Exclusive Interview with YOUNGWORLDIBI

After years of incarceration this artist is now paving the way for himself. Takes pride in lyricism and putting out good music staying true to one’s self… originality and not trying to fit the mold. Hip-hop at its truest form. Original lyrical hip-hop sound. Be sure to follow on ALL Social media & Music Platforms at Youngworldibi. You can also go purchase all exclusive content on iTunes Store. Check out the exclusive Interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: I come from Lancaster Pennsylvania, born & raised. I always loved hip hop music even before I started rapping myself. At a very young age, I believe it was around 15, I first started writing, playing around with words & writing rhymes. It wasn’t until later on, when i was incarcerated, when I actually found my own style & started taking writing music serious. Writing was therapy to me during those years I had to do in prison. It was my way of venting & expressing myself. It was my escape from the reality around me at the time.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: No, I had no formal training. I was self taught. I learned from observing other greats & talent in the music industry. Plus I’ve always been good with putting words together musically. Learning to write came easy. For me it was just all about learning how to write lyrics in harmony with whatever beat is going to be used.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘YOUNGWORLDIBI?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: My first strongest musical influence was definitely Notorious B.I.G. I saw all the success he was having & how much the black community loved his music. I was one of them myself. I loved his rugged, street, lyrical style & is what actually made me first want to start writing. After that I came up listening to the likes of Camron, Juelz Santana & the diplomats, Lil Wayne, Jay-z, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Lloyd Banks, The Game. These type of artists definitely played a big part in me finding my own style & are a big influence for me personally.

As for my artist name, it’s pronounced: (yung-world-eye-be-eye). Lol a lot of people seem to pronounce it wrong, but it’s understandable. Originally I wanted to use just “Youngworld” but I couldn’t use that for legal purposes. That’s where the “ibi” came in. It stands for “Intellectual Black Ink”. The words are kind of self explanatory for anyone wondering what it means. I liked the name & stuck with it.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: One of the most common things I have heard from those that listen to my music is that I talk real s**t & I got bars. That’s something I actually take pride in. I stay true to myself as an artist speaking of things from life experiences & things that have gone on around me. Im from the street life so of course I want that to show in my music. I had a hard life at a young age going to prison & you can hear it in my music. Music has always been my way of expressing it along with many other things.
I would personally describe my sound as, original, real, raw, street/hood relatable, aggressive, motivational, uplifting & heavy on lyricism with punchlines & metaphors.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as HIPHOP?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: Great question. For me it started with the learning phase by listening to other great artists & their styles in rap. Of course as a fan you’d like to emulate your favorite artists, but I always knew i didn’t want to sound just like them. Very early I came to the realization that every great artist in any genre of music had their own unique style & sound. That’s what made them as great as they was. That’s also what I wanted to do, find my own unique style & sound. Lol my very first rap I wrote was very average, maybe even below average… but as I continued to work on my craft I kept getting better. It wasn’t until I went to prison where I found my true sound & style though. I was very angry & frustrated & it translated into my music & everything I wrote. I used that to hone in on my style & continued incorporating punchlines & metaphors into my raps. That’s when I mastered my style & found my sound with the very first song “Once At The Top” that I ever recorded in the studio.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative,and entertainment?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: Yes, I do believe music plays a big part in cultural, spiritual, & social vehicles. I would like to say that I try to affront some of these themes with some of my lyrics. As for the politics of music an example of that would be how I personally believe now days it seems popularity is more important than actual talent. At the same time, of course I also believe in using music as an expression of technical artistry & personal narrative through story telling and overall lyrics.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: I would have to say that yes the whole creative process, recording music & hearing the finished product gives me back as much fulfillment as the amount of work I put in. For any unsigned or independent artist of course it can get very frustrating when your career isn’t propelling as far or fast as you want. Many different factors plays a part in that but all you can do is give your best and continue to push your music as much as you can. Continue to network.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: My creative process is kinda hard for me to explain, but it starts with the beat. Whatever beat I use usually dictates the lyrics of my song. A majority of the times I don’t really have to write verses to a song because I’ve written so many verses while incarcerated, so most of the time I just have to write a hook for the song & of course tweak some bars in my lyrics to flow with the beat I’m using.

Once in a while there are times where I’ll write a whole song from scratch, depending on the type of beat. For me though I always start off with the beat. I do all the creating at home, including, writing, arranging, taking a beat & breaking down the sections in my head & once that’s all done then I go to the studio, tell my engineer exactly how to break down the beat then the recording is done. I’ve worked with the same engineer for a majority of my songs so it’s a lot more fluid in the studio than if I were to work with someone I’ve never worked with before. I had other individuals in the studio with me before but haven’t actually collaborated with other artists yet but that’s definitely something I’d like to do in the future.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: I would have to say the most difficult thing I had to endure in my personal life would be the time I had to spend in prison. For me it was a lot of time also waisted and time away from family & loved ones. Musically, If it wasn’t for that I would have pursued a career in music much sooner. Sometimes though you just have to deal with the hand you was dealt. I just never gave up.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: Some proud moments for me personally would be the love that I have received from complete strangers, family, & friends that liked my music. Theres nothing like genuine love. Lol n of course there will always be haters out there as well, but from my experience I’ve learned that progress isn’t made until the haters come along. That’s when you know you’re actually making some progress. I’m also proud of all the blogs, publications & radio interviews I’ve done in the past. For me personally those were some good times. Another thing I’m also proud of is that on Spotify I’ve accumulated well over 2,000,000+ streams since I first started releasing music. Overall I’m just appreciative of the journey & love I’ve received from everyone.

11. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: When it comes to social media & the naysayers I pay them absolutely no mind. Lol what they may say is of no relevance to what I’m trying to do. It may sound a little crazy but i actually welcome the hate because it lets me know I’m doing something right. As for criticism, if it’s accurate & or coming from a genuine place I can respect that. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I do what I do ,and continue to do so, for those that like my music. It has always been that way for me. Im not going to waist time or energy on those that don’t.

12. Creative work in a studio or homeenvironment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: I would have to say the creative work in a studio is what excites me the most just because everything in the whole recording process from breaking down beats, hitting the booth laying down vocals, to all the mixing, then finally hearing the finished track for the first time… there’s nothing like it. I enjoy it.

13. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

YOUNGWORLDIBI: I would have to say both. I do believe it is important for fans to somewhat understand the real story & message driving my songs more so as a collective. However I also do feel that everyone should be free to interpret my songs in their own personal way, just as all of us do with great music.