Club Shay Shay – G Herbo Part 2 (October 8, 2025)

Overview

In this episode of Club Shay Shay, host Shannon Sharpe continues his in-depth conversation with Chicago rapper G Herbo. The discussion explores Herbo's roots, personal relationships within hip hop, moving away from Chicago's violence, navigating stardom, overcoming substance abuse, the importance of therapy, fatherhood, relationships, and the inspiration for his latest album. The conversation is candid, raw, and often vulnerable, providing a profound look into G Herbo’s growth, mindset, and legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Friendship and Loyalty in Hip Hop

• Relationship with 21 Savage

  • Herbo praises 21 Savage, calling him "one of the realest" people he’s met. Their relationship is described as mutual, family-like, and deeply trusting.
    • Quote: “My friends, my brothers became his brothers and vice versa…we really got that type of love and mutual respect.” (00:13–00:54)

• Impact of Chief Keef (“Sosa”) Moving to LA

  • Chief Keef paved the way for other Chicago rappers to move to Los Angeles, providing a safer environment and new possibilities.
    • Quote: “When Sosa moved to LA…it made it possible for us…you could just go to Cali…that was the coldest shit ever to me.” (01:55–02:31)

2. Early Career and Influences

• Meeting and Collaborating with Chief Keef

  • G Herbo explains how their studios, neighborhoods, and friends overlapped, forming a lasting creative and personal bond.

• Nicki Minaj’s Role in His Career

  • Nicki Minaj was the first major artist to reach out for a feature, fundamentally inspiring Herbo with her professionalism and respect for his flow.
    • Quote: “I’mma always fuck with Nicki and respect Nikki…she was like, I’m trying to use your cadence and your flow…” (05:27–08:34)

• Touring and Cam’ron’s Support

  • Cam’ron promoted Herbo up the bill on tour, recognizing his ability to hype crowds—turning brief meetups into platform-building opportunities.

• Chicago Rappers and First Meeting Common

  • Herbo recounts learning from Common and being supported for acting endeavors. Common urged him to “gather information, read on stuff before you make a decision” for music and life. (13:45)

3. Musical Process and Experiences with Kanye West

• Recording with Kanye
  • Herbo details how working with Kanye meant redoing verses, adapting to Ye’s unorthodox process. He never took it personally when songs didn’t get released, focusing instead on gratitude for the opportunity.
    • Quote: “He made me redo my verse about three times…One thing I learned in this business though…you can’t really take it personal.” (15:46–17:23)
  • Kanye’s first words to Herbo highlighted industry influence: “You gotta start like tripping with these niggas. You gotta start dissing these niggas. Stop letting n steal your style and steal your flow.” (18:42)

4. Reflections on Chicago and Hip-Hop Legacy

• Mount Rushmore of Chicago Rappers

  • G Herbo’s picks: Chief Keef (Sosa), Juice WRLD, Kanye West (Ye), and Lil Durk (Smurk). He emphasizes each artist’s influence and perseverance.
    • Quote: “I’m gonna do Sosa, Juice WRLD, Yay, and I’m gonna do Smurf…girls can go through shit and reinvent himself…that’s what really makes him the goat to me.” (20:46–22:41)

• Juice WRLD’s Death Compared to Tupac/Biggie

  • Herbo describes the generational shock of Juice WRLD’s passing and how his music empowered marginalized youth.
    • Quote: “He gave people reason to want to live…his music’ll forever live on…that’s what I meant by that [comparing to Tupac/Biggie].” (22:45–24:25)

5. Personal Trauma, Substance Abuse, and Recovery

• Open Discussion on Drug Use
  • Herbo is transparent about his long battle with pills and lean, starting as a teenager to numb trauma and emotions.
    • Quote: “I couldn’t function without it. Like I had to drink lean every day…just to go to sleep…my mind is somewhere else, because I’m altering my brain with these drugs.” (27:11–28:53)
  • Rehab, relapse, and eventual commitment to sobriety are covered in depth.
    • Quote: “I just felt like I was losing myself…you lashing out…angry…You just gotta go to rehab.” (30:09–31:46)
  • Real talk on the dangers of withdrawals and the realities of substance abuse in street and celebrity contexts.

6. Therapy, Emotional Health, and Communication

• Importance of Therapy

  • Both Sharpe and Herbo share lessons from therapy, highlighting its necessity for growth, healthy relationships, and overcoming mistrust or trauma.
    • Shannon Sharpe’s therapist advice: “Are you arguing to be right or are you arguing for right?” (34:01)
    • Herbo: “That’s some of the realest shit I ever heard…99.9% of the world argue to be right.” (34:56)
  • Discussing cultural skepticism about therapy, especially in Black communities and among men.

• Triggers, Healing, and Family Advice

  • G Herbo shares advice from his girlfriend’s father:
    • Quote: “Whatever you going…look at that doormat and leave that shit outside…leave it at the door at your house.” (39:48–40:55)

7. Fatherhood and Breaking Cycles

• Parenting After Growing Up in Trauma

  • Herbo aspires to be honest, present, and open with his kids, especially noting the changing dynamic between his own father as he matured.
    • Quote: “I want my kids to feel like they could tell me, and I might be highly disappointed…but you gotta tell me the truth.” (49:07)

• Financial Stability Before Fatherhood

  • He wanted to be ready—financially and emotionally—before having children, after seeing struggles in his community.

• Protecting Kids from Street Life and Fame

  • G Herbo addresses how he navigates co-parenting, protects his children from social media, and encourages them to think beyond idolizing street culture.
    • “My son is a regular kid, but he a celebrity…you gotta protect your kids from that.” (52:55)

8. Relationships, Co-parenting, and Gender Roles

• Forgiveness and Accountability in Co-parenting

  • Herbo highlights the need for forgiveness and accountability to foster healthy relationships for the benefit of his child.
    • Quote: “No matter what, my son, he’s smart as shit bro…I always was able to just, like, throw shit under the rug.” (56:30–57:33)

• Social Media & Privacy

  • Sharpe and Herbo agree on the perils of public relationships, emphasizing that “if you date publicly you gotta break up publicly.” (62:42–62:59)

• Men, Emotions, and Platonic Relationships

  • A nuanced discussion on men’s pride, communication, and whether men and women can truly be platonic friends.

9. Growth, Legacy, and New Album

• Marriage and Future Plans

  • Herbo expresses readiness for marriage and further family life, wanting to mark his commitment with financial stability and growth.
    • Quote: “That’s where I’m at with life. Like, that’s my next step. I’m finna get married.” (65:46–66:07)

• Drill Rap’s Evolution

  • Herbo is candid about Drill music’s evolution, recognizing New York and UK’s vital scenes while Chicago lost some of its initial spark.
    • Quote: "Chicago just got too gangster... New York and the UK learned to master that, they mastered and started making hits from it." (67:14–68:43)

• Album Cover Story

  • The cover features a childhood mugshot; Herbo wants to remind fans of his origins and struggles—speaking to kids who may not know his journey.
    • Quote: “That kid on that mugshot could not be here right now. You feel what I’m saying? And I wanted people to see the pain in my eyes.” (69:39–71:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Moving to LA 100% saved my life.” (03:42)
• “Nicki…wanted to do the song, like, with my cadence…that just really inspired me. Like, boy, it’s a lot of money out here. You gotta go get this shit.” (08:34)
• “Common…told me: ‘read articles about the touring business…read the dictionary…The more knowledge you get, it’s just gonna make you better as an artist.’” (13:45)
• “Kanye…made me redo my verse about three times for sure on that one record.” (15:46)
• “I really credit [Nicki Minaj] for it…after I did that video, I probably made like a half a million dollars just grinding.” (09:01)
• “I want my kids to know how it feels to work hard and earn…just being a parent, being honest, letting them know the harsh realities.” (46:50–47:59)
• “You gotta have somebody…that could really be able to say, right is right, wrong is wrong, correct. And that’s what therapy does for you.” (37:36)
• “Women will try to really come between it…they want what the next woman got…men don’t really do that.” (60:55–61:09)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Savage 21’s Tribute & Friendship: 00:00–01:51
• Chief Keef’s Move to LA: 01:51–04:35
• Early Collaborations & Nicki Minaj: 05:20–09:14
• Touring with Cam’ron & Meeting Common: 09:14–13:45
• Advice from Common on Knowledge: 13:45–15:29
• Work with Kanye West: 15:29–19:23
• Chicago Rappers Mount Rushmore: 20:39–22:41
• Juice WRLD’s Legacy: 22:41–25:10
• Substance Abuse & Recovery: 26:39–32:45
• Therapy, Communication & Family: 32:45–40:18
• Fatherhood & Parenting Style: 46:40–49:51
• Financial Stability & Parenting: 49:51–51:01
• Protecting Kids from Street Life: 52:27–54:56
• Co-Parenting & Forgiveness: 55:03–57:33
• Social Media & Relationships: 62:06–63:26
• Platonic Relationships Discussion: 64:24–65:25
• Marriage & Next Steps: 65:29–66:55
• Drill Rap’s Global Spread: 67:10–68:43
• Album Cover & Legacy: 68:43–71:21

Summary

G Herbo’s second appearance on Club Shay Shay is an intimate, unfiltered portrait of an artist who has endured trauma and triumph. Through stories, advice, and reflections, the episode captures both the spirit of survival and the power of evolution—serving as caution, inspiration, and encouragement for those navigating similar paths. Herbo’s respect for his roots, his commitment to growth, and his openness about vulnerability make this a standout conversation on art, life, and legacy.