Y.A. (Young & Ambitious)

Youth.  Young.  Youngin. It is said that in the formative years of adolescence, a boy takes steps towards walking into the shoes of the man he wants to be for the rest of his life. Enter YA (Young and Ambitious), the 16-year-old, clean-cut, rap wonderkid who has spent his life growing up split amongst the hustle & bustle of Brooklyn,NY and the country, southern drawl of Suffolk, VA ."New York never sleeps, whereas Suffolk is the city of the sleep," says YA . Spending time with his mother would teach him southern hospitality; however his father would teach him the ins & outs of life. Traveling amongst the cities allowed YA to see life in  a different spectrum, which would later directly shape his style. The Youngin embraced his love for music in his 9th grade year at age 13, when he first picked up a pen to craft his first song. "Looking back at the first rhyme, it showed me that hip hop was a forever love," YA says.  According to YA, life at that very moment in time was tumultuous. "I started to listen to music differently," he says. "Artists felt different, even my culture was different." After absorbing his influences (Nas, Cam'ron, Big Pun) and surroundings, YA focused his efforts towards his first mixtape, "Street Politics" which would eventually lead to a by-chance encounter with his now-manager LaRon Bishop. "I remember being the youngest in the showcase performing; people were dapping me up telling me how good I was. LaRon had pulled me to the side and let me know I should get more serious about my craft". The combo has since worked relentlessly to hone in on YA's signature style, resulting in a sound that is on the cutting edge of today meshed with the influence and passion of yesteryear.  YA, the new kid with an old soul, aims to prove why he is THAT Youngin.