Back in the Building:
On Power 105.1’s Desert Storm Radio, DJ Clue welcomed Atlanta rapper YFN Lucci for a raw and reflective conversation about life, music, and growth. The world-famous DJ didn’t waste time getting straight to the point — Lucci’s long-awaited return.
“You was gone for a little minute,” Clue said, his tone a mix of relief and respect. “Thankful that you out, man, and made it through.”
Lucci opened up about his mindset during that difficult period. “At first I wasn’t taking it serious,” he admitted. “I had got a bond, then they hit me with a RICO. I turned myself in again thinking I’d get another bond. They denied it. That’s when it sank in — I’m gonna be stuck for a minute.”
The Atlanta native described the shock of confinement after years of fast living. “It was hard at first, but then I was like, this my reality for now, so I gotta deal with it. I just laid down my time.”
Despite everything, Lucci said he never doubted he’d make it home. “I always knew I would come home. I didn’t know when, but I knew I was coming home.”
Life Behind Bars and Growth:
When Clue asked if he thought about the possibility of never being free again, Lucci kept it honest. “Sometimes I thought, ‘what if I got life?’ But I never thought I’d have to do life. I knew I was coming home.”
He also reacted to the ongoing YSL RICO case that shook Atlanta while he was locked up. “I just wished them the best,” Lucci said. “My name ain’t in it, so I ain’t trippin’.”
On the topic of reconciliation, Lucci revealed that 21 Savage helped open the door to peace between crews. “Sav hit me, asked how I’d feel about getting on the phone or talking, putting differences aside. I told him, ‘I ain’t trippin’. We can figure it out when I get out.’ Once I did, we worked it out. Labels got involved, and we did two great songs.”
To Lucci, the moment represented maturity. “It was time for that — growth, for the culture, for Atlanta, for the world.”
Coming Home and Back to the Music:
When he finally walked out, the first thing he did was reunite with family. “My people had me some clothes, I got a haircut, ate good — fried red snapper,” he smiled. “We were just kicking it.”
By the next day, he was in the studio. “I just wanted to hear my voice again,” he said. “Then the day after that, I was gone.”
Lucci admitted music had changed a little since his absence. “The girls running everything right now. They going crazy — dropping back-to-back, videos, all that. You gotta respect it.”
He listed some of his favorites, including Lotto, GloRilla, Sexy Red, and YK Nie. “I’d definitely jump on a record with them,” he added.
The Album: Already Legend:
Lucci’s first project since coming home, Already Legend, is personal. “When I came home, I was like, I gotta let folks inside my mind,” he explained. “Talk about everything I been through, everything I’m going through now, my kids, my life — a whole lot of inspiration on this album.”
One line stands out for him: “They say I threw my mans out.” Lucci clarified that addressing that controversy was necessary. “That’s a real-life situation. A lot of people was saying certain things. I had to let them into my world.”
As for his favorite tracks, he mentioned Practice What You Preach, Pray for My Enemy, and Look What I Did. “If I had to bet on one, it’d be Look What I Did,” he said confidently.
The Craft:
Lucci described his creative process as spontaneous. “I don’t write nothing down,” he told Clue. “I just listen to the beat and it come to me. I punch in. It’s like writing, just not using paper.”
That method works fast — sometimes just twelve minutes per song. “It depends how it’s flowing, how my mind going,” he said.
His top five rappers reflect his influences: Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Jeezy, and Tupac. “That’s who I grew up on,” Lucci said proudly.
From Nine-Year-Old Dreamer to Label Boss:
Lucci revealed that he knew he wanted to rap at nine years old. “I told my uncle I was gonna be a rapper,” he recalled. “I used to listen to Juvenile and them back then.”
His first big break came when Johnny Cinco featured him on a track. “Coach K was in the studio and told me, ‘Let me know when you ready,’” Lucci said. “When we dropped the song, the reaction was crazy — that’s when I knew it was over with.”
Now, he’s focused on building his own empire. “We promoting Already Legend, we signing artists. We looking for talent — Already Legend Entertainment.”
Looking Ahead:
Lucci’s Already Legend Tour kicks off at the top of the year. One of the project’s standout tracks, January 31st, carries special meaning. “That’s the day I came home,” he said.
As the conversation wrapped, DJ Clue gave him his flowers. “Glad you back out here, my brother,” Clue said.
Lucci smiled, confident in his comeback. “We working,” he said simply.
YFN Lucci’s Already Legend is out now on all streaming platforms.