ON THE RISE
When you say his name, be sure to pronounce the “eye-be-eye” at the end.
Youngworldibi, an artist who splits his time between Camden, N.J. and Lancaster, Pa., is using the doubts of others as fuel for the fire to put his stamp on the hip hop industry with his latest album, “Blackout,” released on all platforms in July.
With 13 tracks on a variety of different beats, Youngworldibi is letting people know he’s an all-around artist, and he’s got something for almost everyone and messages that almost anyone can feel.
“I’ve got a lot of lyricisms in me and I wanted to show people what I could do with different types of beats and not just stick to one type,” he said. “I made it a point to try different styles of beats and show this is something I’m serious about.”
Youngworldibi said he’s always been a music fan and started writing raps and songs in his mid-teens, but the trials and tribulations of life took him on a detour that changed his style and outlook.
“Back when I was a kid my flow was a lot different,” Yongworldibi said. “It was more like lovey dove stuff, like more for girls. My style has changed since then. My style changed when I got locked up. That’s when I really found my style. I believe, me being locked up, all the anger and frustration it actually helped me find my style. My music is more aggressive now and I guess that’s where I get it from.”
After spending more than a decade in lock-up, Youngworldibi had to get his life back on track, but once he was settled, he headed to the studio to try to make his musical dreams come true.
He wanted to use the stage name Youngworld, but figuring that was taken, he attached the letters ibi, initials for “intellectual black ink,” to the end.
Drawing from some of the greats, like Biggy, Jay-Z and Cam’Ron, Youngworldibi took his experiences as a young man and his experiences from prison and used them to create a collection of quality raps.
He put out an album called “Taking the Throne,” with 21 tracks, then in July he released the 13-track album, “Blackout,” and went to work pushing his career and sound.
“I feel like I’ve gotten better, but not only that the sound is better as far as the mastering of the tracks and the mixing,” he said. “I’ve just stepped it up since then. It’s hard to explain my sound, but I’ll try. It is different, I don’t really think my sound fits with any other sound or sounds. I would say it’s music people can relate to it, I’m talking about personally. It’s just quality music, quality hip hop.”
Youngworldibi said the track “Megatron,” number 13 on the Spotify list, is his favorite.
“I like Megatron,” he said. “It’s just got that original hip hop sound. It’s a feel good track at the same time. When you hear the beat, I just like the way the beat and the way the sound, everything came out.”
Another tune, “LANC,” talks about his hometown.
Then there’s “Blue Pill,” which he describes as having his hard, gritty, yet lyrical style.
Youngworldibi said each tune on the album has a little piece of him in it. He listens to the beats and he lets the beats speak to him as he’s creating his music.
“That’s how I come up with my music, I don’t fully plan it out,” he said. “I just find a beat and I listen to it and come up with ideas.”
Now that “Blackout,” is on the streets, Youngworldibi is turning to future projects and releases.
“I’ve got a new single, ‘The Ride’ coming out Aug. 18,” he said. “It’s a feel-good track, it’s a nice beat. I think it’s more of a laid back track. Of course I still talk my shit, but you know.”
He’s also taken down his first big album, “Taking the Throne,” and working to re-release it later this summer in two parts.
“I had to take it down and I’m going to redo it, make it two parts, part one and part two,” he said. “I’m going to add more track on them. It’ll be coming out in three to four months. I’m going to break it down and add more tracks to it.”
Be sure to stay connected to Youngworldibi and follow him on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
Websites:
Amazon Music
Apple Music
Spotify
YouTube
Elvis Presley – ‘Mystery Train’
“My first love was Elvis, no question. In our house, we had a French-release compilation album of his songs called ‘Le Roi Du Rock ‘n’ Roll’. As a small kid, I was obsessed with ‘Mystery Train’. The way Elvis held his guitar like a gun and the percussive way he attacked the strings made me fall in love with the guitar. Many years later, I went busking around Europe on my motorbike with a tent and played my guitar in the streets. But it was all because of Elvis and those early Sun [Records] recordings – and ‘Mystery Train’ in particular.”
Blondie – ‘Autoamerican’
“There was an Our Price on Finchley Road, North London that I’d go to with my older brother and sister. That’s where I bought ‘Autoamerican’ in 1981. Blondie – what can you say? Apart from the fact that as a young boy, it was impossible not to be in love with Debbie Harry. I love the variety on this particular record – it goes through different genres. Years later, I saw Blondie play [in 2013] at a private function in New York with Kanye West. Debbie Harry was still magnetic.”
Queen, Wembley Stadium, 1986
“Queen were supported by INXS. It was before they released ‘Kick’ [in 1987]. I only went because it turned out my friend Kieran’s dad was a big-shot in the music industry and he got four tickets. I was around 17, it was a year after they played Live Aid and Queen were phenomenal.”
The Beatles – ‘Eleanor Rigby’
“All through our early teenage years, my younger brother and I were always at the top of the house listening to The Beatles. ‘Eleanor Rigby’ reminds me of the ‘80s and the views out of our house in London: looking at the grey, rain-drizzled skies. I always felt its melancholy, looking out of the window back then as a teenager. Not that I was unhappy, but I definitely responded to that in music.”
Ever meet Macca?
“I have met Paul McCartney and he was a complete gentleman. At a political party, we were watching the American election on TV and he came up to me and said [Lewis does a pitch-perfect Macca impersonation]: ‘Oh, you understand a bit or two about the TV, don’t you?’. And I just realised he’d seen me on TV and I melted. I went to bed grinning. That McCartney knows who I am is incredible. I was completely tongue-tied.”
David Bowie – ‘Heroes’
“I know 173 other people will probably also have picked ‘Heroes’ for this, but from the opening note, it’s just relentlessly brilliant. It’s the most evocative, triumphant, euphoric song – and unbelievably cool. The second album I ever owned was Bowie’s ‘Hunky Dory’ – and he’s remained a touchstone for me.”
The Rolling Stones – ‘Little T&A’
“I listen to the Stones a lot and I can never get ‘Little T&A ‘ out of my head. Keith Richards is quoted as calling the song ‘dumb’ and that it’s just about rock ‘n’ roll energy. It’s a celebration of carnality, I’m aware of that, but that’s the one that stays in my head!”
Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers – ‘Swing the Mood’
“I can’t fucking hear Jive Bunny again! But I don’t mean that in a pejorative way. When I was in my twenties, I would go out on my own dancing to old-school rock ‘n’ roll at rockabilly nights. Then Jive Bunny came out and cut up my favourite songs into snippets and put them into this endless [novelty] medley. And then it was never off the radio, so I’d have to put it into the Room 101 of music.”
Crazy P – ‘There’s a Better Place’
“It’s an ambient rave tune with a fantastic Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory sample. I’m just that age. I left school right into the dance culture of the ‘90s and that will still always get me up on the floor.”
The Weepies – ‘Gotta Have You’
“It reminds me of moving to LA as a family with my late wife Helen [McCrory]. My daughter was one year old and my son was about to be born. We were living in Venice Canals – and I was filming out there. We had a babysitter who was a 23-year-old roller-skating, already-Botoxed sunny Californian girl. We asked her, are you listening to any good music? She gave us two great bands. One is The Shins but the other was a lesser-known band called The Weepies. That song will always get me going.”
Elton John – ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’
“I can’t say I do karaoke but I will proudly divulge that I was at karaoke in Fulham Broadway once. I went in there with a friend and I got up and sang ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’ and I won a bottle of champagne for best karaoke of the evening! Very chuffed I was too. If I was back looking for another bottle of champers, I’d pick it again.”
Talk Talk – ‘It’s My Life’
“I was an ‘80s kid and I liked electronic music. I’ve always loved ‘It’s My Life’ and Andy Hollis’ vocals, as well as its slightly bombastic nature. Life’s what you make of it – seems like a good sentiment to have.”
Damian Lewis’ UK tour begins on October 2. His album ‘Sweet Chaos’ is out now via Thin Red Duke
