Meet YGG Tay, The Rapper Bringing Joy To Baltimore Street Music

To say that, right now, Baltimore is producing an unprecedented number of musical artists feels a bit irresponsible without having done the proper research but over the past two years, the city has seen a significant jump in the number of artists finally being comfortable enough to share their work with the rest of the world. This is especially true with the amount of street music being pumped out. At the turn of the decade, G-Rock and Smash (both now deceased, sadly) were undoubtedly the biggest voices for the streets of Baltimore but technology hadn't reached a point to where their music could travel with the necessary speed to spark a phenomenon. That changed with Instagram and Twitter's increased role in youth culture over the past three years. In 2014, Young Moose and Lor Scoota took the city by storm, as their singles "Dumb Dumb" and "Bird Flu" resonated with the city just as strongly as Rod Lee's "Dance My Pain Away" did in the mid 2000's and Tim Trees' Rod Lee-produced "Bank Rolls" did in the early 2000's. Their success has surely made an impression on the city's youth, showing that if they show their art to the world, recognition, money and a way out of the struggle could soon follow.

At the tail end of 2014's local street music craze came YGG Tay, whose music, like most street rap, covers his experiences in a harsh environment but what sets him apart is his celebration of the benefits that come with that lifestyle. From his first track "Why You So Mad?" to recent cuts like "Ain't No Way," it's hard to imagine Tay not laughing or smiling while recording, enjoying all the money, women and clothes that he can handle. His demeanor is almost Mase-like in that his charm is infectious and before you know it, you're screaming lyrics to his songs with his same level of joy, even though you probably can't splurge the way he died in his music. With at least 10,000 downloads on each of the tapes he's released over the past year, a co-sign from Future and deals on the table, it's gonna be interesting to see where his young career goes. I recently caught up with the 21-year-old to discuss his career goals, what he's learned from Future and how he wants to affect his listeners. 

When did you get your start in music?

YGG Tay: Jeezy. Nothing but Young Jeezy. I feel like I know that nigga life. He talks nothing but my life. I listened to a lot of Gotti, Future, and Boosie too.

Most of your music embraces having fun and living this grand lifestyle. When you started out, did you have a goal for what you were trying to portray? Like, do you wanna just speak on your life or are you trying to inspire others to go after what they want?

I can’t say it was a goal because I never planned on being a rapper. I didn’t grow up wanting to rap; I just started this like a year ago. Basically, I just talk my shit and talk about my lifestyle.

When was the moment you decided you wanted to actually pursue a rap career?

One day I was with my homeboy playing around, making songs and then I made a video for the “Why You So Mad?” joint. That shit blew up and I was just playing. I just wanted to do anything. After that, my homeboy came to me and said “We about to take this shit serious.” He locked up now but we been going hard ever since then.

So what even inspired you to make that song?

Man, I can’t even remember. Just being bored yo (laughs). I didn’t have nothing else to do.

You’ve put out your first three tapes within a year and they all have over 10,000 downloads on Spinrilla right now. Why do you think people gravitated to you so quickly?

I think people gravitated because they believe me, you feel me? If I’m on a tape talking this and that, Balmain and all that, you can go to my Instagram and see it.

How did Future come across your work?

I met him through my homeboy G.O. who talked on the intro to the August 13th tape. He locked up right now. But the whole Freebandz is my niggas.

Has he given any game to you directly yet or are you just sitting back and learning from his moves? Because, the rate that he’s dropping projects is insane. It’s only been a year for you and you have three tapes out.

Both. I definitely look up to him the most out of anybody right now. His work ethic is crazy. That motherfucker don’t leave the studio.

Since you dropped your first tape, is it something you told yourself you gotta improve on?

Not really. I’m just getting used to rapping, being in the studio, playing with different flows and all that. At first, I was just going in and whatever was on my mind I would just say it. I didn’t give a fuck about how I said it or anything. I used to freestyle but now I take my time and write some stuff down.

Over the past two years, more and more artists have been popping up in Baltimore, which is a great thing because even four years ago you couldn’t name a lot of people. What do you think is happening here that’s making young kids want to pursue music as a real career? I’m finding a new local artists online damn near everyday.

Niggas coming out of nowhere with them hits, too, I’m not gonna lie. I don’t know yo. Instagram a big part of it, I think. People seeing rappers get a lot of love.

You mentioned already being approached by labels. Is that a route you want to go now or do you want to avoid it?

I’m gonna avoid it right now. I wanna try this independent shit first because I got my own money to do my own shit. It’s a couple labels that’s been talking to me but I wanna see how I can maneuver through this my damn self. The only reason I was thinking about signing to anybody is that machine, man. But if  you do it independent, you got your own power and you don’t have to listen to nobody. I’m a boss. I don’t like listening to people.

What do you think Baltimore has to offer that’s not present in music right now?

Baltimore is Baltimore. All this crazy shit going on, we got our own slang. We just different. Nothing compares to it. People always bringing up “The Wire” but “The Wire” don’t got shit on this shit. It’s really wicked! It’s way worse than that.

Last year I performed at sxsw and when I was done, some dude from Philly ran up on me like, “Yeah, I already know about you. I’ve been seeing you and listening to your shit.” I was like, damn. Nobody never blow from here. We don’t have one rapper that blew from here. One! It’s gonna come. And I feel like when one person blow, everybody gonna blow. It’s  gonna start flooding. It’s like how it got here. One nigga got hot in the city and everybody started being like, “Oh, I like him too.” I feel like Baltimore time coming. Everything takes time.

Who are you listening to in the city?

I like G-Rock music, who just died. He talk that talk I like. I listen to Moose music. I like FMG’s music. Of course I fuck with Tadoe, Lor Staccks and Dre. YG Teck. I like Shy Money. Hope I didn’t forget nobody.

How are trying move going forward? Three tapes a year every year?

I’m in the studio all the time so I’m definitely gonna be releasing a lot of music. I’m in the studio like four times a week but I need to be in there every day.

What do you want people to gain from your music?

I wanna inspire everybody to get money. Just get the money and everybody can live good.

Where do you see yourself in a year?

Everywhere. TV, awards, everywhere.

Preview A Documentary That Uses Rap To Show The Ups & Downs of Everyday Baltimore Life

A couple years ago, photographer/filmmaker  Diamond Dixon was invited to a friend's photo shoot where she met his roommate, an aspiring producer named Justin and a genuine connection was established from there. Eager to learn about what Justin was working on, she visited his place in the Belair-Edison neighborhood of Northeast Baltimore and learned that he lived amongst many talented and passionate artists -- ones who were facing the everyday struggles of living in Baltimore City while trying to remain creative. A couple visits turned into Dixon -- a Norfolk, Virginia native who moved to Oxon Hill, Maryland as a young child -- documenting the young men on Justin's block and, in the process, learning what fueled their need to create. The result is her film, "B-More", which will be released in stages starting this summer and into 2017. To get a feel for what influenced Diamond to start the film, what she learned about Baltimore in the process and what narrative she's trying to shape, I caught up with her to chat.

You're not originally from Baltimore so what led you to making a film based on life within the city?

Diamond Dixon: I moved to my dad's house and visited Baltimore often for events and the flea market. I enjoyed the energy here. It was inspiring to visit and see the culture. I became curious to know what the experience was like living here. I was searching for anything that went against the negative things I would hear about the city. You know things like, “Oh, its dangerous, ”or whatever people like to say. I just wanted to know more about the city's history and the people that create it. I recognize everything has balance. I just knew I would document something here about the younger black experience and how the conditions affect them. I gravitated towards finding the answers to my questions. I planted the seed literally in 2012, just driving around one day. I told myself that there is more to know than just what I hear and see.

​What perception did you have of the city and culture before pursuing this project and has it changed since?

I’ve always viewed this city and culture as beautiful. One day I met an older woman who is a Baltimore native. She literally has hundreds of documents and newspaper clippings about the Black experience from the 50’s-present in the city. She helped shape my perception of the city. She also told me about the history black people have in Baltimore, which allowed me to appreciate the city on another level. My perception has not changed much though.

Freddie Gray's death brought national eyes to the plight of black people in Baltimore but your film detailed some of that prior to the uprising. Was it your intention to highlight that?

I intend to highlight what they’ve personally experienced by the police, definitely. When I first began this project, those were some of first questions to them: “How do you feel about police and brutality towards Black men here, and beyond Baltimore?”…you know? I want to get down to how that affects the psyche of young black males and how can we transcend that as well.

Why did you choose the subjects that you did in the film? Did you sense something special?

I chose to focus on them because, in my eyes, I felt they had a story to tell from day one. From the first day I met them you could tell they are all very passionate people. Even looking in there eyes, you can tell they want more, they want to build, create, etc. I definitely saw something special in all of them. I realized that they all had drive and hunger for creating more.

By getting to know them, what did your experiences make you realize about yourself? Did you see yourself or close family in them?

I realized that art takes time. Justin often says that to me. Patience is truly key. I learned to take my time and to let things unravel naturally. I definitely see myself in all them. We’re all on the same journey to be honest. Which is striving to create a legacy and building inner wealth. They are like brothers to me. I like to help them with anything they may need. I can definitely talk to them about anything, which makes me feel like family for sure.

Subscribe to B-More's YouTube channel to stay updated on the film's progress. 

Diary: Jay Wyse

It's February 3rd, two days before I release my Nine Twenty Five album and I'm definitely excited.  Woke up this morning in a good state of mind even though it's raining and I have to head in to my 9-5. It's funny because when people see me at work they give me an odd look like, "hey don't you rap?"Of course my reply is yes. It's like they don't expect me to have a job, though. At this point in my musical career I have to stay with a job in order to fund the music and balance daily life. I honestly think that makes some people take to me more easily, realizing that yes I have a dream that I'm pursuing, but at the same time, I'm out here working like you are.

Music was never something that I wanted to do since I was younger, instead it came at a time in my life where nothing was going right. I mean of course we all may have rapped lyrics to our favorite songs but that was about it for me until 2011. In 2009 I got shot and was facing a gun charge, and in 2010 my best friend (Biscuit) was killed. Imagine holding your best friend trying to talk to him and keep him here while he lays on the ground with a bullet hole in his head. It will change you forever. Especially when the previous year it was him at the foot of my hospital bed. I turned to music seriously then in order to express myself and keep his name alive. The more and more I wrote the more and more my passion and love for music grew. Today I can't imagine how life would have been if i didn't seriously start to pursue music. I've had opportunities come my way that I would have never garnered without music and for that I'm thankful. I'm not the most religious guy but I do believe in God and I do believe that certain things may happen in order for other things to occur if that makes any sense. God works in mysterious ways they say.

It's almost time for me to clock back in now. My job isn't hard at all, but who really wants to work for someone else's company all their life? A lot of times I think about quitting but then I'd really be a "struggling rapper" ha ha. So for now I'll balance the job and the music.

Stream Jay Wyse's album, Nine Twenty Five.