William B Hilton Jr, also known as Young Beast, was born on November 6, 1989 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. His mother, Rosalyn Johnson, raised him alongside his 4 brothers and sisters as a single parent in the notorious neighborhood of Over Town. Young Beast produced his first independent mix tape when he was sixteen years old. At the age of seventeen, Young Beast was so driven by his love of music that he struggled to stay focused on his high school curriculum. After graduating from Miami North Western Senior High School in 2008, Young Beast began pursuing his music career full time. Musically inspired by Tupac ,Pimp C, Lil Wayne and Eminem, Young Beast worked on developing a basic understanding of rhyming and wordplay, as well as how to interpolate storytelling within his lyrics. It’s worth noting that Young Beast doesn’t hold anything back. After listening to one of his witty rhymes and unfiltered lyrics, it is nearly impossible to imagine him ever biting his tongue. Since a child, Young Beast has always let his voice be heard. By the age of twenty Young Beast had various notebooks filled with lyrics. Seeing the growth and development of Young Beast’s craft, his mother purchased studio gear to help further his career as a musician. Over the next few years, Young Beast began posting songs on various internet forums, as an American rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, record producer, and record executive. Collectively, over the course of his career, Young Beast has written & produced works for various artists, which stemmed from loving music and writing poetry at the age of fourteen. His profound knowledge, passion for music, and dedication is merely a reflection of the success he has experienced in the music industry, thus far. As an artist, Young Beast truly is “self-explanatory”, in a sense that he allows the music to speak for itself. Young Beast maintains a diverse fan base through songs that are more eccentric than the music industry standard. Young Beast is a lyricist who pours his heart and soul into everything he is apart of, most of which extends beyond music. Based on his innate musical capabilities and entrepreneurial skills, Young Beast hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface of his talents. When asked about his previous accomplishments and future endeavors, Young Beast, eloquently replied, “where there’s patience, there’s persistence, perspiration, and then GREATNESS”.
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1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do music for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?
Honestly I believe that music is life and being able to create allows for me to give/do just that. You can call it fate, love or influencing. In my opinion no matter what hand is dealt, the outcome would always lead to music. So many have influenced the man I am today. My superhero of a mother, amazing wife, family and friends. They all have influenced or inspired me in numerous ways.
2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established artist, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then music-wise, what separates you from other musicians?
I let others compare and contrast who I may sound or look like. Most artists don’t mind comparing themselves, especially to a legend or someone that also may be great at what they’re doing. I compare myself to the reflection of myself, so why compare myself with anything other than myself. If there is anything in particular to separate me from other musicians, it would lie between me competing with myself.
3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the kind of songs you write? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming a musician?
Everything in life influences all of my music, whether its from my point of reference or personally. Letting the poetic moment of energy move through me is how I create. Whatever I feel and think, I say. Shying away from calling it songwriting has been a thing for me, I can record songs in one or however many days it takes me. Once I lose that excitement or creative flow, I will stop and continue at another time. Half of a verse can be done with no hook or concept, I will not force it. Writing to me sometimes is what gives others what we all call writer’s block. I can rap a million things a billions ways without a sense of contradiction or discouraging myself. See being prepared is what most of us are taught to do, in order for you to precisely complete anything with precision. A blueprint and planning is necessary, if it doesn’t sound how you wrote it and envisioned it, that can cause some issues for a lot of artist. To me having a song already written down. Flow, cadence, ad-lib or whatever it is can test your patience and mostly the ego. Who doesn’t want their plans to go as planned, I use to be that person. Life can throw a load of issues your way, but overall for me the most difficult thing as an artist would be learning to create without most boundaries of the mind.
4.) How do you prepare yourself to write certain songs? What is your song-writing and recording process?
Like I said, there’s energy to it. You can not manufacture ones inspiration. You build on failure. Act off emotions, most artist write before hearing any music. Some start writing once they hear the music, both come from emotion so if I had an actual process for me. It would be I listen to instrumentals, and the poetic moment of energy moving through me will tell me what to talk about.
5.) Unfortunately the music industry is full of talented individuals who just don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or hard work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed? Would you rather be on a major label or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? In regards to the music industry itself, do you think that the traditional music industry model as we know it is dead?
I plan to continue to grow as a person, displaying and sharing my arts with the world. Music comes easy to me, like I said “It’s More Than Just Music.” We are now in an era of Independence, signing anything with a major label would never happen unless I’m partnering on a business venture. Giving someone too much sometimes can be a bad thing for both parties, so I prefer to control what I do and give what is earned. Far as the traditional music industry, I wouldn’t call it traditional. Artist are now learning more about the business than ever before, some are now learning about 360 deals. Signing bad deals, chasing money and just not knowing any better is not traditional. I am grateful for those mistakes from others before me. You build on failure that is how change starts, do what you want. Independent, signing with a major label should be a choice and just that. Anything of you not knowing in this day of age, with all we have access to should just be your ignorance of not knowing. Of course you have the layers of visibility that major labels can give you, if you’re not heard or seen everywhere you are not hot or successful. Which is not reality, some prefer being independent. Others want a major label behind them, it’s preference. Tradition is having Christmas in the mountains every year with family, maybe one year you want to be in warm weather, you always have a choice with options. Family being mad that you’re breaking tradition is one thing, signing to a major label or going independent off tradition can hit a little different. Missed opportunity from a great label that had your best interest at heart, going independent because you believe all labels are bad. Happiness is what you believe it is, not what they think it is for them. Do what you want because you want to do it, then live with what comes after.
6.) Are you able to make a living with your music? If so, how were you able to attain a career doing what you love? If not, what do you do in order to fund your music career? What advice would give to someone who’s interested in pursuing a career in music?
I will always be able to make a living from anything I do, that is how I was raised and where I come from. Invest in what you’re doing, paying for promotion that will bring you revenue. Collaborating with a particular artist or business to help your brand, which at some point leads to being compensated. I love music, but this is also a 9 to 5 job like anyone working to pay a bill or fund a dream. Money will always come, they print it everyday. Spend what you make/have wisely, that keeps you grateful. Work to be as patience as you can be, in that time push to be the best you at what you do. With being good and having patience makes it easier to build connections and relationships. Those contacts and bonds will be the foundation to building your career.
7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the music industry and how musicians are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s music industry if they’re not social media savvy?
Social media to me is the machine for artist, it make things easy from a promotional side. Of course you have to put in work like with anything, its just easier access to the consumer. While controlling your likeness and brand. Learning marketing, new ways to actually be business savvy but mostly creative. As for if an artist would be able to survive in today’s music industry, having to actually be/travel to that particular city or state to display your works without the internet. Lets just say it would be a lot less artist around.
8.) Artists who try to make music for the general public and make more money are usually seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure your music stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?
Sell what you choose and do what you choose to do. If you’re willing to do something I wouldn’t do for money, who am I to judge. Women sell their body, telling the world how much you hate that and would never. Complaining in a store about the prices and how you would never, it’s funny how somebody else would come right behind you. Pay the woman and buy what you thought was overpriced. Understanding what you wouldn’t do is for you, we all grew up saying man that’s nasty, or who the hell would do that. You get older and learn everything is preference and perspective. I have a wife, but I don’t judge someone with multiple wives. Being stuck in a way that’s not the only way will only be your way!
9.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I see me continuing to grow as a person and artist. Still creating amazing music while inspiring everyone I can.
