Exclusive Entrevista: Yung Berg

With the economy still on the bridge of panic and the election of the century in less than a month, everybody has their mind on their money - including rapper Yung Berg.

While the "Sexy Lady" star has been getting a bad rap on the Internet lately, that hasn't stopped him from getting his money right and helping others do the same. For the second year in a row the Chicago native is partnering up with Russell Simmons' Hip Hop Summit Action Network as a panelist for their "Get Your Money Right" initiative.

The financial empowerment summit is set to kick-off at Clark-Atlanta University this Friday. We caught up with Berg on the eve of the event to get the scoop on what he's learned from the game so far, his relationship with Jaslene, and who has his vote on November 4th. Check it out after the jump...

How did you come to get involved in the Hip Hop Summit Action Network’s “Get Your Money Right” initiative?

Well last year I was involved with it so I wanted to come back again this year because I am at a different state in my career. Last year I was just starting off my album hadn’t dropped yet, but Russell and everybody involved really liked the way I came out in the game. I was just by myself, I didn’t have co-signers and I had my own label, my own artists, and my own producers. So I'm coming back now just to keep talking to the kids and telling them that it is bigger than just what you see going on right now.

Why do you think the “Get Your Money Right” initiative is so vital to young people?

Because we are the future. We got to make way for the change ourselves because it’s only going to affect us. Your parents lived, we got to live for what’s going to affect our next generation.

What lessons have you learned in your short time in the industry? I know a lot has changed for you in the last year…

I’ve just learned that nothing in life is ever scripted. If I could have a script, or know what exactly was going to happen in my situations, I would be good. I would have a game-plan. But nothing in life goes as expected so you have to just flow with it. At the end of the day you got to stay true to what your morals and values are and with what works best for you and then you’ll be able to find your own success.

This year a lot of attention has been on the upcoming Presidential election. What issue do you think should be focused on in regards to young people?

I’m just for Obama. I just want him to go in and spank dude (McCain) already and get it over with. Because I think that young people relate to Obama a little bit more. For kids, it’s hard to relate to an older Republican candidate that doesn’t really share the same type of upbringing that you have to even be relevant in a young person’s life. I think Obama signifies change and that things are actually possible and achievable in the society we live in.

We have a new season of "Pimpeando" starting next week. Being that car culture is big in Chicago, do you have any tips on what to look for in a pimped-out-ride?

I’m from Chicago, so they do a lot of the old school cars and fix them up. For me it’s the paint. The paint has to have a certain type of shine, like a certain amount of clear coats on it just to really make it stand out. Anybody can have rims, but if you got that right paint and your car is glistened-up you are gonna stand out whether or not you have rims.

There have been rumors going around online that you were involved with Jaslene Gonzalez, is there any truth to that?

Oh nah, we are just friends. We both from Chicago so we just cool. The Internet and the media tries to blow things out of proportion but we are just friends.

What’s next for you?

Right now I am working on my artist Casha's album. I’m also working on my second album which should be out in March of next year. I am just pushing my team to do everything I do, make hit records. We working with Diddy and a whole bunch of different peeps. So I am just perfecting my sound and keep doing what I’m doing, and work on my next effort.

Hopefully he has a couple of summer jams in the works. The ladies definitely need a new "Sexy Can I" anthem to shake our caderas to! The exclusives keep rolling so stay tuned for more news right here.

Photos via Getty Images

Tags Barack Obama, Casha, Clark Atlanta University, Diddy, Hip Hop Summit Action Network, Jaslene Gonzalez, Russell Simmons, Sexy Lady, Yung Berg