SPARKIN Up? Week #3 - Young Malone

I've always admired when a hip hop artist can give you a song that tells a story. That coincides with my opinion that the best albums tends to be long & have interconnected stories or they carry an overall message. You can throw a couple catchy radio type tracks in there but when I sit down to listen to an album I want to a hear a majority of realness a.k.a. Real life. Music in a way is a reflection of ourselves - so when an artist tells a raw, in your face story like Sparkhop Emcee Of The Week Young Malone does in a good deal of his songs, it's easy to absorb the music.

Young Malone a young Detroit emcee who debuted his lyrical abilities to world with “Stockton & Malone- The First Scrimmage” in June 2010 – a project entirely produced by Stockton a.k.a. SKYWLKR. I remember the first time listening to this to this day it still has replay value. A mash up of storytelling, party tracks, & a glimpse into his life along with only SKYWLKR & emcee Matt Schwartz to lend verses by track ten you have a pretty good idea of who Young Malone.

That was just the beginning. Striking back heavily in 2012 after a double year hiatus Young Malone dropping his self titled solo tape in March. With a darker more series overall tone & the only re-imagined version of Eminem's “Stan” I've enjoyed outside the original. Battling between two personas Young Marvin & Young Malone in that closing remake draws a line between two versions of the emcee's life & the struggle behind the music he creates.

I had the oppurtunity to shoot a few questions Young Malone's way so for this week I bring back the mini-interview:

Sparkhop: You've been working hard these last few months on these new projects how's it feel to get those tracks out & start giving listeners the setup until you drop?

Young Malone: It's been a crazy past few months coming up with all this new material , I'm eager to get feed back from listeners on how they take to my style and their fav songs and shit like that.

Sparkhop: "Hood Meets Burbs" what's your favorite moment on the album so far?

Young Malone: Old Bitches New Hoes lol thats the latest song me
and my lil brother dropped (Kolorful) , its a crazy album and i know people will definitely vibe to this classic album.

Sparkhop: After your project with Kolorful - what's next?

Young Malone: My second mixtape Truthfully Speaking 2 (Confessions of a Sinner)

Sparkhop: In the last year or so hip hop has really started to feel "refreshed" I would say - with the coming of the internet more rapidly evolving the way humans share music - a wide variety of talented emcees are getting a chance to be heard on a large scale level without being on a major label. How big of role do you feel the internet plays in artists career these days?

Young Malone: A major role , it gives artist the stage to show off their talent and get a little fame before the majors comin into play . You can pretty much make your self hot from the couch . and it shows if a artist is really on their shit or not , you can go on my page and see pictures of me performing and get new tracks every week Mel Moore on Facebook , @young malone on Twitter.

Sparkhop: What do you have planned for the rest of the summer & where can people catch you performing coming up?

Young Malone: I just plan on grinding this summer , I'm making three mixtapes this summer and a follow up album from Stockton and Malone The First Scrimmage , Young Malone playoff time M.V.P and as far as performances , The Ritz , Blondies, The Emerald theater , the Crofoot ....where ever they fuck with me at I fuck with them back!

You can also catch Young Malone performing live at this years Sparkfest 2012 as well alongside 40+ over diverse & talented emcee's & band throughout Michigan. Tickets available here. 

Young Malone's latest project with Kolorful "Hood Meets Burbs" can be previewed below! We will keep you posted here @sparkhop of when it drops!

Remember you can help nominate an upcoming Sparkhop Emcee Of The Week - just email sparkinup@sparkhop.com with the subject "Sparkin Up? Nomination" & provide some infomation & music about the artist your nomintating.

I've also included this short but dope little freestyle featuring Sambo on the acoustic & Young Malone freestyling at 2 in the morning. Until next week thanks for tuning into Sparkhop's Emcee of The Week!