Yussef Black

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
Hmmm, well I am originally from Greenville, MS but I have lived in several places across the US from CT to TX, but I guess my most important years with music come from when I was in Norwich, CT from ‘92 to ‘93 and Camden, NJ/Philly, PA from ‘95 to ‘2004 off and on. I just really love music and especially lyrics….to me that is what defines a songwriter and an Emcee. I really started DJing and writing around ‘88 but I finally made it into a studio in ‘95 during my time at Rutgers University in Camden. I cut a demo and got a little airplay then took a 10 year hit which ended in Dec 2007 when I heard one of my demo songs from 96 on a compilation. I played it for my friends and contacted the original studio and things took off from there.

What is your definition of success?
I would say having people to actually listen to and buy your stuff. I also need to include “hate” in there because the more people you get to hate on you because you are doing something on your own and not following any trends that means that you are doing something right! Besides its free advertising for me…..Thank you to all my haters!

What is one of the mos drastic changes you’ve made about yourself in the last year?
I would have to say making the transition from lyricist/artist to producer. I am more deeply involved in my tracks and production because I am trying to find a unique sound…..something to call my own

Who were some of your role models and people that inspired you to pursue your dreams?
First and foremost Allah, the my mother and my grandmother….my mother use to be a radio dj and got me involved in music early on in my life and my grandmother is a retired school teacher who just told me to never give up and pursue my dreams. Other than that…..I like DJ Priemer, Guru (shows that monotone and spoken word flow can work), Pete Rock, A Tribe Called Quest just to name a few off top. but there are a lot of artist that inspire me and most are from the 90s and further back, so I doubt if a lot of younger cats know them.

What would you spend you a million dollars on?
Get my grandmother’s house out of debt, fix it up and then buy my mother her own house…. we’ll see what’s left after that, but those are first and foremost.

Biggest risk ever taken?
Getting into music and releasing my own CD’s.

In your opinion, what are artists lacking most now a days?
They are lacking creativity…..there are no more leaders because everyone is just a follower now. Someone comes out with a new style and is met with hate then when it makes money then everyone else sells their soul to get that dollar! Be creative guys! I want to her some lyrics…all this swag stuff is becoming played out…seriously how many songs can you listen to honestly about “my chain is so icey” or “my candy paint is dripping” so what, write some lyrics, make people think….in my opinion

What suggestions do you have for other artists in the music industry?
Write more….listen to other genres other than hip hop, study the classics….look at how they did it in the past and got 5 mics or quad-platinum. Be original and creative….think outside the box. You will win more fans worldwide that way.

What’s one incident that would serve as a turning point to your life?
Hmmm I don’t really know….a few actually, but I’d rather not say any of them right now

What is one of the ways you prefer to market yourself?
The Internet and word of mouth…..Myspace of course, Reverbnation, Itunes, Napster, Imeem, Last FM to name a few. Really the internet has opened a lot of doors that previous were closed to artists in the past. I think my biggest support comes from Internet radio such as Last FM, Jango, and Live 365.

What is one of your hardest struggles in the entertainment business?
Finding people to support you especially if you are not into the same kind of music….I get more support from the indie rock, punk, and alternative than I really do the hip hop rap crowd

Where do you see yourself in a year from now?
Still making a name for myself in the music industry, above the surface on the commercial scene….otherwise back in school geting my Master’s/JD

What is your local music scene like?
Its pretty saturated, but you have to know people or roll with this person or that person to get on at a local venue. Everyone and they sister is a rapper or producer here…lol.

What are you currently working on?
A new mixtape called “Man From B.L.A.C.K. Season 1, The Recap (which is just an EP with a selection of my best material from the past year and a half), both of these are dropping in December…so pick them up for the holidays!!! I am also working on some collaborations with several artists…Salome Da Outsider, Les Charles, Kryzchoo, Bre, LDM, B-EZ and Zo. The new album with be out in 2010 called “Self-Reliance” along with a blue inspired mixtape project called “Mississippi Blues Man”

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