Interview: Hip Hop MC Youngsta
Well, the crowd seems pleased, every time. The new hip hop sensation Youngsta, the Emcee from the streets of Wynberg, speaks to us about his rise to fame, from a time where Rapping wasn’t considered a real career. Well, not in Cape Town anyway…
The name Youngsta is somewhat symbolic in the Hip-Hop scene. Does it affect the subject matter of your raps/ style/ image?
The name Youngsta will grow up with me, but the name won’t change. I could stay young forever but it’s all in the mind. 2Pac said ‘I never planned to be a man it just wasn’t me’. So I’m in a similar situation where I don’t plan to age when it comes to the music. My image will evolve as time goes on, my raps will have to adapt to whatever state hip hop will be in and my style will always be fresh no matter what. Youngsters in general are taken for granted because of our age but, life has a way of making you older than you are so I think Youngsta is already a senior.
Your music is upbeat and covers a variety of pertinent issues on the flats that have been around for years. You have admitted to having laid down tracks about your own struggles but say that you are waiting for the time to be right. How will you make that decision?
When Hip hop is my career then I’ll give the listeners more of me. Personally I’ve been through a lot and since everybody has a story I’ve learnt to respect the next man’s struggle so that I can be thankful for my position in life. When I’m on a bigger level of stardom I think then I’ll be able to share my past and present with the fans because they’ll be familiar with my story and want to find out how I began and what I’ve experienced.
So Twenty two mix tapes in twenty two months? That’s bold. Being able to put down that many tracks is a gift. How do you work so quickly and still give music on such a high level?
Dedication, Persistence and Faith, and a team as crazy and hard working as I am. But most importantly it’s my undying love and passion for the music. I would never be able to make another song if I didn’t love what I was doing. A 9 to 5 working job is not what I had planned for my life because there was no joy in that for me. Studying didn’t really seem worth 50k you know? Hip Hop makes me feel free and gives a chance to expose my natural given talent free of charge and it’s only cost me a few pennies. Love will overpower anything if you open up and let it.
How do you deal with the negative responses that come your way since your rise in MC stature?
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaters! [Laughs] I love it! The fact certain people out there dislike me because I rap lets me know that I’m good at it. I try to be humble and kind to everybody I come in contact with from the man or the druggie on the street begging for change. But some people just have that black in them and there’s nothing you or I could do that will change that.
You’ve worked on multiple Genres, ranging from Techno, House to Funk. What something different can we expect next from you production wise?
I’ve rapped on like 10 electro house beats so far. I’m releasing my 23rd and 24th mix tape The TRANCEPorter 1 and 2, and as you can see in the spelling it’s a fusion between trance and hip hop music so that’ll be available soon from my team. Dubstep, Jazz, Funk…whatever! If there’s a beat let me ride it! I appreciated music so much more since I started rapping because crafting your own music is a journey and it’s exciting if you’re in love with it so yeah man, if it’s funky then I’ll funk with it.
As far as the next step in his musical Journey, Youngsta plans to release another album. Judging by his fast pace and ability to throw out a Mix Tape a month, it is very much to know that this boy is bursting with yet to be released flavour.
He has recently formed super-group called The FLY Kidz which consist of a dancer, rapper and a DJ/Producer. Look out for this.
‘The Y Generation” clothing range will also be launched soon.
Follow him on Facebook
INTERVIEW: Shana Genever
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