like a custom car shop modifies cars
His jewels got took they herd I was in the buildin
Someone's jewelry was stolen and people suspect me because I was in the area
They wanna no about fat rat and about the million
People are curious about my associates and my money
They herd I'm in l.a. recordin with the docter
People heard I'm recording music with Dr. Dre in Los Angeles
They no I'm fitten to blow it's clearer than a glass of vodka
People know I'm going to become extremely successful and it's obvious
They herd I run shit call the shot
People heard that I'm in control of everything
Yo I get my shit chopped
I get my hair cut
Fake niggas don't stop
Fake people don't stop trying to bring me down
If it ain't our people then it's brothers cuttin up spot
If I'm not surrounded by my own people, then other black men are the ones cutting my hair
When niggas plot and niggas pop and get popped
When people are planning or committing violent acts, they may face retribution
Over the usual cash, pussy, n pharmasoticals
People often engage in criminal activity for money, sex, or drugs
Motavated by jelousy inremovable
People are motivated by jealousy and it's hard to change that mindset
When cematarys get so filled ain't no room for no more funerals
Violence is so prevalent that there are no more spaces for burial in cemeteries
Preety soon they'll hang no vacancy signs
There will be no more room for burial
Niggas will have to get cremated and add to the smog line
People will have to be cremated, and that will add to air pollution
It's pathetic I admit it I regret it
I acknowledge and regret the violence in my community
When you no where u headed it's a curse bein pathetic
Being aware of the violence can feel like a curse
I tried to stand by keep quit and just let it
I tried to stay neutral and not get involved in the violence
But once u touched by god till u die u gotta rep it
Once God blesses me with success, I have to represent it
Hard got lines it's easy to over step it
I have strict boundaries that are easy to cross
That's why I never mind when rappers gossip on a record
I don't mind when other rappers talk negatively about me in their music
Cause there's worse problems then niggas lien on a record
There are bigger issues and concerns to worry about than what other rappers say about me
I'm a real soldier nigga world wide respect it
I'm a respected gangster and people all over the world acknowledge it
Contributed by Andrew V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.