Golden rays of light caress the Los Angeles skyline as old-timers stoop over park benches and exchange the caliber of stories that would win a Pulitzer Prize for reality.
Filling the silence in between these heated exchanges, bullet fragments ricochet off concrete walls that have witnessed numerous societal pitfalls. Nearby, addicts in abandoned tenement wager their next fix over a meaningless dice game and unsupervised children break in new aerosol cans.
Memories such as these are deposited deep within the mental fabric of a man who has always kept his emotions on a short leash.
On a small plot of land in Compton, a rising Hip Hop artist named Young Life (Donell Mason) has attempted to dodge the temptations that so many has succumbed to. He seen his closest of kin lose his physical presence just to stand foot during armed robbery. He's watched rival gangs debate with deadly force over turf wars. He's even stood helpless while his own mother felt the strife of an insecure man.
"The streets nursed me," Young Life attested.
The fork in the road that is known as Compton provides its youth with only two alternatives: choose a life of violence and destruction or harbor ambitious thoughts that lead to positive motives.
For many, music is the only way out.
But nurturing a blank canvas is a skill few ever master. To own a beat takes more than just skill- it's innate. Just like Jay-Z, Young Life steps into the booth not with a notebook full of scribes but a catalogue of experience from which to call. Collaborating with producer MG, Young Life continues to mystify all those who come in contact with his advanced lyrical precision.
"it's a gift," he said. "I know how to capture it."
Employing vast resources in order to launch a calculated marketing campaign is all for not if the product behind the pitch is artificial. And there is no sense in signing an artist unless the target demographic can identify with the message.
Young Life has the potential to fulfill a gap in the marketplace and push units- and executives at major record labels cant ignore the buzz any longer.
"My creativity is just now coming to me," Young Life conceded.
Uncovering the next gemis what keeps heads in this industry awake at night.
Since selecting the right candidate can sometimes feel like trekking through barren wasteland, it is imperative certain components are managed properly.
'does this artist have any street credibility?' is at the top of a short list of prerequisites.
Respect cant be measured in quantitative terms. Rather, it defines an artist and becomes a competitive advantage from which a solid foundation is constructed.
"The streets are your worst critic," he said. "in the line of rap I'm in they won't except just anybody."
Young Life has proven track record of convincing predacious critics, albeit on various mix tape with The Game, 50 Cent , Lil Wayne, and Glasses Malone.
By leveraging sophisticated verbiage with proven performance metrics, Young Life is able to transfer sensory information into real-world results. Stringing together complex verses while managing bridges and adlibs is a natural gift few entertain. During so at such a young age Young Life to differentiate himself from the next crop of contenders.
He explains: "I was 16 and I gained a reputation around my city-and other cities-of being a sick young rapper. It allowed me to prove myself to The Game [Jayceon Taylor]. He put on two hours of beat in a studio one day and I never ran out of lyrics. After that, he put me under his right wing right when he signed with Dr.Dre and I stayed around of two years."
Think The Game would have kept Young Life by his side if he weaved pre-conceived bars into a fabricated story? Compton is a fertile breeding ground for Hip Hop artists, and there is no room for imposters.
Posters of rappers featuring the likes of Dr.Dre, Easy-E, Ice Cube and MC Ren aren't solely for covering holes in the wall. Fragile minds are infatuated with the images of those who have escaped this harsh environment and attempt to mimic entrepreneurial tendencies.
"I don't want to be categorized as another rapper," the 20-year old admits. "I step outside the box. And as I blossom I still remain in contact with my roots."
The days of running with The Black Wall Street and Brazil & Wilmington Records seem like a distant memory. On the prowl, Young Life is steadily carving out his own niche in a land full of cunning mavericks.
When moments of uncertainty creep within, he references a conflicting time in his life that serves as motivation till this day.
"The whole dorm was crowding me," Young Life remembers about his bid. "Guys doing life wanted me to rap. I generated a buzz in there. If they accept you everyone will. That's why when I get signed I'll have to work harder just to sustain my spot."
