Rapper YG uploads new version of song 'Meet the Flockers' with lyrics about robbing homes in a 'Chinese neighborhood' edited out
- YG's song "Meet the Flockers" was removed from YouTube earlier this week.
- Reports say YouTube employees had complained about the song's anti-Asian lyrics.
- A new version has now been uploaded to YouTube and streaming sites.
The rapper YG uploaded a new version of his song "Meet the Flockers" to YouTube on Tuesday morning with previous lyrics about performing armed robbery in Chinese neighborhoods edited out.
Last week, the original version of the song, which is off the rapper's 2014 debut album, "My Krazy Life," was removed from YouTube after reports surfaced that YouTube staffers had asked senior editorial staff members to remove the song from the platform because of its anti-Asian content.
The original song opens with a skit in which YG advises would-be armed robbers to target Chinese neighborhoods because they "don't believe in bank accounts." The full lyric said: "First, you find a house and scope it out. Find a Chinese neighborhood, 'cause they don't believe in bank accounts."
The new, edited version of "Meet the Flockers" now says: "First, you find a house and scope it out. Find a neighborhood, 'cause they don't believe in bank accounts."
According to Bloomberg, senior editorial staff members had initially refused to remove the song in an internal email sent to all employees. The email said YouTube found the song highly offensive and hard to watch but chose to keep the video, as well as other content violating its hate-speech policy, on the platform for educational and artistic purposes.
"Removing this video would have far-reaching implications for other musical content containing similarly violent or offensive lyrics, in genres ranging from rap to rock," the letter said, per Bloomberg's report.
Bloomberg later reported that YouTube employees pushed back again the company's decision, which forced senior employees to hold a town-hall meeting to discuss the issue.
It is still unclear who removed the song from YouTube. Insider has reached out to representatives for YG and YouTube for comment.
Earlier this week, a YouTube representative did not confirm the company sent the letter cited in Bloomberg's story but told Insider the company had "an open culture and employees are encouraged to share their views, even when they disagree with a decision."
"We'll continue this dialogue as part of our ongoing work to balance openness with protecting the YouTube community at large," the company representative added.
Earlier Tuesday, it was reported that the entire "My Krazy Life" album had been removed from all major streaming services. The album now seems to have returned to Spotify with the edited version of "Meet the Flockers."