Young Fabes (San Francisco, CA) – Q&A Interview
Tell us a little about yourself. Where you are from? How long have you been making Hip Hop?
I was born and raised in the Bay Area. Lived half my life in Newark, and the other half in Fremont, but my parents are also immigrants, so we’d go to France to visit family ever couple years…Now I reside in Frisco.
Back in high school, me and my homie Nate would freestyle at lunch or in between class and I’ll admit he was better than me…at the time haha It wasn’t till I was at Saint Mary’s that I started taking it seriously and wanting to pursue my dreams, so I’d say about 2 years now I’ve been writing and recording
What influences you in making Hip Hop?
Life, memories, new experiences, and family. Literally everything influences me in making hip hop. It started with me just making little minute freestyles over instrumentals and then evolved into what it is. Art/Writing/MCing is an outlet for me, whether I’m stressed out on some bull shit or feeling hella hyped, I use hip-hop to express myself. There’s this feeling I get (other artists I’m sure can attest to this) when I finish a track that’s so indescribably amazing/addicting that keeps me coming back, really just for the love. I grew up with such a variety of music. I was listening to a lot of european and middle eastern music when I was young because of my parents. It was my older brother that introduced me to hip-hop. I was listening to Tupac, Biggie, Wu Tang, Bone Thugz, Leaders of the New School when I was like 6 or 7. Old-school hip hop has been a HUGE influence on me and I think that’s pretty apparent in my sound.
Describe your music, and what separates you from other MCs?
A lot of people describe it as smooth. Real smooth. I keep my content pretty down to Earth, and rap about what’s real to me, which a lot of people can relate too. I’m at that awkward age where I’m still not really respected as an adult in society, but definitely not considered a “kid” anymore, and trying to find where you fit in amongst all the chaos.
I really pride myself in transitions between rhymes. I think Dumbfoundead said it best in one of his tracks “I like my verses complex/but really I’m a simple man.” I try to bring an equal balance of simplicity in my flow and complexity in my rhyme scheme, if that makes sense aha. I guess what distinguishes me from other MCs is that I bring that Bay Area/Cali vibe and blend it with my multicultural upbringing. I try to emulate the golden age of hip hop with a new school sound, and incorporate my heritage into my lyrics by switching languages mid-verse, I think it throws people off but grabs their attention.
Who have you collaborated with? Who would you like to collab with in the near future?
When I first started recording I was doing it with my homie Lovejoy, and we collaborated on a few tracks as Diamond Minds.
But most of my collaborations have been on this mixtape “Public Transit.” My homie Spittin Image was a lot of fun to collaborate with on “My Pleasure,” and the general Calico aka Skaddy aka Skadungeh on “Slow Ride.” Funny story, Calico actually randomly hit me while I was at the studio recording the track, and I still needed a hook for it, so he rolled through and laid down the chorus. Always super crazy vibes when he rolls through, definitely brings them UP! And of course Rikio Ito, that’s my big brother right there, he’s a MASSIVE part as to why I’m still doing what I’m doing, so I definitely always get up on one of his tracks.
Man I have a FAT list of people I’d love to work with, but I guess there’s two main people who stand out. The first being Keznamdi. One of my really good friends, a fellow Higher Intelligence artist, and an AMAZING reggae artist. The second being Dizzy Wright, man he’s just so ill and his sound is on point. That ish would be super wavy.
Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
Can only be found in the underground. To me I guess it’s shedding light on topics that aren’t in the spotlight, and being different from the norm or what’s “accepted.” Finding your own path, own sound.
Production wise, who are your influences? Who does your production? And who would you like to work with?
J. Dilla is definitely one of my favorite producers. Kev Brown, MF Doom, Statik Slektah, of course Rikio Ito, 6ix, and C-Sick…just to name a few aha. Currently I find instrumentals or collaborate with producers I know personally like my homie (i.e) from Baysic Ent or my bro Rikio. Spttin Image at Bootleg Studios also helps with the engineering. Ah man I think top of the list would be 6ix. That 24 freestyle he produced with the cats from Visionary was DOPE! Definitely a big fan of his sound
Any current or future projects you are promoting?
Right now were promoting the release of my sophomore mixtape “Public Transit.” It’s up on Hot New Hip Hop and on my Soundcloud (see below). I think personally this is some of the best ish I’ve made and am really proud of it so definitely check it out! We got a show in the works that will probably happen at the end of March in San Francisco and I’m currently working on the next project…Can’t say too much about it, but you can expect to see some rare features
Can you give us a brief description of the creative process of PUBLIC TRANSIT? Also/ what was the idea or concept description about your Album Art Cover.
So I started working out in the city at this REALLY shitty office job, I’m talking like “Office Space” shitty. Annoying boss, weird people(some of them were dope though), the works. I was taking BART out to San Francisco from Fremont, which is about an hour to an hour and a half depending on how crowded it got. Most people read or play on their phones during this time, but I wrote raps. I remember after one particular shitty afternoon, I wrote Foggy Day. I was also taking BART out to my homie Rikio’s spot to record, so I was constantly on Public Transit, where most of this mixtape was created.
The concept for the cover art is just me waiting for MUNI, like I do everyday. I wanted it to be real, real to me as well as illustrate how the mixtape came about. Catch me on the N going to work or the J going to the studio, so holla if ya see me.
Where can we find your music and info?
Everywhere! We got a website in the works that will hold all the content, but for now check me out on:
Instagram/Twitter: @youngfabes // https://twitter.com/youngfabes
Public Transit Mixtape available at:
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/young-fabes-public-transit-mixtape.108912.html
Any shout outs?
Shouts to the Higher Intelligence team and my family Nate aka Adelante El Segundo aka Sleazy Adeleazy and R Taylor, Temesgen T, and Keznamdi. Shouts to the homies over at Baysic Ent (i.e) and Spttin Image. Finally big ups and respect to my big bro Rikio
Peace. Love. And Hip Hop.
