iknowhiphip3youdont-blog

[iknowhiphip3youdont-blog]

Check out my latest interview with a West bread talent! 

[iknowhiphip3youdont-blog]

 Why are music enthusiasts still sleepin' on these outskirts?! The cities surrounding the major Metro areas have tons to give in terms of talent. I’ve been digging again guys, just to find that the next talented brain I was looking to pick had been right under my nose for years!

  Lil Wayne, ODB, and Snoop Dogg are but a few of the rappers we Hip Hop heads can identify after maybe two seconds of hearing them spit some new lyrics. Their distinctive voices & unique word play makes it almost impossible to mistake them for another. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have found yet another up and coming MC with these same alluring qualities.

  Panorama City, the hometown of rap rebel Hopsin, was village that birthed a chill dude named (tag) AKA JS The Young Villain who I met at Park View Middle School through a mutual comrade. Through electronic Q&A, JS & I got personal, discussing his drive & momentum, his relationship with the first influential person in his life, and a few of the methods to the madness that is JS The Young Villain.

Q:First and foremost, where are you from & How does that influence you in your craft?

A:I was born in Panorama city. I moved to the AV in 2000 with my Aunt. I feel like if I [had stayed in Panorama city] I would have been more involved in the street life rather than pushing my music as hard as I do.

Q:At what age did you start rapping & writing rhymes? Can you remember your first one?

A:I was 8 years old when I wrote my first rap. I can't remember the whole thing I just know I made up a word and thought I was the coolest dude. I didn't want to be famous, but I definitely had fallen in love with actually creating music.

Q:Your flow & voice are so unique to me. Who did you grow up listening to?

A:Tupac, Sade, Selina, Snoop, Biggie, Eminem, DMX, Aaliyah, 50 cent, Lil Wayne, Nas, Jay-z, Fabolous, Big l, Big Pun, Immortal Technique, Kanye, Chingy, Will smith, Wu-tang ...the list goes on but those are some of the mains I can think of off top; the first three especially. My mom stayed with their albums on repeat.

Q:Ok let's jump right in. In the Holy Ghost Flow, you reference losing your relationship with your mother to her drug addiction. What type of fuel has that given to your rap career (negative/positive), if any?

A:Truth be told, it’s one of the reason that I am so self-driven. I couldn't afford the luxury of putting too much faith in people and you shouldn't, especially when it's something you want to accomplish.

Q:Who/what/why is Epidemic? What does it/they/you guys stand for?

A:The idea "Epidemic" was for a team but it became a family. We just want to spread and expand our dreams, views, and influence, through the world. It's not necessarily just through music. At the moment it is our strongest avenue, but we have many goals for the future and we’re keeping our options open.

Q:How did you meet Rapper, Thusfar?

A:I met him in 6th grade at Park View middle school. He transferred to our class a little late in the semester and a lot of my new friends knew him from elementary, so it was just a matter of time before we crossed paths. We didn't really start kicking it until 8th grade and so-on

Q:Tell me a little about the “creative differences” within Epidemic that caused Thusfar to make a break for it.

A:I'm actually not too sure. It was more of a personal thing for him. He saw himself expanding better solo. I respected his decision, and still to this day. It’s all love. He's always part of the family.

Q:I really like your samples, from the emotional one of the couple in Let It Go to the Stephen Hawkins one in Holy Ghosts Flow. My favorite is the Lion King sample in Keep Ya Guard Up. How do you go about choosing the samples that you use?

A:It wasn't Stephen Hawkins but I totally get why you would say that. I didn't expect people to catch that one. It’s "Android 16" from Dragon Ball Z. I never go looking for samples. They usually come to me. For the most part, [my samples] will be something I grew up on or someone I actually know dropping knowledge etc...

Q:Fill in this blank for me: “If it wasn’t for (  ), I never would've picked up rapping.”

A:My mom

Q:Ok last but not least, what do you wish to bring to the game & why are you the right one to show up with that something?

A:I just want to carry on the legacy the greats before me have built and take it to new heights. Doesn't necessarily have to be me to be blunt. "I JUST WANNA RAP AND SHIT!!" Fuck the fame, and by the way that’s the title for my next EP.