By Geoffrey Rowlands
Don’t Tell ‘Em has given American singer Jeremih his third top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also his first single to enter the top five in Britain. But much of the song’s popularity is owed to the rap provided by featured artist YG and the beat contributed by his musical partner DJ Mustard.
Although YG, real name Keenon Jackson, has fared well with his various projects, nothing compares to the chart success he is currently enjoying.
“That’s the great thing about being a featured artist,” said the 24-year-old. “People who might not have known me but like Jeremih will now know who I am. But it’s a two-way street. There will be people who might not have been interested in a Jeremih song but bought Don’t Tell ‘Em because I was on the track.”
YG’s early life was typical of so many African-American males born and raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Compton, California. Gang affiliation is high on their wish list and YG, an initialism for Young Gangsta, became a member of the Westside Tree Top Piru Bloods.
Crime and legal troubles inevitably followed. Even after he had begun to find musical success, YG was jailed for parole violation arising from a previous charge of residential burglary.
“That was back in 2009. Me and Mustard really began getting our stuff together in 2008. We’d created our Pu$haz Ink record label and were posting tracks on the Internet. This got me a big following. My prison cellmate even had my track Pussy Killer as the ringtone on his phone.”
Having served his time, YG set about the continuing task of building his empire. In addition to music activities, he developed his 4Hunnid clothing line, invested in real estate and made his acting debut in the feature film, We the Party.
Directed by Mario Van Peebles and starring his son Mandela, We the Party featured Snoop Dogg in a supporting role. It was Snoop’s mentoring of YG’s career which led to his appearance as CC, the younger brother of Snoop’s character.
“Snoop’s support means everything to me. Not many artists can say this. It’s like saying you’re official. Snoop is always looking out for me, putting me in movies, on tours, supporting me in any way he can.”
The single, Tool It and Boot It, became YG’s first Hot 100 hit. He co-wrote the song with Pu$haz Ink signing Ty Dolla Sign who also appeared on the track.
“This was my mainstream breakthrough. The song was taken from my Real 4Fingaz mixtape. Def Jam signed me on the strength of my music and my command of the crowd during performances. They realised the extent of my potential.”
Three more Hot 100 hits, plus another as a featured artist, confirmed Def Jam’s belief in his ability. YG’s debut album, My Krazy Life, reached number two on the Billboard 200. Lead single, My Ni**a, edited as My Hitta, sold more than one million copies in America and peaked at number 19 on the Hot 100.
“I wrote or co-wrote every song on my album and Mustard produced almost all of the tracks. Some people are still trying to say I’m a one-hit-wonder. They obviously can’t count all the hits I’ve already had.
“Stuff like that just adds fuel to my fire. I started on the streets, then the Internet, mixtapes, records, always working my way up the ladder. These are just the first few pages of the YG story.”
IN BRIEF
Rated X
The self-titled debut album from rock supergroup Rated X is set for release early next month. Available now though is lead single, This Is Who I Am. The song video is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkmWYqztVi8
Members of Rated X are all veteran rockers who have known each other for more than 20 years. Singer Joe Lynn Turner, drummer Carmen Appice, bassist Tony Franklin and guitarist Karl Cochran joined forces at the suggestion of Frontiers Music President Serafino Perugino.
Despite their long-time friendship and association with so many classic rock bands, only Carmine and Tony had previously played together. They formed part of the English heavy metal band Blue Murder between 1988 and ‘92.
The 12 tracks on their album are all new songs. Critical response to This Is Who I Am has been highly positive. A second track may be released soon.
Keep up to date with the band at www.facebook.com/RatedXRocks
Chvrches
Critically acclaimed Scottish synth trio Chvrches are thinking about the songs that will eventually make up their sophomore album.
One track which may be part of the follow-up to 2013’s The Bones of What You Believe has just been posted online. A live version of Richard Pryor, recorded a few days ago at the Austin City Limits music festival, can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWJV9Kz7Bs8
Anyone wondering about the title when the lyrics make no mention of Richard Pryor need not worry about having missed some possible hidden meaning.
“It’s just a working title,” explained multi-instrumentalist Iain Cook. “It could have been Gene Wilder, Eddie Murphy or Dan Ackroyd depending how we felt on the day.”
If you would like to hear more Chvrches music, The Bones of What You Believe is posted in full at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mTRvJ9fugM&list=PLqhNzBA9MSSpXGYRMGvkQ2AgW13H3FCnS
Two bonus tracks are also included at the end of the post.
Marina and the Diamonds
Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, better known as Marina and the Diamonds, celebrated her 29th birthday on October 10. Rather than receiving a gift, she used the occasion to offer a present to her fans through an online posting of Froot, the title-track and lead single from her forthcoming third studio album.
The song can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI_0HIz_4JY
Both of Marina’s albums are available to hear in full. Her 2010 debut, The Family Jewels, is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFT36MENAL0&list=PLqhNzBA9MSSqFqeA307LKoSEr_sNVTR__; 2012’s Electra Heart is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCffJMfGCNw&list=PLqhNzBA9MSSoEZrMtGD25blnkkB2Z1ZZU
Vince Staples
Long Beach rapper Vince Staples has just released a seven-song EP, Hell Can Wait.
Critical acclaim has been almost universal. The songs portray the dark side of west coast life with Vince hailed as a storyteller chronicling the reality of raw and lawless streets.
Judge for yourself by checking out the EP at www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz2cdUYQHSg
A video has been made for lead single, Blue Suede. This can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJLfCBBcZAo
Fans can hear a number of his mixtapes online all of which can be downloaded for free. Gain access by visiting www.datpiff.com and typing Vince’s name in the ‘search mixtapes’ box.
Ebonie G
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ebonie G has been lauded as a rising star on the British music scene.
The Kent-native, full name Ebonie Gaisie, has just released her debut album, I Am Beautiful Inspiration. Her new single, I Am, is a hugely personal song which pays tribute to Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela. The video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk7YYutWq10
Videos for Ebonie’s previous singles are also posted online. Her debut release, Keep On Going, is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-bx6WSCGnQ while Live For Today is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPHB5JryWCE
