orth Carolina native Yung Blaza has l
iterally been taking the industry by s
torm with his new single, “No Go”. Truthfully, It’s about much more than this new single. He’s spent the last few years meticulously crafting his brand and music career, and the hard work is finally paying forward. His rhymes are fresh and his style is like no other. Still fresh in the game, he’s been endorsed by a crop of the hottest producers and artists in the industry, which is validation that he is that next big thing.
We had some time to catch up with Yung Blaza to talk about the vision he has in his career, how the feedback he’s received over the years has helped him to craft the anticipated hit mixtape he has dropping this week, and so much more.
U.G. Digital Mag: Thank you so much for this opportunity bro! I love what you have out there. I know you probably hear it a lot. I’m one who is really particular on what and who I listen to. Hip-hop has gone in a direction where people just aren’t as serious as they once were. It’s changed drastically, and the love is gone for a lot of people. “No Go” showed me how much you love this. I can appreciate your brand for what it is. You’re ding really good.
Yung Blaza: I appreciate it. I really do. That’s one of the things I like to put in all my work. I make sure you can hear the passion, lyricism, and catchy hook. I’m not just saying stuff. Everything has a meaning to it. I have to agree with you as well. Some music out here today, you don’t know what’s going on with the track. You don’t know what you’re quoting. I wanted to bring lyrics back. I wanted to make sure I kept the culture moving forward.
Yung Blaza: What part of North Carolina are you from?
U.G. Digital Mag: Originally I’m from Rocky Mountain. I spent my high school years in the Raleigh area. Now I live in Charlotte. I been all over. North Caroline native is what I like to use because I been all over the state. I have family in Charlotte, and in High Point, Greensboro, and Charlotte. It’s nothing in High Point man [laughing].
Yung Blaza: Right. You got to go to Greensboro to do anything.
U.G. Digital Mag: I love what you’re bringing to music. I see your influences, like Outkast, Jay-Z, The Roots, J Cole, and so on. I feel like you can go up against any of them, though. What did you do to develop yourself?
Yung Blaza: It took a lot of time to be honest. It started when I first got a little recorder. I don’t know if you remember them, but it comes with a cord and a red microphone. I was able to record myself. I was doing that at like 7 or 8 years old. Over time, I listened to Bone Thugs to see if I could do it fast. Then Outkast and Andre 3000. By imitating my favorite artists, and of course my equipment got better, and over time, around 15, I started rapping publicly. That’s where the confidence comes from. People were saying I was onto something. Immediately, I was doing it just to rap, but in college, I did an open mic. The crowd reaction made me take it seriously and put something behind it.
U.G. Digital Mag: You mention Bone Thugs, and I’m Cleveland born and raised. There’s a lot of respect for them here, and obviously they’ve done really well. It’s dope that you were able to take from everywhere but come with your own style.
Yung Blaza: I appreciate it. They were one of my bigger influences. Most of my style came from listening to Bone Thugs, Three Six, and Outkast all the time. When Jay-Z came, he inspired me lyrically. It made me want to step my bars up. My swag comes from the Dipset era. I wanted to be Cam so bad (laughing). I was like a freshman in high school. I remember that era man, I was all over that (laughing).
U.G. Digital Mag: Talk about your mixtapes that have been out there. I know there’s been “Dreams of Victory” and “Nightmares of Defeat”. You have a hand full of mixtapes that have done extremely well. 30,000 views is major in this state of the industry. Fans are fickle, and it’s tough out there.
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