It’s been about a year or two since I’ve tapped in with New Brunswick, NJ native & Harlem rapper Young Bail.
Over the years I’ve seen him be very consistent with his craft. Which isn’t always easy to do in any creative industry.
Through the writing process, shooting videos, performances, promoting on different platforms - you’ve stayed right on target.
Since I like to take it deeper than the craft, let’s get into the mindset of Young Bail.
Over the last 3 years what would you say were the hardest challenges you’ve had to face as a creator?
That’s whether it be in the creation process itself, or on the personal side keeping up morale.
Staying committed mentally would be my answer.
This journey has been very long, on the course you will go through peaks and valleys.
So maintaining your emotions is one of those challenges, maybe not the hardest - but definitely a big one for me.
They say you have to fill your own cup before pouring into others, or your projects.
What do you do to keep a level head through it all? How do you fill your cup?
Prayer, staying focused on my goals and not getting side tracked, and just remembering to pace myself and work at the beat of my own drum.
I fill my own cup by the continuous effort I put into my craft, and giving myself a healthy balance between music, my creative life, and my personal life.
Where have you turned to for inspiration to stay authentic and motivated?
Knowing how far I’ve came in my journey since I first started back in 2012, all this work being put in won’t be for nothing.
But also keeping my faith in God, that’s the most important motivation.
How important is it to you, or you think it should be to others, to have a well rounded creative life?
Outside of music you’ve recently started acting.
Do you think these will stay separate in your life, or do you think there will be someway that you will incorporate elements of what you’ve learned in both?
Of course definitely incorporating both elements in my life if anything. I’m doing that currently, it’s just all about maintaining a healthy balance.
Too much of anything is No Good.
And yes, I was on the CBS Network show FBI Most Wanted. I played a college kid in episode 6 of season 5. I had a great time and can’t wait to do it again.
With the summer halfway over will you have any appearances coming up?
Looking forward to more, I had some great acting auditions recently. I can’t speak on the projects in full but hey - who knows.
There have been many music artists who have transitioned into acting.
Do they both give you similar feelings or do you pursue them for different reasons?
Yes they definitely give me that same feeling of creative expression.
On the music tip it’s more vocally vs the acting side it’s more physical - you can literally see it. But I enjoy it all the same. Both give me the same feeling when it comes to creativity.
What is your definition of success? Has that changed over the years? If it has changed what was the reason.
Well we all know success is relative right - so my definition PERSONALLY Would be just being able to do what you love without it feeling like work.
No matter what that job or career path is, when you doing what you love it never truly feels like work even if it is!
Given your experience now as a freelance artist, would you change your journey in any way?
No, because my path was already written for me. So much I’ve learned from this journey, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. It’s uniquely my own.
Is gaining the attention of large record labels something you are aiming for right now, or continuing your own marketing?
The main objective currently is to continue to establish a well rounded core fan base. That’s no matter if I’m signed to a major record company or remain independent.
If you were signed to a label, and they pressured you in any shape or fashion to alter your style. How would you handle that?
Well I wouldn’t want to do business with a company who would try to make me change my style, in anyway. Creative control is something big for me. I had a similar experience with a label, won’t say no names, but I backed out of a deal due to that same reason.
Do you feel you have a strong core base at the moment or is that something you are still branding and developing?
As an independent I think this is where some artists lack attention. Do you feel similarly?
To answer your first question I would say we’re still building that fan base currently. It’s a process like many great things. It’s all apart of the journey - which I enjoy meeting new people who take a liking to my music.
To answer your second question, I would say yes. Sometime’s artists have a tendency to want to rush into mainstream success, even when they’re not ready for such challenges that come with the spotlight being on you consistently.
How important is learning the business side of the industry to you? What have you learned as an independent?
It’s very important, extremely. It’s a grueling process, but it’s good to know. Especially as an independent act there’s many ways to make a living in music if you know the business properly.
The things I’ve learned would be to always stay on top of your business. That’s in the likes of royalties split sheets from producers or featured artists, registering your own music, understanding what a Pro is and how that helps you in the long run, and so much more.
What do you have coming up for our readers to look forward to?
My new project “Forever Yours” is coming soon.
So far I dropped two singles “Cash” &
“Is It More” respectively with the new single “Sinful” on the way.
I took time away from music to mourn the loss of my cousin Gregory Bond, known as Gstacks. He was a rapper/producer in my company All Work No Sleep Entertainment.
Can you give me some insight on the new single “Sinful” : what was the inspiration behind it?
The inspiration that came for the song “Sinful”has to be just understanding the nature of how betrayal from a former friend or loved one can make you feel.
For more insight and to stay tuned with Young Bail, be sure to follow him on Instagram @YoungBail28.
Written by
Jewelz Lopez @_jewelz.alize
Founder of @PowerSquadCampaign
Freelance Model / Producer
B.A Public Health & Psychology
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