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Mikhail Stukov: Let's take it back to the beginning...When did you first become interested in music?
Young Lye: From I was 3 years old my sister Shari aka Silk, who was a rapper herself, started to teach me how to rap and all about the culture of Hip-Hop. She would tell me DJ Kool Herc bought Rap from Jamaica ghettos to The South Bronx New York City in 1973, stuff like that she would teach me about the Culture of Hip-Hop. The first rap my family said I started to say is ''Where my dogs at, where my dogs at, where my dogs at'' voice DMX, and ''old dog like me, mi have fi have them in a twos and threes, everybody knows mi bad aready'' voice Beenie Man.
Mikhail Stukov: New York is so rich in Hip-Hop tradition, how has the NY shaped you as an artist?
Young Lye: Well i'm 18 years old now, and I was born and raised in The South Bronx New York City right where Hip-Hop started from. So I had no choice but to live and grow with the deep rooted Hip-Hop culture there, the first thing I can remember is what my Stack Large Empire sons and I did when we started elementary school, we would rap battle each other and freestyle al-day every-day, and those actions until now turned me into the Hip-Hop artist I am today.
Young Lye: Now on the business aspect, i have learned the hard way to not trust everyone that comes up to you and start telling you, they can do this and you should to that, and when it all comes down to it they are trying to rob the artist what ever lil budget money the up-coming artist may have, you will also fine out that they don't know haft about the business of music as you may know, so artist keep an eye open for these snakes in the grass people. What helped me grow from a musical perspective and the business aspect is, working very hard on my delivery, writing, recording, performance, and producing better and better music as these last 10 years go by. I know now I have perfected my craft, even tho everyday i still learn something new in this business of music.
Mikhail Stukov: When it comes to your lyrics, what inspires you?
Young Lye: My lyrics comes form what I and my Stack Large Empire family lived through everyday, like me losing 3 of my siblings, 2 brothers a sister, they all was very young when they passed away just to mention a few stuff. A lot more of my inspirations come from me reading books like The Art of War, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Fifty Shades of Grey etc.
Mikhail Stukov: Please tell me about your typical day
Young Lye: My typical day starts out with me praying to God, Thanking Him for Blessing me with another day, I pick up my iPhone and start writing to some beat I was listening to from the night before, I'll roll up some loud and start vibing to what I'm writing, if I have college classes that day I'll get ready to head for there, and if not a few of my sons will come over we'll play a few games, after that I'll hit the streets and drive around check a few sisters, in the evening I'll go out to dinner and a movie, but not everyday tho, some days I just kick back in my set, meaning my crib.
Young Lye: The most rewarding experience in my career as far as i can remember is when I was 9 years old and i went to perform at The Famous Apollo Theater in Harlem N.Y.C., before i performed i was told by the host to rub my hands on that Log on the stage, as soon as i touched it a strange but good feelings ran through my whole body, and form that day on i just Love being on stage performing, i live to perform at my next show now.
Mikhail Stukov: Where exactly do you see yourself at 5 years down the road ?
Young Lye: Five years from now down the road i should have a very successful record label, a few Grammy's under my belt, and a few Job Training Schools/Centers for underprivileged kids around the world, so they can live and make a lil better life for themselves.
Mikhail Stukov: Whats the best piece of advice that has been ever given to you?
Young Lye: The best advice came from my dad, he said never let a man or woman know the amount of wealth you have and where it's kept, and never let a person know what you really want from them, because they'll take for ever to give it to you, so its best and easier to keep your real objective to yourself until you get what you want, by then its too late for them to stop you or hold you down and you can show what you have achieved to the world.
Mikhail Stukov: What’s one artist you would want to work with and why ?
Young Lye: I would like to work with Jay Z sometime in the near future, because he lasted so long in the business of music, I myself would like to last that long too, plus he was been very very successful in this game he playing in and we all can see that.
Mikhail Stukov: Thank you very much for your time Young Lye. Anything else you want to add? How can your fans get in contact with you?
Young Lye: I would like to thank you for taking the time to interviewing me, I also would like to thank all my fans and supporter for sticking it out with me all these years, my sister Shari s.i.p. and my parents for letting me live my music dreams and supporting me all the way.
