The album features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Rich Homie Quan, Ty Dolla Sign, Schoolboy Q, Meek Mill, Jay Rock, Tory Lanez, Jeezy, TeeFlii and RJ, while the production was primarily handled by frequent collaborator DJ Mustard, along with production from Ty Dolla Sign and Terrace Martin.

"My Nigga" peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was later certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In 2009, after serving six months in jail on residential burglary charges, YG signed a deal to Def Jam Recordings.

When YG was released from jail, he began going into meetings from Atlantic Records to Def Jam, where they just chose him to sign with the latter due to brand recognition.

[2] The majority of label attention had come from his collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign on his song "Toot It and Boot It", which ended up peaking on the US Billboard Hot 100, after being re-released by Def Jam.

[8] In April 2021, the album was briefly pulled from streaming services due to backlash spurring from the song "Meet the Flockers", which contained a lyric about robbing "Chinese neighborhoods".

They formed a relationship and began working together later, as Jeezy used his notoriety to put in a good word for YG at Def Jam.

[20] The track listing revealed guest appearances on the album would come from Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Tee Cee, Jeezy, Rich Homie Quan, Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Ty Dolla Sign, TeeFlii, Meek Mill, Tory Lanez, Charlie Hood, Reem Riches, Slim 400, Big TC and RJ.

[9] The final version of the album featured production from DJ Mustard, Ty Dolla Sign, Metro Boomin, Terrace Martin, B. Wheezy and Chordz 3D.

The song is notable for featuring a collaboration with rappers affiliated, with the Bloods (YG and Jay Rock), and Crips (Schoolboy Q) street gangs.

[25] On the Ty Dolla Sign-produced "Really Be (Smokin' & Drinkin')", YG and Kendrick Lamar rap about using substances to numb the pain.

[26][27] Lamar justifies his affinity for alcohol and other vices by detailing the messed up things that's happened to him recently, including the death of his friend Chad.

[27] The album closer "Sorry Momma" is an ode to YG's mother that features a gospel-like chorus sung by Ty Dolla Sign and a soulful saxophone backed instrumental created by Terrace Martin.

Just Re'd Up 2 featured guest appearances from Jeezy, Wiz Khalifa, Nipsey Hussle, Dom Kennedy, Juicy J, Ty Dolla Sign, TeeFlii, Ray J and Young Scooter, among others.

[2] Then on September 4, 2013, YG appeared on MTV's RapFix with Jeezy, and announced that the album would be released on November 19, 2013, however that date would shortly be pushed back.

The short trailer featured Drake, ASAP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, Jeezy, Meek Mill, Terrace Martin, DJ Mustard, Don Cannon and Rich Homie Quan praising the growth and progress of YG.

[26] On September 4, 2013, YG released the music video for the lead single, "My Nigga" featuring Jeezy and Rich Homie Quan, while the production was handled by DJ Mustard.

[45][46] The official remix featuring Lil Wayne, Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj, alongside YG and Rich Homie Quan was released on January 22, 2014.

[49][50] On January 29, 2014, the music video was released for "Left, Right", in which YG and DJ Mustard throw a block party in Los Angeles.

[56] Brandon Soderberg of Spin called the album "a developed, knotty and, ultimately, deeply moral narrative," comparing it to Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, m.A.A.d City.

[65] Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone stated, "A 46-minute tale of celebrations and regrets, the debut album from West Coast hot property YG is the most ambitious hip-hop concept LP in a minute.

"[64] Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound said, "YG's Def Jam debut is earning comparisons to The Chronic for its swerving synth-wheeze and good kid, m.A.A.d City for its cinematic elements (skits, storylines, rapped dialogues).

"[59] Writing for Pitchfork, Craig Jenkins stated, "It's a record that's always posted up in sunny SoCal, and whether it's serving up carefree party anthems or dispensing crass advice on whose houses to knock over and what to take, L.A. feels like the capital of the country when it’s playing.

"[63] David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "The album's secret weapon is DJ Mustard who offers numerous productions that are pop like Young Money and bottom-heavy with G-Funk as the blueprint.

"[58] Martín Caballero of USA Today called it a solid debut album and said he had "crafted a worthy new chapter to the [Compton] legacy.

"[66] Jesse Fairfax of HipHopDX stated, "The Pushaz Ink crew has pieced together a well sequenced and cohesive package with My Krazy Life, but this aspect and his street credibility aren’t enough to win over naysayers expecting an overall greater performance.

stated, "While YG may fall short lyrically at times, it remains doubtless that he's delivered an unfiltered album that not only rejoices in street tales and defiance, but also the growth stemming from mistakes.

"[61] Chris Kelly of Fact said, "While My Krazy Life is YG’s debut, it feels more like an album-length celebration of Mustard’s ratchet revolution, a sound distilled from LA G-Funk, Atlanta snap and Bay Area hyphy.

There's no desire to transcend West Coast inner-city values, and YG does traverse the hyphy and nighttime sounds with aplomb.

Writing for them, Brendan Frederick overwhelmingly praised its storytelling, production and saying it was the "undisputed best album of the first half of 2014 and a modern gangsta rap classic.