Chuck Shute Podcast
In depth interviews with musicians, comedians, authors, actors, and more! Guests on the show include David Duchovny, Billy Bob Thornton, Mark Normand, Dee Snider, Ann Wilson, Tony Horton, Don Dokken, Jack Carr and many more.
Chuck Shute Podcast
Young MC Discusses the I Love the 90s Tour, New Music, Producing & more!
Young MC is a Grammy Award winning rapper and musical producer. He is known for his hit "Bust a Move" as well as co-writing Tone Loc's biggest hits. He is currently making new music and producing new artists, as well as performing on the "I Love the 90s" tour. We discuss his new music, the music business, artists he's worked with and more!
0:00:00 - Intro
0:00:21 - Accolades
0:01:30 - New Music & Performing
0:06:29 - Producing New Artists & Mentoring
0:11:35 - Collaborations & Performing Them Live
0:14:52 - Education & Business Sense
0:16:18 - Turning Down Michael Jackson Song
0:17:15 - Looking Back On Career
0:18:52 - Different Producers
0:20:20 - Fun Catchy Vibe Style
0:21:55 - Respect of NWA
0:23:00 - We're All In The Same Gang
0:28:25 - Physical Music & Meet n Greet
0:30:15 - Casino Shows & Headlining Shows
0:32:50 - I Love the 90s Shows & Mark McGrath
0:34:40 - Drummers & Rock Connections
0:40:10 - Demos & Unreleased Songs
0:42:05 - Film, TV & Commercials
0:43:35 - Corporate Events
0:45:40 - Relationship with Vanilla Ice
0:47:30 - Dr. Dre & Evolving with Side Businesses
0:49:41 - Using A.I. in Music
0:51:15 - Remixed by Diplo
0:52:32 - Freestyle Rap
0:53:00 - Train, Flavor Flav & Public Enemy
0:54:54 - Mili Vanili & Lip Syncing
0:56:40 - Grief & Healthy Living
0:58:33 - Letting the World Know
1:01:05 - Outro
Young MC website:
Chuck Shute link tree:
Thanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!
Rock and rolling through the cool guitars. Chucks got the questions, digging so sharp, peeling back layers, hitting the heart,
Chuck Shute:that's amazing. Look at all those records in the background. Wow. I've been
Young MC:doing this a long time, so they give you, they give you some of the, let me do something. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:how so? Because I know you got records from the first album, but a lot of people might not know you got a gold record from the the second album as well.
Young MC:Second album also all in the same gang. Um, there's, there's a plaque for that that's not on that wall, uh, tone lope stuff. And also, that big one up here is Anastasia, and that's the most successful record that I've been a part of. Uh, helped write a song called Not that kind. And that album sold something like seven to 8 million copies. Wow,
Chuck Shute:congratulations. Yeah, that's really awesome. And you've got the is the Grammy back there somewhere too?
Young MC:Um, no, the Grammy's in a box. I don't think, yeah, I usually don't take the Grammy out. The AMA is there and the billboard award is there and my drink chance box is there. But I usually don't take the Grammy I don't keep the Grammy out. Yeah, you know, on a day, on a daily basis, I'll bring it out from time to time, but usually, usually, I kind of, you know, don't, don't, don't have it out as much.
Chuck Shute:But, yeah, that's exciting. I mean, so much success, and you're still doing it the your latest single, kinetic. I mean, this is great. I feel like I got to warn people, though, like they have to be careful when they're listening to this, because it makes you want to dance. So I'm like, walking down this the street in my complex, and I'm like, I'm starting to, like, dance. I'm like, Oh, this is, this is not a good look for me. I gotta, I gotta, like, hold it back a little bit. So that's
Young MC:the intent. That's the intent of the song. The funny thing, I just got a wonderful, wonderful, just unsolicited message from from a young lady in Australia, just like, paragraphs and paragraphs of how she's really into, like, what I'm doing now and and my the growth and all that. And I just it was really heartwarming to see, but she kind of got everything I'm trying to do lyrically, and, you know, so it's just kind of cool to see what you're trying to put out in the music actually interpreted like that by someone so this. So it's good. I want, I want to get it out to as many people as I can,
Chuck Shute:yeah? And, I mean, because when you perform like you do those, I love the 90s tour or whatever, and, you know, it's like a lot of artists, so, you know, it's like, you only get what, like five songs or something, and obviously you're gonna do the hits, and then you could throw in a couple new songs, and that's, that's fun for you? Yeah? No, I was just gonna say it's fun for you, and also the crowd, because, you know, sometimes when the artists do a new song, they're like, Okay, it's like a chance to go get a soft drink or whatever, or, you know, but you are, you're putting high energy moving dance songs in there. So I feel like that's not a good it's not like a slow song or something, you know. It's like you're putting exciting, fun songs in there. And
Young MC:I perform by myself. So it's just me in terms of the stage production. So a lot of times I'm going early in the sets. So the people are, you know, a bit a little bit more receptive. But also, you know, my, my, um, my motto is, they'll always give you one, especially a crowd like that. They'll give you one new one, and if they like it, they may give you another new one. So that's what I try to do, is make stuff that, you know, because even before I was putting out this new music, I was doing newer material that wasn't my hit material, but I was doing the best stuff for performance. So people would, you know, it was a song called nocturnal, you know, couple other, couple other ones that I did. But I remember people with people would say, I like that new stuff. I didn't like that nocturnal song. I like that. That's right song, but the ones that weren't the the known hits. So I'm like, Okay, if I could put something out and actually get some traction, get it charting, get it playing on the radio, where they may know it from somewhere else, and I'm able to perform it, they may win. And that's kind of what I've been doing with with a kinetic, fun part before it, and even even loose at the beginning, about a year ago. Yeah.
Chuck Shute:So you mentioned nocturnal. I think I heard you say that you felt like the third verse of that was the best thing you've ever written. And also, yes, you have will Whedon on the Is he the one doing the because
Young MC:he's not the actor. He's not, he's not the actor. He's
Chuck Shute:a singer too. Okay, that confused me, because I was like, I doesn't sound like him.
Young MC:No, he's a singer. With the he him and I joke around. He tells me how some people mistake him, and he gets weird IG messages and stuff like that. But no, he's a singer, independent RnB singer. Yeah, that's
Chuck Shute:cool. That's a good song. Yeah, I listened to a lot of the new stuff, and I was like, Oh, this is, like, really good. Like, yeah, more people need to hear this. So that's cool that you're able to throw in some songs on the tour. Then,
Young MC:yeah, definitely. Well, that's what, that's what keeps it interesting for me. I mean, I should be just happy doing my old at my age. I should be happy doing my old stuff and just say, Okay, it's, it's a job. Pack a lunch, go do it, come back. But you know, there's part of me feeling like I'm making some of the best music in my life right now. Yeah, you know, it may not be the stuff that's that's getting out to the most people and whatever, but I don't necessarily subscribe to the fact that my, my best creative work was done when I was 22 so the subsequent 35 years can kind of, you know, go by the way,
Chuck Shute:right? Well, and I think sometimes music, it means different things to different people. Like a lot of people associate those older songs with that time in their life, like, I know for me, like I remember listening to that whole album. My buddy, my next door neighbor, had it, and I was in sixth grade, and we thought you were the coolest thing ever. Like, we listened to that so much like principals office, I come off, like, all those songs, like, it was amazing, and so, like, it's kind of surreal to talk to you now, but so I think for a lot of people, they want to relive that memory. But that doesn't mean that they can't become a fan now and listen to the new stuff too, which I think, again, is really good.
Young MC:It's, yeah, it's an interesting tight rope to walk, because I definitely want to give people, you know what you know, what they want and what what they what they're nostalgic about. But also, you know, it's difficult at 57 years old, you know, to say, Okay, I'm going to go up there and do principals office and try and do it convincingly. You see them saying, it's like, that subject matter that you know. So that's part of it, too. It's like, I want to have the best of both worlds, where I can give, give people some of what, what, what they're looking for, and also give them, give them some new stuff that they didn't expect. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:and then so you said you're also, you're doing, you're producing other artists. That's also kind of what you're doing right now as well. Well, here's
Young MC:the thing is, I am. There's artists that are interested, and there's, there's me that's interested. I want to see what the business is of this. So the best representation for the label and all the stuff I'm doing is me putting out my material, and then the response to that will dictate if and if and how many artists I'm gonna produce and put out. Because if I can't see the, you know, the financial gain from it. Look, I have my old school shows, I have my publishing I have all these, you know, income streams. So I have to see my new music on its own, stand alone, making good enough money that'll justify me taking an artist that doesn't have any of those income streams and saying, okay, we can put new music out on you, and this is the way we're going to monetize it. Yeah. Do you like I'm really upfront with it, with the with the artist that I'm talking to? Yeah? Do
Chuck Shute:you like being because now you're more experienced, you're older? Do you like having that kind of mentor role? Because I interview a lot of musician and it seems like a lot of them, they don't want to do that, like they just want to be a musician and they want to perform, even in their older age, they just don't have interest in mentoring. And I feel like as you get older, like that should be a big part of whatever field you're in is mentoring, even if it's just a part of it, a small part should be something, right? I
Young MC:would think so, because it's such an unrealistic business, not not only from the, you know, the companies and the executives and all that other stuff, but definitely from the participants. So if I'm an aspiring artist, you know, wouldn't, wouldn't I want to take advice from a veteran artist that's been through it before that's going through it right now, you know? So, you know, I may have someone coming to me and saying, Okay, well, let's put this song, and it's going to blow up really big. And I'm like, Okay, well, my song charted. I'm on the road with it. I'm in front of people. I'm getting this kind of traction on it. I'm getting all kind of press on it. And this is what's happening financially. What can make what can, what can your song do, to do, to do better. And if they don't have an answer for it, then I'm like, Okay, let me do my thing, and then we'll kind of go, I'm just being realistic, because the it's very easy to have unrealistic conversations in this business, and I don't want to be that person to say, Oh, well, I know it's your dream. You know, we'll do everything to make you make it happen. I'm going through my dream too, you know, so showing them like what I'm experiencing it, I think a lot of times it's, it's, uh, people appreciate it when you're honest with them, yeah,
Chuck Shute:definitely. And then are you looking to, um, what style are you looking to produce? Because I know, obviously you're known for rap, but you are a fan of of rock too, like, because I saw this thing on spin. And it was, like, your top five records, and train was on there, and audio slave, and I was like, Oh, he likes a variety of music. Oh, yeah, definitely.
Young MC:Mean, I don't know if I go as far as as, uh, as rock bands, but definitely my stuff would, would would go more melodic in terms of the time type of acts I'd want to put out. Um, I was those five albums were really the stuff that inspires me. Or in the case of the train record, I had known, I had heard, you know, train stuff before, and and I'd like us, like the single here or there. So I said I would buy the CD, and I put the CD on and I liked every song for the first eight or nine. And I don't remember another record where I did that, the one that came close to the record I had on there, the Post Malone record, you know, anything recent that I'd heard so many songs in a row that I'm like, This is good. This is good. This is good. So it's more of a that list was more of an inspirational musical thing. But in terms of music business, it would be rap stuff, probably some dance stuff, you know, leaning over into pop. Put. Potentially, if there was a band, because, you know, there's, there's a hybrid bands and stuff that I've heard that I liked. But once again, I just have to see the business of it, because this, this music business, is totally different, you know, it's just totally different right now. And if I took my new music as a standalone, you know, it would, it would be really rough, you know. I mean, so just in terms of the finances of it, I'm getting great accolades. I'm getting great, you know, I'm getting great feedback on it, and I know that it's, like I said, it's some of it not the best music that I've ever made, because I feel like I've taken all my life experience, music experience, you know, stage experience, and I'm able to put that into everything I'm doing on the, you know, on the tracks. So that's really helpful, and I think that's something I can help artists with. But then the business part comes in, because even in the traditional, physical media days, you know, 95 plus percent of the of the albums put out did not even, you know, did not make money. They didn't make a profit, at least not a profit back to the artist. The artist didn't recoup. I guess that's the best way to put it. So if you're up against eyes like that, and there's so much music out on the internet, you got to say, Okay, what's going to distinguish? What can you do to, you know, to make this a good, a good venture? Because it's, it's difficult to say, Okay, I'm going to become, you know, an internet social media influencer at 57 you know what? I mean, it's like, I'm more looking to put my music out and get it in front of people, and then whatever bump I get, you know, from social media is great, and then, and then try and try and make the best of it.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, do you think that it's too because you're right. It is very competitive right now, anyone can put out music. Does it help to have collaborations? Because I know, for me as a fan, I always love that when I see multiple artists that I, like, you know, on on the same song. I'm like, Oh, that's interesting. I want to hear how that meshes together.
Young MC:I mean, potentially. I mean, the thing is, is my, my, um, my business model has shifted over the last probably 10 years, probably, probably 10 to 15 years, where it's become really stage focused. So the only thing you know that I get a little concerned about is, if you have collaborations, are you going to drag that other artist around with you every time you get on stage? Or they going to drag you around with them every time you guys get on stage, just to say you had a record together that did something, or you're just going to do your verse in your set. They do their verses and their sets, and then the whole idea of it is, like, Who puts it out? Am I getting jumping on somebody's record on me? Like, I don't have a lot of guys from major labels calling me saying, oh, you know, guess with me on this record, because I'm not one to, like, sell a verse, or just give away my publishing or whatever, I can put music out and get seen. So, you know, it's, it's been a weird thing. It's, you don't see it with rock bands. You don't see it with a lot of pop acts where they need to have a collab to, like, justify the record, but with hip hop and R B, mostly minority artists, you have to have collaborations. And it's been something it's like ever since that, that that started coming into fashion late 90s into the early 2000s I've always watched it, and you might have some pop artists that are collab here and there. But if Justin Timberlake or Bruno Mars or someone else were able to were or Taylor Swift or someone wanted to make an entire album with no collaborations whatsoever, they wouldn't blink an eye. A rapper does it? Why don't they have collaborations? That's always been an odd thing for me.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, it is interesting. Now, yeah, how do you do that? Because you do perform, we're all in the same gang. Sometimes your shows, and you only obviously did one verse of that. So how do you, how does
Young MC:it versus, I do a hook, I do a little intro part, a hook. Well, no, a little intro part that kind of teases the hook. I do my verse, and then I do a hook, and I get out, and that's, that's fine. I could approach everything like that. And you get a lot of material in, and it's good for people with, you know, in this era where people have shorter attention spans, it's funny, because there's a bunch of us that are on that record, and a lot of people perform and don't do their verses from that song. And I just felt it was a good thing that people knew. So when I started putting it back in my show, I got a I got a lot of good response from it, so that that's that, once again, that's an approach I can definitely take, but, um, but it would be more likely for me to do a verse on someone else's song, as opposed to me pulling in someone to do do verses on on one of mine. For the simple fact that I I kind of think of my songs in three act structure, kinda so you introduce your concept in the first verse, and then the second verse you expand on it, and the third verse, you wrap it up. So I've always thought like that. And even though music songs are getting shorter and shorter, I try and have something like that. Even if my third verse is like a revisiting of an earlier section, like I did my song fun part, I try my best to be able to tell my whole story, you know. So a collab, you know, is not necessarily out of the question, but it's like the issues that I see in terms of being able to monetize new music, go, you know, go, go far. It's not like a collaboration is going to
Chuck Shute:solve that. Yeah. And I mean, I could tell you have the the business mind and listening to your interviews and stuff, and I don't know if a lot of people know this about you, but I mean, your degree is in I think it's economic. For finance, right? See, yeah, yes, yeah, you would have gone potentially, to get your Masters, if you hadn't broken the music business. Potentially,
Young MC:my parents had given me the summer to get it out of my system, and then, and then I toured the whole summer, and then the record broke. And then by that next February, I had the Grammy, it was platinum. And, you know, along with having written tone, look stuff. So I had the publishing stuff, you know, side going, the writing side going. So I had different avenues that I could really pursue in terms of my music career at that point. So, yeah, do you ever wonder, I I've never written my degree down on a job application, but I've gone into meetings, and people have known, you know, that I had the degree, and also they see how I present myself and present my points and that kind of thing. And a lot of times they see that I'm as educated, if not more educated than they are. But they also knew that I had options, you know, I mean, so not sitting there saying, Oh my God, if I don't get this deal, if I don't walk out of here with a check. I won't be able to pay my rent, you know? And a lot of times that's what a lot of, lot of lot of people that deal with musicians, they kind of prey on that. So there may be deals that I missed out on, but I, you know, I feel pretty good about where I am in terms of, in terms of what I've done business wise.
Chuck Shute:Yeah. I mean, one of the deals that I heard you missed out on and I was trying to figure out what this was, because you, your manager, turned it down. I don't even know if you did. You even know about it until after he turned it down. It was a thing with Michael Jackson and I, I was trying to figure out what it was. Was that the black or white song, or which song
Young MC:I don't know, I don't know what's song, because the track never came out. I think it was before Heavy D got on it, but it might have been right after heavy D got on his so it may have been that Michael Jackson was, was doing his best, you know, or wanted to, to dabble in working with a bunch of rappers. But the story had gotten back to me that my manager had asked for, you know, without telling me it had asked for a certain amount of money for me to guess the pair, thinking, you know, Michael has it in the whole bit. And a lot of guy, I don't, I don't know, you know, some people I've heard were doing it for the love, but just for the exposure and the like, and it was never got a chance to really get presented to me. So that was, that was the thing. And so only in hindsight, I think I was at drink champs or somewhere, I was asked about it, and I brought that up.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, do you, do you have any other regrets or things like that? Like, is there something or, like, when you're looking at younger artists, like, Okay, we gotta kind of make sure we don't make this mistake. Is there things that you look back on with your career and think, I wish I would have done this differently, or,
Young MC:I guess there's more deal mean, because a lot of times it's not the deals you take, but it's the deals you don't take that are that it's better that you didn't take them. So I, you know, I don't really have a lot of massive regrets of things that I did. So potentially, I guess there's, you know, I could have been a lot, a little bit more adventurous, because I'm a smart guy, I think, well, on my feet, you know, and artistically, you know, it's not bad to have, you know, music in the marketplace. But having said that, if you look at your career, I look at my career like a sweater. If you say, Okay, what? What's, what string would you pull? Or what sleeve would you change, or what pocket would you take off? You know, in terms of what thing would you change to make make your career better? Well, if you take off a sleeve or take off a pocket, or, you know, take take a zipper off, or something like that, it's not necessarily the same sweater anymore. Sweater anymore. So, so I always look at it that the the bad always goes with the good. Like a lot of the good wouldn't happen, and unless some of the bad had happened, unless I hadn't, hadn't learned from it, unless I, you know, didn't have that experience to pull on When, when, when the you know, when the real beneficial opportunities came my way. So rather than trying to cherry pick the, you know, the couple of things, you know, I may have chosen something and may have ruined everything else. So,
Chuck Shute:hmm, yeah, that's interesting. Yeah, because your first album, it was produced by, I didn't realize it was produced by Quincy Jones and the dust brothers, right? Quincy
Young MC:Jones Jr, the QD three. Yeah, Qd three. Dust brothers, yeah, and then Mike and Matt Ross, yeah. And
Chuck Shute:then the second, it was Mike Ross, yeah. Do you think the second was it was you produced it, and it was it? A gosh, now I'm spacing on it my third album, yeah, yeah.
Young MC:That was my third one from Chicago. Quest, yeah,
Chuck Shute:yeah. But the second one was you and was it G, that was somebody different, right?
Young MC:Yeah, yeah, yeah, mainly me, yeah. Do you
Chuck Shute:feel like you should have chosen a different like, have those same producers? Do you think that made that much of a difference?
Young MC:I don't, because the first album was, like, you know, a lot of people's first girlfriend, you know, so, so they could look at my album and say, I should have had them, and we could have looked at, you know, their subsequent albums, or that any of the dust brothers went on to do a lot of stuff in a lot of genres. So just in terms of the entire overall production team, you know, there was other stuff that they did that didn't blow up as big as the stuff that I had. So, you know, it. It's not something where I sit back, because the stuff that I'm producing now is kind of built on the back of me producing stuff for myself that young, you know, where people now are not expecting much of anything from me. And like I said, I'm pretty I feel like I'm pretty much given, you know, doing some of the best music ever.
Chuck Shute:So yeah, because that first album you have kind of like your whole lifetime to build it up. Because, like, when he, like, like, the song principals office, I was thinking about that. I was like, wait a minute, because I think that the first album came out after you graduated, around the time you were graduating college, yeah. I mean, so I would
Young MC:have written principals office at 21 years old. So I'm talking about, literally, some stuff going on when I'm, you know, 12 to 15 or
Chuck Shute:whatever. You didn't write it when you're told, yeah, yeah,
Young MC:that kind of reflection back. So it didn't mean it kind of was what it was. And even then, I'm, you know, I was old. I was old for that song, when I made that song, you know. So, you know, just just, it just kind of fell in like that, yeah.
Chuck Shute:But I think that's one thing about your songs, that from then till today, they have this, like, fun, catchy dance vibe, and you've kind of just continued that throughout your whole career. I mean, that's one thing that people you've never done something super that I that I've heard that's super out there, that's way different than people go, Oh, this is young MC like, well,
Young MC:that's the thing. It's like, when people ask me to change my name or change my style or start cursing or something like that. It's like, why? You know, I'd rather just get better at doing the music that I like to do. You know, I can make that, that dance vibe, that positive vibe, I can communicate that in music a lot better now than I could. You know, 10 years ago, definitely, definitely 20 or 30 years ago, I feel I can. I can kind of share more of my vision in the music. So I want to see where that goes. If I was in any other business, they would say, Okay, you're using your experience to to to make some great work. But in the music business, you're a dinosaur. So just kind of, is what it is, yeah,
Chuck Shute:when you have the respect of those other rapper because, like, it's funny, I had two neighbors when I was kid. I remember, like, my one friend, he had, like, young MC and MC Hammer and tone Loke and then my other next door. Never. They had all the dirty rare they had two Live Crew and NWA and easy. But those you toured with NWA and easy and those guys respected you.
Young MC:Sure. Yeah, they thanked me on their album. I thanked easy and NWA and my album, we were peers. It was like the local hip hop, you know, seeing in LA, we all came up together. So it was, it was, you know, it was like, I know, Ice Cube as a member of NWA, you know, I know, I know, you know, be real, and Cypress Hill from, from being, you know, send dog is Mela, man ace is relevant, you know, so, so I knew, I knew them, you know, I knew them like that. So it's just, I always looked at it that I was, you know, a local artist, and then I had a record blow up big, and then I became a national artist. But my approach is pretty much stayed the same in terms of who I am and the kind of music I want to make and how I want to kind of bring happiness and joy to people. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:I love that. And, like, I mean, I love that you're you've added back, uh, we're all in the same gang, because I feel like that song. I mean, just as a kid, you know, growing up in the suburbs, like, I don't know, really, really understood what was going on. But, like, it's really now that you look at it's more relevant today, or it's as relevant today as it was back then. I mean, what a great idea. You're getting rappers from both coasts to get come together and say, Look, this is stupid. Like, gang violence is ridiculous. And, I mean, you know, what is your thoughts on that now? Like, how do people avoid that lifestyle? Because you never got wrapped up in that, the gang stuff. I mean, you went to college, right. Arrow,
Young MC:right? And, well, the brilliance of all in the same gang, and my conception putting it together
Chuck Shute:is that it was your idea to put that together. I didn't know that. No. Mike,
Young MC:no. My conception, Mike, my conception was the guy who put records, and so my conception put it all together. But the brilliance of him doing that is that he had access to any rappers he wanted. He could have done just west coast guys. He could have done just west coast guys that that either were affiliated or lived in neighborhoods with gang activity, he really could, and he went out of his way to make sure that he got me on the record as someone who's basically an outsider. Yeah, I'm making West Coast hip hop, but I didn't grow up in that lifestyle. I I'm not affiliated, don't you know, don't have any connections to it, but he felt it was important to get my vision, or did you get my viewpoint on that song? So me writing my 16 verses. I'm writing it as a college kid that's kind of touched down and and what I see and what I'm feeling, and I to this day, I get compliments on my verse and how my verse stood out in that song. And they had every right not to put me on it, because I'm not, you know, born and bred la guy, but I was, I was in that mix and experience in it, and they felt that my voice would, you know, would be able to speak to people, and also be able to speak to someone outside who was listening to that song and say, Okay, I can, I can relate to his viewpoint of seeing what's going on from someone that's not, it's not from it,
Chuck Shute:right? Right? Yeah. I mean, do you think they're they should just, do they have a song like that now? Like, why don't they do a song like that today? Man,
Young MC:between, between all the, you know, between the labels and the managers and the money and the streaming and all that other stuff. I it's not a it's not as centralized I think it would be. And then, you know, who do you include and not include? And not include? And whatever it would be, it would be, it would be nice, it would it would be ambitious. But I just don't see, I think it's too, too fragmented, the business too fragmented to do something like that now,
Chuck Shute:yeah, because now he got, I hope they would. But I mean, because people love the feuds, you know, they love the Kendrick Lamar Drake, that's a big thing. And everyone talks about that. And, you know, there was feuds back then, obviously, and, but, like, I kind of like the like, hey, let's all the Kumbaya. Let's all love each other. Let's get, you know, do something positive. I don't know. I mean, maybe it's too cheesy, but I like it,
Young MC:yeah. I mean, it could be, I mean, but, but if you have a song with an artist, or just a couple of artists, and they speak positively with the viral, you know, the viral aspect of it, you can get something like that to click. You know, you get a record. If you can get a record like that with just a couple artists to be as big as not like us, or as big as some of the other stuff in the in the battles, or as big as the top 10 single of the year, it'll accomplish pretty much the same thing. Yeah, because wasn't the Internet has changed a lot. So the whole idea of that, I mean, a lot of of getting so many artists on it is to bring attention to it, right? That you have so many people for different well, people can access music in their phones, so if it goes viral enough, it'll get to people without having to have a whole bunch of artists on it. So it's really the the subject matter, and being able to market, market it, right? Or, you know, get it out to as many people as possible. People start clicking on it. Then, you know, I What would make them click on a song that has 20 artists on it, as opposed to a song that only has two or three, if the two of the two or three has some great verses or something I want to click on, it's only a two or three minute commitment, they'll click on it. If it's 20 artists on it. You know, it's a lot. Well, I think, I think same gang was like 13. So even, even, you know, putting together single, high single digits or low double digits of artists, I don't think that would be as big of a deal. It's just getting it out to people. Because the problem is, is that, as part of the reason I've been working on music for like, a couple of years, and I really haven't even thought of putting an album date together for the simple fact that as soon as an album comes out, it's pretty much digested in a week or two, and then it's like, on to the next Okay, when's the next one? And I want to give a chance for myself to kind of grow listening to what's hitting, how people are responding to a single before I meet the next single. And then once I get a few, a few in, then I'll say, Okay, I'll put together an album, and I'll have a track record of singles that people like. And then, you know, they can go through, you know, the 4567, new tracks, and judge the album as a whole, you know, with the track record of the singles. Because, you know, like I said, you have an artist that hasn't put out a record for a few years, and it'll come out and maybe get a week or two of of of publicity and people listening to it. And if there's one song that people like out of it all, you know, all of them, and it can get some radio play or get some get, you know, get get some streaming numbers, then so be it. But then that can easily go away. The next chart comes out. So,
Chuck Shute:yeah, it's competitive. Would you sell a physical copy of, like, vinyl and stuff? Because I know that's kind of making a comeback vinyl, and I've seen some artists do some really cool stuff, like getting very creative with, you know, kind of, like box sets and things. Like, I have this, like, death metal guy on, he's got his thing comes, like, a coffin, you know, which is really cool for that kind of genre, like, would you do something like that, where it's kind of like a box set or gift set of some sort? Yeah,
Young MC:I mean, I'm definitely, I'm definitely open to it. I'm definitely open to it, you know, it would be. But once again, I would have to go in hand in hand with the promotion. I would have to go hand in hand with, you know, people knowing that it's coming, that you anticipate a date that you don't just kind of stumble on. It has been out for two weeks. Oh, this came out two weeks ago. You want to, you want to be in a position where you're hitting people from a lot of size, they're getting a lot of impressions of your music. So I think about all that stuff, you know, making music now, yeah,
Chuck Shute:the other thing I think a lot of musicians are doing to kind of stay afloat. Is, is doing like those paid meet and greets? Is that? Do you do those? Is that part of the I love the 90s tour? Can people pay?
Young MC:I mean, not, not really. I'm an on that, on that tour. I'm mainly an opener. So, you know, the meet and greets are kind of part of what I do when, when we do have meet and greets, they like to the openers will get together and do meet and greets for people. Once again, I get, I get some traction on some newer music, and people want me to headline, and I'm, you know, putting on a, you know, a bigger show, and that kind of thing. Then I may be in a position to do, position to do that now, and I would definitely be open to it. But for, you know, for me now, it's like a lot of times, whether it be the. Corporate events will have, you know, built in meet and greet, some of the public events and the casinos and the like. So, you know, I'm not, I'm definitely not against it. I just want to make sure that I'm in a position where I can benefit and benefit from it, and people can get their money's worth as well. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:I love those casino gigs, like going to those, like, it's such a great because, you know, sometimes you go to these bar shows or whatever, and there's like, six opening bands, and you're like, I just want to see my the one, you know, I can't stand for seven hours. I want to go to the casino gigs. They're like, get in, get out and get back to the casino, like,
Young MC:and see, you see that as a consumer, that's what they that's what they're telling us as performers, that they want us to do, like, half our set length to get people back on the tables, you know? So, you know, it's, it's fine, it's, it's worked. So I'm, I'm down to do it. So it's, you know, it I've learned a lot. You just, you learn a lot being on this side of it. So that's definitely one of those.
Chuck Shute:Well, the casino gigs and those festivals and like the cruises and stuff, I would assume those pay the most. But I would think, as an artist, the funnest thing would be a headlining show where you could play, like, an hour and a half and do all the deep cuts, the new stuff like and you have your real hardcore fans there that are gonna love it all.
Young MC:Yeah, I mean, in theory, that's, you know, in theory, that's great if you know that you're enough of a draw to fill whatever venue as the headliner the word, the last thing you want to do is be a headliner, and then, you know, you see the ticket sales aren't there. And that's that's happening for everybody. So the one thing I can kind of hide behind is being in a Support Act, is that, you know, I know that I can bring a certain amount of people, but I don't necessarily have to make sure I fill it to capacity. So, um, you know, once again, you know, get some traction on newer music. You never know what happens,
Chuck Shute:yeah, I think so. I mean, it's like, yeah, again, maybe you, you, you're not going to be able to fill stadiums and do a whole tour, but like some shows like that, for your die hard fans, I think that would be fun for you and the fans.
Young MC:Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.
Chuck Shute:Dude, could you ever do headlining shows? Because you're in Scottsdale here, you're in the same city as me. Do you ever do shows here live?
Young MC:Not, not a lot. Because a lot of times, I guess they assume that I'm just that I'm going to have a massive guest list, or people aren't going to show up, pay to show up to come see me. So a lot of times I'll have tours that I'm on, come to come to Phoenix and Tucson. And I was there was like a Tucson show I was supposed to be on, and they pulled me off as they shrunk the number of acts down. So anything I do here is going to have to be, you know, unless, unless something big comes up, it may, may have to be something I put together, which I'm working on. I've been talking to a lot of people in the scene here. So, so that's, it's not out of the realm of possibility that I, that I do something local here. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:that'd be cool. I'd like to come see you. Um, I haven't even seen these. I love the 90s shows. I've heard about them. I mean, you've got, it's kind of, it's so it's like a different it's a variety of artists, like, they kind of switch it up because there's no ice. Color me bad. Salt and pepper, CNC Music Factory, right? There's some of them. Well, yeah,
Young MC:salt and pepper hasn't been on for for a couple of years now, but, um Yeah, Vanilla Ice. Color me bad. Rob base, tone Loke on some. Um myself, sometimes. Montel Jordan, awful one. Sometimes, you know, some so and you know, it's been fun, not only meeting people and seeing the crowds reaction, but they're fun nights. They're really, they're really fun, fun events to go do. Is Mark
Chuck Shute:McGrath on some of them, too. Mark McGrath has been on a few, yes,
Young MC:yeah. I think he started in 2017 and he had, he had done some some with us, and he's on some from time to time. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:yeah, that's cool. I heard you talking about how you saw him and DMC covering the Beastie Boys and you and you and but you didn't post about it because you're like, I'm just going to be a fan. This is so cool.
Young MC:Oh yeah, no, yeah. I, I recorded. They did fight for your right at this it was actually a birthday party for a friend of marks, and I was on it and couple other acts, and I just stood there and was a fan. It was, it was a great night. Mark's a great guy. We went to college together, so, you know, he's, oh, you did. I didn't know that he was at your SC when I was Yeah, that's so weird. We didn't know each other there, but, yeah, but, he was there when I was there.
Chuck Shute:Oh, that's funny. Yeah, it's so weird. Like, one day he just, like, followed me on Instagram. I was like, What the hell he was so weird. But I'm friends with, like, uh, Brett Michaels guitar player, and he and so he was telling me he's like, yeah, no. Mark is a huge music fan. Like, he knows more. Oh, yeah, anybody about music?
Young MC:His drummer, Dean is me and Dean Butterworth will sit and have massive conversations about all different kinds of music, and any questions I have about drummers, or drummers that I like, or drummers that I've worked with, he'll describe their styles. I mean, it's that we've had some very, very involved music conversations, and it's pretty cool to have. It's coming from a rapper. Us and to hear, you know, some ideas or thoughts I have on music, or some confirmations based on what he's telling me. Well, I
Chuck Shute:thought one drummer that you worked with that I thought was really cool was a Faith No More, Mike Borden. I was like, Oh, he was your second album. I don't know if you ever did if you were in the studio. A lot of times you're not there or whatever, but he's
Young MC:he's left in my guest room. No, so my board and slept in my guest room at the house and then came in the studio and did the session. No, absolutely, that's
Chuck Shute:awesome. Wow. Did you have there's
Young MC:a video out there of me getting on stage and doing epic with them at the Palladium. I could not sing for anything, but, yeah, but I ran up and did that. No. Patton was great. As the years go on, people have seen how talented Patton is. I actually went to a Mr. Bungle show with my lawyer, and it's totally different. But he he sings like an angel. He's got, like, one of the strongest voices in rock. So it's like I felt so privileged to be able to be around them and and experience that. And Borden was a great drummer, and those guys are still doing stuff or whatever is just, just really cool, like that many years to to kind of look back.
Chuck Shute:Oh yeah, I love Fidel Moore patent. He's getting like seven different bands, but yeah, he's crazy talented. Yeah. Did you have other, I know flea played on your record too, from Red Hot Chili Peppers and that,
Young MC:yeah, that one I didn't even know about until after it was fun. The labels did all the label did all that. Yeah, so, yeah, yeah.
Chuck Shute:But they're on capital. Some of the other artists on capital at the time when you were on there, poison Megadeth, Nine Inch Nails, Iron Maiden, Sammy Hager, great white Allison chain, but
Young MC:I mean capitals all over the world. I would go to the tower in LA, you know, and I'd see the guys that I knew there. But it wasn't like I was going to a lot of functions and seeing a lot of the artists I met, the guys from Crowded House, and a couple other, you know, couple of other acts and and things like that, but that I was in a place where I'm literally trying to get my, you know, keep my career going. So there wasn't even a thought of of of the reaching out, because I never really was in a position where I felt grounded there. I had two albums there, and then everything was independent after that.
Chuck Shute:So you didn't run into those guys, or did you run into any other rock bands, either at festivals or backstage at award shows, or have any run ins with I
Young MC:mean, yeah, weird stuff, I um, oh, what is it called? Um, switch foot. I met them on a plane. The lead singer, Hooper stank. I met outside of an hotel. I mean, just where, you know, um, no, oh, God, closing time. What's the, what's the name Sonic, I think it's called. So he's a the lead singer is a great songwriter. So I met him outside of a cafe. He had written for the Dixie Chicks and alike and their second album. I mean, if the first album was good, and there's, there's other singles on that that would that were great, and the second album was pretty strong too, but, but I remember meeting him outside of a cafe on Third Street in LA and having a long conversation, um, just a lot of people I met. I a friend of mine had sent me that the night that I was on stage of Faith No More. I had taken a picture with Ozzy, Osbourne, Pat and me, and I didn't realize, and I've the lead singer of Metallica, and I didn't realize who, who all was in the picture until my buddy had sent me the picture, you know, the other day. And I'm like, Oh my God, you know, every I remember meeting Ozzie, and I remember obviously being there, you know, for Patton. So, yeah, yeah,
Chuck Shute:wow, that's so crazy. Such a like a whirlwind. And I know I think I heard you tell a story that Bruce Hornsby was one of the people that taught reach out to you after you won a Grammy and treated you like a respected musician. It
Young MC:wasn't even reached out he was there that night, or there were the events around it, because I think his his stuff was bigger, he was still around, you know, hanging, you know, going to the events and the like. And I just remember having really nice interactions with him. And he's such a musical, you know, you know, musical guy. And it just felt so good to be welcomed like that. Because a lot of musicians that, you know, musical people that didn't really feel that rap was like was, was as musical as it actually was. So you're kind of fighting through that and kind of showing that you're kind of representing a genre that's going to be around, that's going to stick around, that's going to, you know, have impact. And it's not just, you know, guys got, you know, guys sampling and turntables and not much else talent. So it was just good to to get that kind of validation with somebody like Bruce Hornsby.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, I love that. I love Did you ever have, like, a a rock rap collaboration? Because I know there was, that was a big thing, obviously, your boys in public enemy and had one with Anthrax, and then I heard this one. I don't think it's ever been released, but Guns and Roses did one with easy E and I don't think it ever came out. But was there ever one that you did that didn't get released. I I
Young MC:did, um, oh God, because I'm aging. There was a song I had on my one hit. Was it my one hit wonder album, a song called Mr. Right now, um, and I had actually performed it with him one time, and it was a mosh pit in front. It was more of a more of a punk band. Oh, man. And I have to, I have to look it up.
Chuck Shute:Oh, so what? But it was released. Then, yes, yeah, it was released. Okay, let me see, I can see if I can, if I can Google that one, yeah, cuz I was, I was going through your discography, and, yeah, there's a lot. There was another thing that you had that was, like, demos or something. And I was like, Oh, these are, these are really interesting. Like, there was a song you had called All that and a bag of chips. And I was like, this is a pretty good song, like, and I remember when that scene was big, so that must have been from the 90s or something,
Young MC:right? Um, yeah, yeah. It was interesting, because it got to the point where I was, where I was digitizing everything that I did, and I was digitizing everything I did, and I had a bunch of songs, not not tons, but I had a bunch of songs that hadn't come out for whatever reasons, and the ones that didn't have massive samples or clearance issues or anything like that. I'm like, let me just put these out and and, yeah, it's so all that bag of chips is one of those that it just never made an album, but it had kind of a new jack swinge feel to it. I'm like, Okay, that would be good, just as a retrospective for people to kind of, you know, kind of get this gonna get get this out and get it seen.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, and then the other one was a, I don't even think it's you recorded it, but there was a song you wrote. There was supposed to be, like a Lakers theme song with tone Loke that never got put out, but you have the lyrics somewhere, like, written down or something.
Young MC:Yeah, it's called, oh, it was about the Lakers. It was about the Lakers, three peat. And I'd written the song, and we'd put it in and, you know, put it in, and Tone, Tone never went in the studio and made it it was supposed to. Supposed to be like a third single, but wow, thing had lasted so long and funky. Coviddina was such a massive hit behind it that you know that by that time it actually bust, the move was happening. So, so I think that that was part of it too, that I may have stepped on some of it, yeah, with what I was, yeah, that's
Chuck Shute:awesome. And then you also, because you also, besides music, you've also kind of dabbled in, in film, right? I mean, you've acted a little bit and, uh, directed a little
Young MC:bit, made a film called, made a film called, uh, zero sum in 2015, um, yeah, it was, it's something kind of a bucket, bucket list thing. And also, like I said, I write my songs in three act structures. So kind of like it felt good to do something where I actually played out three act structure. And going through that experience actually helped me as a producer and as a as a musician going forward in terms of the editing process and getting your whole story out. Storytelling, yeah, oh, by the way, the name of the group was rubber neck. Rubber neck was the name of the rock group. Yes.
Chuck Shute:Okay, I'll have to off to check that one out. Yeah, that's cool, yeah. Because, I mean, I feel like that's the with the films and stuff too. And obviously your music is in so many commercials and movies and TV shows like that. That is such a big part of income for musicians now, because, you know, they just obviously the record sales, even if you sell millions, it doesn't their streams or whatever. It doesn't really do anything so, but getting your your music and film and TV and commercials, that's really lucrative, right?
Young MC:Yeah, yeah. Oh no. Most definitely, most definitely, especially if you're in a position where you you have full ownership, at least some ownership, or some kind of stake in the master and the publishing and, you know, those, those those deals are made. Those are the deals that keep the record companies and the publishing companies afloat, you know, regardless of what the music business does.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, and then, like, when you were in that movie, up in the air, and you kind of played yourself at like a corporate event, is that that's a real thing, right? Corporate events, they hire these big name musicians, and they they pay really well. Have you ever done those kind of shows? Sure, yeah,
Young MC:definitely, definitely. We've taken the 90s tour, and we've done corporate events with it, within with 90s lineups in different in different iterations, because a lot of times those corporate executives are in the age group that would appreciate what we do. So definitely, and especially doing something clean, especially doing something that, you know, being easy to work with and the like, and, you know, because you're dealing with corporate executives and all and all the office politics as well, as you know, everything that goes on with putting on a show, regardless. So, yeah, those have been fun to do. Oh, it's
Chuck Shute:fine, okay, that's good, yeah. I mean, I'm assuming that's like, lucrative too. I mean, if it's a big company, it's a private show, they could pay, I
Young MC:mean, I mean, they're not stupid. They didn't, they didn't, you know, a lot of these companies did not become, you know, multi million or multi billion dollar companies by overpaying people. So they, they deal with real agents, they deal with real, real, real folks in terms of putting the business together. And, you know, I'm not going to say that they don't pay, well, they're they don't pay well. They do pay well, but it's not like, you know, you continuously get exhaust, especially being in my position with, you know, a big record from 30 plus years ago, you're usually going to get paid close to what you normally get paid, you know, for something like
Chuck Shute:that. Do you negotiate all that stuff yourself, or do you have a. Manager at this point? No,
Young MC:I have a booking agent that does that. And then he'll come to me and and we'll decide, we'll decide together what I'm taking and not taking. Sometimes it's better to take less, if that's what the marketplace is saying. Sometimes it's not, sometimes it's, you know, you have to kind of see what whatever, not only what everyone else is doing. But, you know, you don't want to go out there and undervalue yourself, you know. So I want to make sure that I get, still get a good chance to get out there and work. But I don't want it to be that I'm the cheapest guy in the block and and if, you know, want a big hit with a, you know, cheap show, just call, call, you know. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:yeah, you, you. So again, I'm back to Vanilla Ice, because you've done, you've done a bunch of shows with him, right?
Young MC:Couple 100. Yeah, several 100, yes. But you didn't be
Chuck Shute:become friends with him or have relationship until later.
Young MC:I knew him from before, I guess we didn't do the word in contact until, you know, until this tour, but, but, but I knew him from back in the day, when you know his stuff was big, and meet him in a war shows and other places. Well, I always
Chuck Shute:wondered, like, back in the day, like, what did, what did rappers think of like vanilla ice and like white rappers, were they like, what did they make fun of them? Because I feel like, when you watch Living Color, they've kind of made fun of Vanilla Ice, like they kind of thought he was kind of a joke. Is that what you guys thought of vanilla ice when he first came out, like back whenever it was 90. Thing is, he was
Young MC:put out on EMI, which is part of capital, so part of their flag waving over there was that, you know, we have, you know, hammer that did 15 million and vanilla ice that did, you know, 810, 12, whatever it was, million. From my standpoint, you couldn't laugh at that. I could if I could have done, if I could have done half of that there, I'd have, I'd have been happy about where I was. You know what I mean. So, um, and remember, this is coming from a guy that, you know, I made a crossover record, and people were saying stuff about me and making jokes about me when, you know, when, when, when Buster move was a big pop record. You know, a lot of times, you know, where guys wish that they had a proper wish, where they're capable of making a pop record like that. So I would always look at the criticism of someone like vanilla ice or or hammer, or me, or even I've seen when Dr Dre went platinum, I heard, you know, I saw comments about him, and a lot of that is just coming from a place of jealousy. Is like, Oh, that can't be me. So let me, you know, just talk crap to just say that it's not, it's not valuable. But I go out there, I'm in front of the people. I see the crowds. You know that are fans of his as well. So, yeah,
Chuck Shute:but now, when you mentioned Dr Dre, you knew them. You You opened for them when they were in WA. You knew him back then. How? I mean, this guy, it's so cool his story. Because, you know, obviously he's a good rapper. He's a great rapper. I loved him in NWA. He was able to evolve and have a solo career. Then he's able to evolve and have Beats by Dre. I mean, I think, is he a billionaire? Like, I mean, this guy has parlayed his hand so many times. Like, did you know that back in the day like that, like you looked at him and you relationship, like, you just knew this guy was, like, really smart, good businessman. It
Young MC:was producing. He was producing for NWA, and then, um, and then easy stuff, his solo stuff, after math, you know, death row at the beginning, you know, he was doing. He was behind all of that. So just being able to parlay that. And then the beast by Drake. Thing was him and Jimmy Ivy. And Jimmy Ivy, and it was just, it was brilliant. So I knew Dre was creative, and he produced me on all in the same gang. So even that experience, I was able to kind of parlay into my own production and even other stuff that I did creatively. So I've always, always had a good feeling, you know, in terms of his talent, in terms of what Drake could do,
Chuck Shute:yeah, have you looked at that and thought, I mean, obviously now you're doing producing too. Are you looking at maybe some sort of, or have you tried, like, some kind of side business, like headphones, or, you know, vitamin 50 cents, got vitamin water and stuff like that. I feel like that's just some of these guys have their hands in so many different things. It's like, it's but it's smart, it what seems to work out for them? Well,
Young MC:that's the thing. It's like, you got to make sure that you're in something that you you know, that you can, you know, hope that you can, hopefully see works out. Not saying you want to predict everything, but just, you know, a good, solid business opportunity. I'm always open for. So I definitely be down, you know, for some things I got, I got some stuff going with the AI. Now that I'm, that I'm that looks really promising in terms of what that, you know, what that space is going to evolve into, especially with me using it in music and showing actual, you know, practical applications and records that are charting and, you know, and branding and that kind of stuff. So that's where I've kind of put my head in so, so it'll be interesting to see how that turns out. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:talk about how you're using AI in the music, because it's not like you're making the whole song with AI, you're just using it as a supplement. I mean, just like rappers would use records and sample things, like you're using it as a tool. I think it's cool.
Young MC:Yeah, that was my thing. Is that it was like a zero to 60 thing. Either someone was making the entire record with AI, or people were just poo pooing AI and saying. You know, we had no use for it at all. And I said, Well, there's a happy medium, yes, that I can still be creative, still make my music, but, um, have an element of it that that's intriguing. And I'm actually in the process of getting the visuals together to take that on, on the road with me. It's quite expensive, and I have, like, three, four different companies involved and the like, but to be able to be on stage and performing the records and watching AI answer me, you know, in the songs, and having, you know, interludes and that kind of stuff, that's going to be fun. So this is kind of the pinnacle of what I've been working on for several years, putting all this together. So probably by the summer, I'm hoping to have it integrated into the shows, or at least on the 90 shows, I'll have it. So that's what I'm really looking forward to see what the response is, not only from the old school fans, but fans of the newer music, because obviously the AI is actually integrated into newer music, and then also from from from tech companies and AI companies and the like. Just to show, once again, practical application of a fully generated, you know, AI generated character being in the music and interacting with the, with the with the musician and the audience. Oh,
Chuck Shute:that sounds really intriguing. I got to check that out. That sounds really fun. It reminds me too, because you did a, you have a song, your biggest hit, Buster, move. It was remixed by Diplo. How did that come about? Because he's, that's a big name. I never heard of him. And so we were at a concert one year, it was in Scottsdale, and they're like, oh, Diplo is performing. Like, who's, I don't know who this is. And now, obviously he's huge. How did that come about? Did he just, does he have to get permission to do that? Or he just
Young MC:really was, it wasn't me. It was it was the the master owner. So it would have been delicious vinyl, or Concord at the time. And, you know, I don't know, I would assume they approached him and and went out to do a remix. The the irony of it is, and because I've done remixes as well, it's like the remixes on on bustling move just don't get much traction. You know, like it, it. No one has ever asked me to do a different mix of busted move on stage. They only want to hear the original, you know. So whether it doesn't matter, Diplo think Aaron, not sure if Aaron the crate or, you know, some, but definitely several people have, yeah, have remixed directly, and the fans only want to hear the original. And my remix, I was able to take my break verse because I had a reverse that I do in the breakdown, and that's never been released on, you know, on an actual record, except my remix. So even that they, you know, if you're going to do it, you know, do it over the original song. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:and you do a, you do a freestyle, uh, rap in the in the tour as well. Is that something that you rehearse, or is it literally like on the spot, you just different every
Young MC:time it's something I rehearse. And that's, you know, once again, some of the shows, like the casino shows and stuff like that, when they want you to go quick, you know. So that's mainly meant as an encore, but, but, yeah, no, no, it's something that I've done. It was something the fastest rhyme for my first album. So that's cool, yeah,
Chuck Shute:yeah. That's exciting. You are back. To, I was gonna ask you about train because I know you said you're a fan. I noticed they follow you. Because when I, whenever I go to, you know, look at somebody's like, Who do we have in common? Oh, train. Oh, train follows you. Have you ever, like, had any interactions with them?
Young MC:Little bit in that, that mainly, was from that list. So just cool, you know, the pleasantries and and passive, you know, Pat's a cool guy. So, so we've talked, so, yeah, I mean, once again, it's good, because doing this like, you know, as long as I've done it, I know the success I've had and the like, I know, you know, I know what it's like for my standpoint. But if you talk to someone who you respect, and you respect their artistry, you know, they've had a lot of success. They know who you are, and they respect what you've done, and that kind of thing. That's good, you know. So, so that was a cool thing with that, with that whole experience, yeah. I
Chuck Shute:mean, you've got a lot of people that are fan like, Will I Am, and Flavor Flav, and all these people that follow you. Russell Peters
Young MC:a good friend. It's funny, because I literally grew up as a fan of flavor, flavor, and then I got some few months back, I get a text from him with a video of he's in a karaoke bar and a guy's on stage doing Buster move, and he's singing along with a showing a whole crowd. And he sent me the entire video. I'm like, That's Flavor Flav sending it to me, you know? I mean, so that was, that was, that was a cool moment, you know, once again, never, I'll, I'll never share anything like that. But just to get that experience is, like, very cool.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, did you ever do shows with Public Enemy, yes, yeah,
Young MC:yeah, that would be a fun day. I want to say a few, a few shows back in the day. Yeah, back
Chuck Shute:in the day. Okay, yeah. Because, yeah, it's hard to find uh, records. I know you toured with, with NWA, and then Europe, and also Millie Vanilli. And so I was just trying to figure out, what other man that, you know, there's a whole summit, yeah, that was interesting, because I heard you say that, you know, people were saying, oh, like, you know, they lip synced. And you were like, well, there was actually a lot of artists that lip synced. They're just the ones that got caught. And. That was like that. I was like, whoa. And
Young MC:also, their mics were live. So it's not like their mics, you know them, they were singing over but they were backing tracks. But there were a ton of the point I was making. There were a ton of artists that had backing tracks, like, had substantial vocal backing tracks in that day, but no noted, you know, made that big of a deal. It's like, if you're jumping around, dancing all over the place, falling out of breath, but the verse and the hook are totally perfect. Lyrically, there's something, you know, there's something to that, which, once again, if that's what the audience is looking for, then that's what the live performance is. I just, I just don't like the the bashing, the bashing of Milli Vanilli, you know, like like, they what they did was so egregious that other people didn't do it number one and number two, you know, they saying how the Grammy being taken away was justified. And like, Okay, well, then who did the Grammy go to? Like, if you're going to take it away, then, then it's taken away from somebody deserving. Is it to the background singers it sang on a record? Was it to the act that came in second place? They really didn't care about any of that. They more cared about just taking it away from Milly vanilla. And I'm, you know, so at that point, I just thought it was, you know, some somewhat of sour grapes and people industry people being upset that that that secret got found out.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, no, it is, did you watch that documentary about it? It's really fascinating story. I
Young MC:haven't, I need to, I need, I definitely need to. But I, I haven't. I think I handed them the Grammy, if I'm not mistaken, so that. So that was why that was brought up to me, but I haven't gone back and actually looked at it, because then I know how sad it was. I'd spend a lot of time, and Rob's, Rob's passing was heartbreaking for me. So, yeah,
Chuck Shute:I mean, we've, you've had a few that are close to you. That's, I think, the most recent. You know, my condolences, because you were close to Coolio and he recently, and everyone was kind of really shocked about that one. Like, how do we avoid these kinds of things from happening with, I don't want you to betray his trust or whatever, but is there something we can learn from these kinds of passings of people too young?
Young MC:I mean, you just hope that people see it and and and learn from it. I can't really, you know, I can't really say much more than that, you know, it's just, it's heartbreaking to go through. But having said that, you know, we're getting to the age where, you know, just regular people are passing away from, you know, from from regular events in normal life. So, you know, it's just you deal with loss the best you can, sure, yeah, something like that. You know, you take it as a teaching moment to try and keep yourself as healthy as you can, and, and that's it,
Chuck Shute:yeah? Well, that's what I also find so interesting about you. You never, because I think you talked about how you had some sort of liver issue as a kid. So by the time that you were old enough to try alcohol, you didn't like it, and so you didn't really ever drink very much or smoke. You didn't do drugs. You stayed away from all that stuff.
Young MC:Yeah, I mean, and a lot of the things that would lead me down to it, I kind of dealt with them very self confrontational. So if there's something that has to be dealt with, My motto is, do what you have to so you can do what you want to. So a lot of times they have to is, like, the annoying stuff or the stuff that would great at you. So instead of letting that linger and and play in the back of your head, you just get that done, and then you get to do the stuff that you want to do. You know, need any substances or anything like that to to, you know, kind of get through things. So that's, that's how I've dealt with, that's how I dealt with stuff, because it's really easy to fall in in this business. Man, oh, they don't like you anymore. Oh, you're not as popular as you used to be. All that other stuff. And just you kind of take it with a grain of salt, take it for what it is, and you try and live the best life you can and make the best music you can.
Chuck Shute:Yeah, well, you've inspired so many people, and you've you've made great music, and you're still making great music. And I think that's the importance of doing interviews like this is to let people know that you're still out there, you're still making music, you're still touring like you're doing great stuff, and just got to let the world know absolutely
Young MC:no, look, I've been happy with the response that I've gotten. It was a fight at Radio initially, and now, you know, the more people that have opened up, I've been able to get, you know, more traction with my music, and it's allowed me, you know, kind of prompted me to make better music. So I'm can't wait to see what the future holds, not only creatively, but, like I said, putting the AI into the live performance and really seeing how people respond to it. Because a lot of times, a lot of audiences I'll go in front of, they won't know any of the new music, and the AI will just seem like a stage prop. But if I put on a good performance, it may get them into the new music. And then, and then have have just that, that technology kind of, you know, open up some other opportunities. Yeah,
Chuck Shute:I think too. You mentioned radio. But I would also say the the big thing now is, like getting on the playlist, right? Like, you get on so and so's playlist, then then everybody listens to that playlist, and then they listen to you. Yeah,
Young MC:sure, no, no. And definitely, I mean, and that's a business that I'm, you know, still learning more about and get, you know, I have more of an entrenchment and people, you know that there's not a lot of people in playlist that. That were around when bust The move came out. But there's a ton of people on the radio that were so, you know, that once they realize, like, Oh, he's coming with stuff like he did before, I think that, you know, one one kind of influences the other, so that that's what I'm, you know, keep pushing and absolutely
Chuck Shute:well, thank you so much for doing this. This is a bucket list interview for me. I really appreciate it. Anything else?
Young MC:No, just follow me. Young MC 89 I love the 90s tour. There'll be other touring opportunities, maybe some, you know, private casinos, that kind of thing. But I'm definitely out there. Definitely do it. And I'm looking forward to being in front of people this summer, years to come. And my hope is to get some get some music out there that some new music where people can really see what I'm doing and and really, really get a vibe. So kinetic, fun part, loose eye videos for all of them. You can see all those on YouTube. So once again, young MC 89 on Instagram. Please follow me and looking forward to see you out there in the world. All
Chuck Shute:right, thank you so much. Thank you. All right, we'll see you later. Bye, bye. You.
