YFN Lucci isn’t taking this moment for granted: ‘Not a lot of people get second chances’

One thing that makes an Atlanta Hawks game special is the sheer amount of legendary rappers they invite to grace the State Farm Arena court to perform at halftime. And it’s often homegrown Atlanta talents.

YFN Lucci, who’ll entertain fans at the Hawks-Pistons game on Tuesday, Nov. 18, is not only beloved, but also has a comeback story that’s true to the city.

Born Rayshawn Bennett, YFN Lucci was released from jail in January after spending three and a half years behind bars and pleading guilty to one count of violating Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

YFN Lucci’s return has been met with fanfare across Atlanta, especially since he was imprisoned at the height of his popularity. The rapper returns to a city that’s changed, but loves him as much as ever.

Recently, YFN Lucci sat with Andscape minutes before playing basketball against fellow rapper 42 Dugg at an Atlanta LA Fitness. He discussed his return, his upcoming halftime performance, and what fatherhood looks like after incarceration.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

I heard you actively play basketball now, which was unexpected. Tell me about your hooping expertise. What are we talking about here?

I can shoot. I’m a shooter. I can’t really run around — I done gained too much weight. But I still know how to play, though. I played rec league in high school and probably scored like 10, 11 a game. Something like that. 

So who’s better, you or 42 Dugg?

He think he can beat me, too. He’s too little. Way too little!

What was your experience as an Atlanta sports fan growing up?

Growing up, I ain’t really go to too many Hawks games. I ain’t going to lie. The only game I went to growing up was an Atlanta Braves [baseball] game because Turner Field was in my hood in Summerhill. So we might park a car and then we might go get some dollar tickets and then go to the game.

I did go to a Hawks playoff game that was like 2016, ’15. They played against the Wizards against John Wall. I was at that game and it was a good game. I ain’t going to lie. That was before we had Trae Young, though.

So thinking back to when you were a kid, did you ever imagine that you would be in a situation where you’d be performing at halftime at an Atlanta sports event? 

Nah, I never imagined that. So this is real big, you feel me? In my city, Atlanta Hawks. State Farm Arena.  Halftime show. That’s crazy. I just came from an ugly situation, and now everybody is giving me so many flowers. It feels amazing.

I just want to thank God, but this is a big blessing because not a lot of people get second chances. Not only did I get a second chance, I got the gift and the talent to come out here and make all this happen.

When you were locked up and in your darkest moments, were there times you doubted you’d get back here?

I ain’t gonna lie, I expected this, but I also knew I had to put in the work. The world can respect me as a person. The city can respect me as a person, but I still had to get out and put in that work and make all those songs, and make all the right songs to make people even just respect me a lot more.

They’re saying, “Not only did he keep his silence, he did his time. He came on, he took accountability of the things that went on, but he also made amazing albums.”

What does putting in the work look like for you?

I just learned not to take anything for granted. So since I’ve been home, I’ve been constantly in the studio, constantly working, constantly just staying focused. And it’s been working for me.

What’s kept you focused?

Oh, my kids. I’ve got four kids. I’ve got three girls and one boy, and they just motivate me. I love my kids, you feel me? I want to give them the world. I want to be here with them and never miss any more time with them.

Seeing them and having them calling while I’m in the studio, I’m like, “Dang, I’m really right here back with my kids.”

And that’s just giving me the motivation to keep going.

What did the time away teach you as a father?

That time is so, so important. You can’t get back time. So, every day, every moment, you’ve got to cherish it, and you’ve got to be in their life with the most you can.

I know I be working, so I got to balance everything out. But I’m just trying to spend time with them. Even if we’re just sitting in the house, playing games, watching TV. All that matters. It’s the smaller things.

You’ve come back to a city that looks totally different from an industry standpoint. It’s very disjointed in a lot of places in Atlanta. Yet you’ve chosen to partner with people you previously had issues with, like Young Thug. What is behind that decision?

Just people getting older, man, we’re growing up. Everybody is growing up, everybody got kids, and it’s like if you look at the youth, there’s a lot of crazy things going on. So they look up to us. So we got to change the narrative.

It may not be right away, but we know if they keep seeing positivity, and they keep seeing us working together, getting money together, everybody’s going to fall in line because that’s the only thing that really matters.

Back to the halftime show. Do you get nervous for a show like this?

I don’t like to use the word nervous. I use the word excited. Because I get anxious, but I’ll be ready. Then once I get that microphone in my hand, I get to going. I know the crowd is going to be there. I know for the people who don’t know me, they’re going to get a great show. And for the people who do know me, it’s going to be lit. They’re going to be happy to see me, and we’re going to be turnt.

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