Young Wonder 'No Time Like Showtime [interview]' album

Beginning 2009 rapper Young Wonder will release his new album "No Time Like Showtime". Akon, Trey Songz, Ne-Yo, etc... are a couple of artists Young Wonder has already worked with. MusicRemedy had the opportunity to talk with the talented Young Wonder about his album (and his collabo's), goals in life, East Coast greats, etc...

Jermy Leeuwis (MusicRemedy) asks a question [Q 1]: For people who may not have heard some music from you yet... what can someone who's never heard of you expect from your music? Please explain the name 'Young Wonder'.

Young Wonder answers [A 1]: Hey what's up Music Remedy Worlddd . . .The name "Young Wonder" was given to me a few years back by my biggest musical inspiration my brother "Nevada". Its Just Young, Fresh, Swagger, Hip-Hop all in one and you end up with me. . ."Young Wonder" and also my grandmother used to call me "Wonder" because I always questioned everything. And if you never heard of me you can just expect my music to be real and authentic unlike anything else that's out and know that it you'd be able to relate to it because I'm from the same struggle as mostly everyone else.

[Q 2]: Your upcoming album is your first major album release. Tell us about it.

[A 2]: The upcoming album "No Time Like Show Time" is just gonna be a compilation of everything I been through in life, its gonna also gonna show off my ability to make solo songs a lot of people know me from the collaboration scene but I just do that so I don't have to throw my own songs out there, just using them as warm up records. But my own album will be in ya hands early 2009 I'm just working out a situation that's gonna put me where I need to be and give me the proper push to make me successful.

[Q 3]: Which song on the album took the longest to complete? Why?

[A 3]: Well the album is complete yet I'm about 10 records into it but thus far the song that has take me to complete is a record called "Never look back again" featuring the big homie Akon. Its just one of those real records addressing a lot of issues and hoping to someday never look back into living in the "hood" or having any of my family and friends there either. It addresses the current state of the economy and my perception on the issues affecting my people today.

[Q 4]: In what way has your personal live affected your music? And what about the other way around?

[A 4]: My personal life has affected my music in a few ways because my music has the ups and downs of life, I got club bangers about my personal experiences in the club have fun and living life, Then I have serious records like "Dream" ft. Ne-yo that you guys have featured on this site that are just about the struggles of life and having to see my closest friends have to get money by any means to support themselves and there families. But then again I can make songs that are about things my friends go through as well that I might have personally never experienced but feel as if I know first hand so its a catch 22 as to what I actually experience and dont.

[Q 5]: In what way is it important for an upcoming artist to record collabo's with major artists?

[A 5]: Collaborations are everrrrrry thing nowadays because they open you up to other artists fanbase. A fan may not know who you are but if your on a song with there favorite artist it catches they eye and gets them to listen to your record and if they like what they hear then they become a fan of yours as well. But "Collaborations 101" lol for all you new cats that might try to hook up with artists is that you have to be on they level or atleast close so it can mesh you can't have a great well known singer and a mediocre rapper because no one will listen to your song more then once. But as far as I go look forward to a lot more collabs from me including "Girlfriend" Featuring Lloyd And "Hard To Leave" W/ Chris Brown which mark my word is a smash.

[Q 6]: Not many rappers say they have been influenced by (DITC member) Big L. What have you learned from these East-Coast rappers? In what way have these rappers (Jay-Z, Big L) influenced you?

[A 6]: All those greats have inspired me in so many ways because as growing up listening to the Big L's and Jay-z's and so many more East Coast greats its made me want to work hard to someday be look at in the same light as them. Like for instance a great like Jay-z came from nothing and is for arguments sake the best to ever do it, he's done everything there is to do in music over the past few years and is still doing it so he's definitely a big influence on me and what I'm doing over here with my movement.

[Q 7]: What short- and long-term goals have you set out?

[A 7]: My short term goals are just to keep putting out that feel good music and staying true myself also getting my video done for my single "Up and Down" ft. Akon. My long term goals I would say would have to be to put out more artist under my imprint and to branch of into other ventures such as fashion and film making.

[Q 8]: Tell us about your signed "Shock Da World"-acts...

[A 8]: As for now "Shock Da World" Entertainment consists of me, My brother "Nevada" who is Lyrically a problem and has always been one of the biggest influences on me musically And I'm also working on breaking a female R&b artist named "Chanel" but other then that we've been keeping it to a minimum right now but definitely keeping a positive outlook and hoping to get a few more acts down in the future.

[Q 9]: Any instruments you would like to learn to play on?

[A 9]: Instrument wise I'd have to say I'd like to learn how the piano I'd say if anything and also drums just incase I wanna get into making beats and stuff because sometimes I have ideas for tracks but don't know how to arrange them myself so piano and drums I must say.

[Q 10]: What are your Christmas plans? Any Christmas wishes?

[A 10]: My plans for Christmas I must say I plan to catch up with my family, laying low and getting ready for 2009. And as far as wishes lol nah I don't have too many wishes I'm content with what I have and whatever I don't currently have I'll obtain it by working hard.

[Q 11]: Do you think success and credibility are mutually exclusive?

[A 11]: I believe success and credibility sometimes get mixed up and people are more focused on being successful that they aren't true to themselves anymore and start doing things that they normally wouldn't do just to please a certain genre or group of people but then they aren't being true to themselves so it just negates the success because at the end of day. . . you've got to where you wanted to be but sacrificed your integrity to get there.

[Q 12]: What artists are you listening to at the moment?

[A 12]: At the moment I currently listen to a variety of music rap, r&b, and pop but artist wise I'd have to say Lil Wayne, Fabolous, Young
Jeezy, T Pain, Kanye West And also new west coast artist Ya Boy. And
last but not least. . . . .Akon.

[Q 13]: Are you living the American dream? Is it anything you hoped for?

[A 13]: I'd have to say I'm living the American dream well atleast to me I am, I am doing my thing musically and reaching out to more and more people everyday and I also am staying true to myself while doing it and I am making money while doing it all so at the end of the day my future is bright and I'm content with the way the cookies have crumbled thus far.

[Q 14]: How does the weak US economy affect your daily life? How many houses are for your sale in your street?

[A 14]: The economy does affect my daily life I'd say in many ways because it makes stores increase prices due to the lack of consumers they have making it harder on the buyer so the prices of things you need like food go up, also it doesn't help to see people I know struggling to support provide for there families. But as far as houses for sale on my street I'd have to say all of the houses are for sale no one wants to own a home anymore because of having to struggle with the bills and not making enough money to up keep it every month.

[Q 15]: Recently, what is a typical day like for you?

[A 15]: A typical day for me I'd have to say would consist of me waking up checking emails to get the agenda for the day then I'll spend sometime online on sites like this and other sites just to see what's new and relevant and also get a feel for what fans want to hear and interact with them, Then I'll go over some songs I'm preparing to record and make sure I like how they sound and everything is right with them, then I'll head off to the studio with my engineer and just stay in the studio working on music lots of music, then after that there's not much time for anything else but I tend to hit up the clubs when I can but for now music is my main focus.

[Q 16]: Final words?

[A 16]: Finally I'd just like to shout out you Jermy and all the folks at MusicRemedy.com and to everyone that's reading this interview thanks. And just a few quick shouts to my friends and family . . .Nevada, Akeem, Unique Zayas, Skiggy, Dj K, Ukno The Don, Chris Reg, Wreckhouse Records, J Lack, Tanisha, Janelle Rosario, Chanel And Everyone Else That Support Me From Day One. Lastly The Good Folks At Konvict Muzik . . . Bu, Akon, Robbie Nova, Ray L, Dolla, Red Cafe, Kardinal, Colby O' Is The Future and anyone I forgot put your name ________ there. Check the Myspace page at www.myspace.com/maseratimaine.

Jermy Leeuwis: I would like to thank Young Wonder for this interview. Respect!

Young Wonder biography
Straight out of the city where hip-hop first reared its evolution comes a young, witty MC they call "Young Wonder". Born and bred in the streets of the Bronx, Young Wonder would come to discover his love of lyricism, later building a swagger and drive that would then lead him to collaborations with major hip-hop artists. With a flow equipped with enough dexterity and metaphors to gain a following in places as far off as the United Kingdom, Young Wonder plans to further his conquest by throwing salt in the game with his label "Shock Da World Entertainment."

The label is also home to up-and-coming rap act Nevada iand the in-house producer, "Dj K" who has credentials build off the strength of artists such as Mike Jones, Lil Flip, Trillville, and Anthony Hamilton. In a time where the industry is littered with commercialism and half-act MCs, in conjunction with lacking his influences Jay-Z, Big L., and Biggie, a question that most commonly surfaces is "Why rap?" Wonder's reply is simply, "Why not?" While Young Wonder's character may embody a hint of ease, what distinguishes this rapper from the million other up-and-comers is "My determination and ability to achieve any goal I set out to."

These goals may not be very far-fetched, given the fact that Young Wonder has already compiled a playlist consisting of collabos with artists such as Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Akon, Sean Kingston, and Remy Ma, to name a few. Alongside upcoming projects with Chris Brown, Lloyd, Pleasure P (and others), Young Wonder plans to "Shock Da World" with his forthcoming mixtape with Superstar Akon Called "Between Two Worlds" And His forthcoming Album "No Time Like Showtime" which is slated to hit the scene February 2009.

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Young Wonder - No Time Like Showtime [interview]

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