February 4th, 2009 |
Interview by: Mi$$ Nadia
Back on the scene as a free agent, Young Capone has been working to mold his talents and mature not only as an artist, but also as a businessman. He knows that this is a chance for outsiders and even people that know him best to see the side that has been hidden for so long. After leaving So So Def in 2007, Capone established an imprint of his own, Trotti Entertainment, adding Music Executive to the growing list of his personal accomplishments. With a new structure consisting of a new management team, Capone now has the support he lacked early in his career. Although he’s setting out on his own, one truth that he knows will never change is the power of the streets. “Small Things To A Giant” takes it back to how he first gained his presence in the Rap Game – the streets.
KeepItTrill.com: Is your name, “Young Capone,” derived from the prohibition era’s infamous gangster Al Capone?
Young Capone: Yea
KeepItTrill.com: Who are your main influences and what impact do they have on your sound?
Young Capone: My main influences were 2 Pac, Biggie and pretty much everybody before my time. Every one who was doing their thing… like T.I. and Jeezy. I also always liked to listen to a good club record or party music.
KeepItTrill.com: Is there a specific process that aids you in writing your material?
Young Capone: It depends. Sometimes I might be in a certain mood for recording. Other times I’ll go in after I come back from the club. All of my songs are about a certain type of thing, so you know [anything will] give me inspiration. I might see something and might need to make a song about it, ya know what I’m saying?
KeepItTrill.com: What image do you feel your music conveys?
Young Capone: Motivation. I tell people to stay away from haters that just want to bring you down. Being something in the light, point blank period. Not being at the bottom of the barrel. If you don’t have anything, if you’re in the hood, it’s still motivation. Be something in life.
KeepItTrill.com: How has your music evolved since you first began?
Young Capone: When I first started, I was on some other shit, [laughs], you know what I’m sayin? It’s a process though. The older you get, the more mature you get. The more mature you get, the more mature the music gets. When I first started off, I was in high school and I was on some high school shit. The older I got the more mature my music got.
KeepItTrill.com: When did you become inspired to start your own label? Would you describe the hard work and determination put into your hustle in order to fund this establishment?
Young Capone: Since I first began rapping, I always wanted my own label. I just didn’t know, like I was young, so I had to really wait until I got my money right. I had to wait until I got older and put a team together to get it done. Even on our way to So So Def, I still wanted my own label. When I came out of the contract with So So Def, I felt it was that time for me to have my own label.
[smartads]
KeepItTrill.com: You mentioned in a previous interview that even though you have been part of a major label, you still feel underground. What do you plan to do differently, independently, in order to “put yourself out there” so to speak?
Young Capone: Get promoted! When I went to the majors, I felt like they weren’t promoting the project. I didn’t feel like they were putting any energy into what I was doing. Being with a major label, with so many other artists, big artists, there are just so many things going on. They just can’t tend to one artist. They can’t be hands on with just one artist, especially wit a new artist coming into the game. So with my label, I just feel like I’ll make myself a priority and my whole team a priority. There isn’t anybody else that’s got anything going on but Young C.
KeepItTrill.com: What is the name of your new single and who produced it?
Young Capone: Honestly, I think the days of having a “single” are done. I think the fans wanna be sure that they not just buying into a one-hit wonder, so I got a three-headed-monster. I got a hit called “Shawty” working at the radio (I produced that). I got “Loud” featuring Yung Ralph & Maceo working in the streets (produced by Zaytoven). Then my big smash is gonna be “Choosin” featuring Mario (J.U.S.T.I.C.E. Lague Produced that). I got videos for all three of these songs. They’re three totally different records, but they all give you an idea of who I am.
KeepItTrill.com: We have many aspiring artists who visit our website every day. What advice can you give to these artists trying to make a big hit?
Young Capone: They just need to know where they wanna be in life and where they wanna end up. Once you know where you wanna be, don’t hesitate to get there.
KeepItTrill.com: When can the public expect your debut album, Small Things to a Giant to drop? What features may we expect?
Young Capone: We don’t really have a release date yet. Right now we’re just trying to work the records and get that buzz back up like it used to be. I’ve been doing a lot of shows and put out a few music videos that have had major success on YouTube and WorldStarhiphop. Everything is falling in place, but we’ll drop soon.
KeepItTrill.com: What are your long-term goals, and who do you hope to collaborate with in the future?
Young Capone: My long term goal is to make myself a household name and get my label branded. I also produce, so I want get my production out there and get tracks out there with some other people. I just want to go hard, elevate and not stay in the same spot.
KeepItTrill.com: What two accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
Young Capone: Being a good father to my child is number one. I didn’t have a father in my life, so that’s most important to me. Just raising my child means the world to me. Other than that, getting to the point of getting signed and getting recognized on a national level. That’s a major accomplishment.
KeepItTrill.com: What was your most memorable performance?
Young Capone: When I opened up for T.I. in Macon.
KeepItTrill.com: How would you define the word “success”?
Young Capone: Success could be anything you want it to be. Whenever you feel you get to where you wanna be at, I would call that success.
KeepItTrill.com: If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Young Capone: I would have to say Jay-Z. I’ve always looked up to him. He’s got so many things going on with clothes, shoes, running a label and just all of his investments. He’s got so much pressure on him at all times and he still manages to stay focused. It would be a pleasure to be around him. Other than him, I’d say Pimp C. He was just an over-all inspiration for the entire south.
KeepItTrill.com: Discuss something that has happened in your life that has made the biggest impact on who you are today.
Young Capone: Coming from nothing and just being born in poverty. With my dad not being in my life and growing up on my own. That was one of the biggest things I’ve been through that made me who I am today. It made me realize I needed to not sit down and to get up and do something with myself. Seeing so many people that didn’t have stuff, made me very determined. Coming out the hood was just motivation in its self.
Be sure to catch Young Capone on the web at myspace.com/youngcapone and youtube.com/youngcaponetv.
Click here to view his complete bio.
Young Capone – Choosin ft. Mario
Check out some more of Young Capone.
Video: Young Capone - Loud ft. Yung Ralph & Maceo
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too bad he didnt keep it trill in the interview, he didnt produce that, he jacked that beat from spityogame.com, i downloaded the same beat and leased it later. same melody, tempo, the only difference is its been mixed a bit. lol. what a jack ass. i guess its cool to bite these days. poor atlanta.
Yea, this guy’s pretty good. I like the shawty and loud song