B.G. has had to watch his words in his new music in an effort to avoid being at risk of going back to prison.
In an interview with XXL published on Saturday (March 15), Gizzle spoke about his new album Freedom Of Speech and while he noted he didn’t stifle himself completely, he admitted he did still tone things down.
“If the ban that they was trying to put on me would’ve stuck, then there’s definitely a few records on there that I wouldn’t have been able to drop,” he said, before adding: “And to be honest with you, I still toned it down a little bit because at the end of the day, the prosecutor’s still got the right. If he feel like I’m going too far or if he feel like I’m name-dropping and talking about active cases or real-life situations that could get people hurt, then he could bring me back in front of the judge and ask for me to be violated.
“I still kept it all the way B.G., but also, in the back of my mind, was like, I ain’t gon’ push it too far. You know, you got the United States Government over your shoulder. That’s why my message to these youngsters be, ‘Man, listen, it ain’t what you do, it’s how you do it. At the end of the day, them people listening. Them people watching. So, you got to be mindful of what you put in these songs.’ Rap is on trial.”
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The Hot Boys rapper was released from prison in late 2023 following a conviction in 2012 for firearms possession and obstruction of justice.
Last March, the U.S. government accused him of glorifying a life of crime in the songs he has released since getting out, which they felt was a violation of his probation terms. They also said recording songs with convicted felons Boosie Badazz and Gucci Mane was a violation.
And over the summer, the court ruled he did not violate his probation with any of the aforementioned actions, but he now must get written approval from his probation officer before working with convicted felons.
United States District Judge Susie Morgan called the government’s attempt to censor B.G.’s lyrics “unconstitutional” – but she did grant the government the right to look at his lyrics in advance. The judge said that if the state had any objections, prosecutors could attempt legal action.
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“To address the legitimate concerns expressed by the Government, the Court will impose a special condition that the Defendant provide the United States Probation Office with a copy of the lyrics of any song he writes, in advance of his production or promotion of such song, and that those lyrics be shared with the Government,” the court document reads.
“At that time, the Government may, if it deems necessary and appropriate, file another motion for leave to file a rule to show cause why the Defendant’s conditions of supervised release should not be modified because the Defendant’s conduct is inconsistent with the goals of rehabilitation.”
In a statement about the ruling, B.G.’s attorney David Z Chesnoff told XXL: “Mr. Dorsey [B.G.] is pleased the that Honorable Court found he did not violate the terms of his supervision and would not restrict his artistic work by ordering his lyrics be controlled by the Government. He intends on resuming his career consistent with the court order.”
