If you’ve been waiting for that gritty, cinematic West Coast sound that hits like the ’90s never left, Yestrdy just delivered. “Waymo” is the first single from the Compton native’s upcoming album, and it wastes no time setting the mood. Dark, bass-heavy, and dripping with that classic Death Row atmosphere, the track feels like Kendrick Lamar got dropped straight into a ’90s session and decided to keep the intensity high.
Yestrdy, real name Barshay Clay, produced this one himself and shaped every detail exactly how he heard it in his head. The low-end hits hard, the atmosphere stays heavy, and the whole thing moves with that unmistakable West Coast swagger. Lyrically he’s talking about stepping away from street life while making it clear the edge never left. He may have removed himself from that world, but he’s still that guy—and that part doesn’t change. It’s honest without over-explaining, and the production backs every line with weight.
Barshay Clay grew up in Compton and started rapping at eleven. The halls of Compton Unified School District were his first stage until a fight got him expelled. At Lynwood High he found kids battle-rapping in the back of the classroom and jumped in without hesitation. Those battles turned into a regular thing—two or three times a week—teaching him how to control a room and move a crowd with nothing but his words. By fourteen, at a house party where the energy was already high, he locked in on the vision: this was going to be him.
Years later that same drive still runs through everything he does. He writes and creates for himself and other artists, and since 2016 he’s been putting on No Locals Events across the LA community so local talent has a real stage. Performing is still his drug—good energy from the crowd is the high that keeps him coming back. After getting shot in 2015 he refused to fold. His motto stayed simple: “Keep Breathing, Please Don’t Die.” As long as you’re still here, you keep going.
Right now Yestrdy is locked in on his craft. His first EP, Good Morning, is already out on all platforms, and the second one, Below Average, is set for this winter. “Waymo” is the opening statement for the album, and it already shows he’s not playing around with the sound or the message.
West Coast rap has been having another moment—artists leaning back into heavy bass, cinematic beats, and real-life storytelling instead of chasing trends. Yestrdy fits right in the middle of that wave while still sounding like he came straight from the streets that raised him. If you dig that dark, bass-driven Compton energy, this one is going to sit with you.
What do you think of the direction he’s taking? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’m curious how this one hits for you.
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