ALL HAIL THE KING FROM THE MOTHERLAND, SOUTH AFRICA. RAPPER THE YUNG JB IS SHAKING THINGS UP IN THE STATES!
Social Media is not just for sharing family and friends photos, catching up with old friends, or gossiping about what’s going down on the block. These platforms are super heavy with artist promoting their products, videos, shows, etc. And, it’s also a platform for media to connect with the artists.
This young man starting following bpetv last month. I always click on everyone’s profile, link or post who follow us. When I click on The Yung JB post, he had that catchy tune with that pop culture lyrics, but what really caught my attention was that smile. I dm’d him right away! And this happen!
Hello
Hello, how are you doing?
I’M DOING FINE, CAN YOU HEAR ME
Yes, I can hear you
HOLD ON (ADJUSTING THE VOLUME) LET ME GET RID OF THIS NOISE. HOW IS YOUR DAY GOING
My day is going well
FIRST, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON BPETV AND SHARING YOUR STORY
WITH THE WORLD. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE WORLD
Well, my name is Jason Makhela, I’m an up & coming rapper, singer and songwriter from Louis Trichardt, South Africa. I’ve been in the states for 9 years now. I’ve moved here in 2008. I moved here after my mom passed to stay with my sister. Yeah, I’ve been working on music and establishing my talent.
YOU ARE ORIGINALLY FROM SOUTH AFRICA. TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY FROM THERE TO HERE (INDIANAPOLIS)
Oh, well the providence is called Limpopo and the town is called Louis Trichardt. I moved here with my sister after my mother passed. It’s been pretty fun staying here. I just had to adjust to a few things all the cultures, the foods you guys eat here. I enjoy staying here, it’s been nice.
HOW IS THE ADJUSTMENT COMING ALONE
The adjustment is coming along. I been here for 9 years now, so I’m used to everything now. I pretty much like it, because of the opportunities here.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? WHAT FOOD HAVE YOU NOT EATEN BACK HOME, BUT HAVE COME TO ENJOY NOW IN THE STATES
Well, I like Thanksgiving food. Like your greens, mash potatoes, corn, ham, those kinds of things. Soul food.
OH YOU LIKE SOUL FOOD OK GOT IT! IS THERE ANYTHING HERE WE EAT THAT IS SIMILAR BACK HOME
No not really. Just fast food that’s about it. Like the main traditional food here are not the same as Africa.
OH WOW! I’M GLAD THE ADJUSTMENT WORK OUT FOR THE GOOD. BEING A LONG WAY FROM HOME, DO YOU EVER PLAN TO GO BACK TO STAY OR AMERICA IS IT
Um yeah. I think I’ll stay here most of my life. I might open a business or a studio there (Africa)
YOU ARE A RAPPER AND A SINGER, BUT YOU STARTED OFF AS A SONGWRITER, DO YOU ALSO PRODUCE
No, I don’t produce. I don’t do any production aspect. I mainly write, rap, and sing. Sharping my skills with singing. But, mainly rapping and songwriting.
IN YOUR BIO IT SAYS, “YOU WERE INSPIRED BY LIL WAYNE” WHEN WERE YOU FIRST INTRODUCED TO HIP HOP?
Um say about 2006. Um yeah, that’s when I got into hip hop. I started listening to some of the now hip hop artist. That’s where I got my first inspiration from.
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST RAP SONG YOU EVER HEARD AND WHERE WERE YOU?
Lil Wayne, The Carter with Jay-Z. It was like the first song I heard in the hip hop genre and I’ve been loving hip hop from then on.
HAVE YOU STUDIED HIP HOP, BECAUSE IT STARTED MANY MOONS BEFORE LIL WAYNE LOL!
Yes, I listen to the like of Run-DMC, Tupac, Biggie. I think hip hop has really evolved from how it first started back than, it had more of a message. People were putting out songs like, putting messages out for people dealing with life. Now it’s more like for clubs stuff. People want to hear stuff they can dance too. There are a lot of artist that are putting out singles and you never hear from them again. But then, I really like the kind of music that will last a long time that you can listen to 10 years from now. Hip hop has definitely evolved especially how people dress. It use to be more like baggy kind of dressing, now it’s like you know, it’s just different.
OK. IT’S ALSO STATES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN MAKING MUSIC SINCE THE AGE OF 9. AT 9, WHAT WERE YOU DOING AS FAR AS MUSIC
Well um, I was like making music on tape lol! Like my late brother would support my music, so I used to record my music on a tape recorder at home. I had the tape recorder and i would tape all the raps and like on top of the beats and then that’s when I started going to studios and I bought my own studio at some point and time. In 2009 I use to record my songs at home and now I have a studio in South Africa were I record my songs. I have a friend who studied engineering and he’s also doing music. So, now we kind of making music together and writing songs together. He produces all the songs.
YOU ARE INSPIRED BY TODAY’S ARTIST, WHAT DISTINGUISH SOUND DO YOU HAVE THAT SEPARATES YOU FROM THE REST
Um well, my music is just, it’s not something people haven’t heard before, my style is unique on it’s own. I don’t copy anyone’s format. All I do is get inspired. I also, feel like my music has a message tone. I have a message everybody can relate to and I write most of my songs base on life experience, which I think is lacking in most of today’s music. Most just rap about money, living fast and all that you know. So, my music has more of a message and stuff that people can relate to that’s what distinguish my sound from the rest of the rappers.
NOW, YOU’RE 22YRS, YOUR STYLE IS POP RAP, YOUR NAME IS The Yung JB, WITH SO MANY RAPPERS NAME STARTING WITH YOUNG/YUNG, HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO LATCH ON TO Yung JB, BECAUSE EACH YEAR YOU GET ODLER. WILL YOU HOLD ON TO Yung OR WILL YOU EVENTUALLY SHORTEN TO JB
Yeah, I probably going to keep it the way it is, because the whole point behind that name is, my music appeals to a younger generation and my fan base is composed of 18-24. That’s my main target. So, my name appeals to the youth, the young generation, so that’s why my name is The Yung JB.
NOW, KURTIS GUAP (AM I PROUNCING IT CORRECTLY) HE IS A COMPOSER AND A PRODUCER FROM SOUTH AFRICA WHICH IS ALSO YOUR FRIEND. WHO DOES MOST OF YOUR PRODUCTION? IS HE NOW HERE IN THE STATES OR IS HE STILL BACK IN THE HOME LAND
No, he’s in South Africa
OF COURSE! BY YOU GUYS BEING TWO WORLDS APART, YOU GUYS DO EVERYTHING VIA INTERNET
Yes, we spend time over the internet, but sometimes when I get time and go home, I go and record. So, currently I’m working on my EP, it’s called “The Dream” EP. It’s going to have four tracks that’s going to be available for free. I just thank people for the support. I currently have an album on apple music, google play, pandora, spotify entitled “Mama told me“, it’s a 15 track album. After the EP , I’ll be dropping another album that’s going to be sometime next year. The EP will be dropping later this year. I can’t say the date, but later this year.
TELL US MORE ABOUT THE OTHER ARTIST AND PRODUCERS YOU ARE WORKING WITH IN SOUTH AFRICA
I have a duel called “Square Pass” which consist of Kurtis Guap and another guy name Dee. He makes our genre of music. It’s kind of like hum, it’s kind of like hip hop, but it’s more like modern street hip hop, like our own genre in South Africa. I work with him and a well known rapper by the name “AB Crazy” he’s featured on my album. He’s signed to Sony Music/Universal. I also work with a another guy name “TEERAGE” he’s from Zimbabwe. Teerage makes Afro-Punk and Dance music. Yeah, those are the artists I’ve been working with.
WILL WE BE HEARING ANYTHING ON THIS END FROM THE ARTIST YOU ARE WORKING WITH FROM THE HOMELAND
Yes. They actually have a mixtape out and a album. They are currently working on their second album. I’m actually featured on two of their albums. I wrote one of their tracks on their previous album and I’m featured on another song on the previous album before that. They’re working on a new album as we speak. It should be dropping sometime this month or next.
OH NICE. NOW, WHAT’S THE NAME OF THEIR MIXTAPE AND WHO’S FEATURED ON IT
It’s called “Square The Mixtape“. It’s myself, Teerage, and a couple up & coming new artist from South Africa
CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR IT. IS MS JACKSON THE FIRST SINGLE AND WAS IT THE SONG THAT PUT YOU ON THE MAP IN INDIANA
Yes, that’s my first single. Not in my home state, but in my country.
https://youtu.be/5mnGUFa_L84
KURTIS PRODUCE THAT CORRECT
Yes, he produced it. We recorded it the day I arrived back in South Africa I just went straight to the studio. They were already working on it. They had the hood done already, I just hop on it and did one of the verse. They told me they are going to give me the song and let me put it on my album well
MS JACKSON IS A FAMOUS TITLE OF A SINGLE THAT’S ALREADY OUT. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ABOUT OUTKAST
Outkast! Yes, I heard of them
WHAT IS YOUR MS JACKSON ABOUT (LAUGHING)
Well, the song is about, it’s like a concept for me, it’s not the actual story. It’s about going to a club and meeting a rich milf, an older attractive women.
WHAT’S THE NEXT MOVE FOR YUNG JB
My next move will be my new video later this year. I’m going to be shooting the video for the song entitle “Top Floor” and that’s going to be filmed in South Africa. I’m still strategizing the whole concept, speaking with the director on who’s going to do the video, the locations and the concept behind the video. I really want it to be good quality and to be a good first impression, so I’m really taking my time with it. Also, radio. I’m working on radio to get my songs on there. And, I’m featured in a couple of blogs.
OH GOOD! GETTING SOME EXPOSURE. WONDERFUL!
Yes! Also, look out for my EP later this year and my video.
WHERE CAN EVERYONE AROUND THE GLOBAL FIND YOU
You can find me on FaceBook: YUNG JBTHERAPPER; IG: YUNGJBTHERAPPER Twitter: YUNGJBTHERAPPER. Feel free to leave comments, check out some of my post, go get my new album “Mama Told Me” on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora and all other music platforms. My website is currently being redesigned. We should be up and running next month www.yungjbtherapper.com. There, you can find my biography, my album and all the streaming platforms, and I have merchandise coming soon. I signed a contract with a clothing line out of South Africa that is going to have me as their brand ambassador. I’ll be marketing for them, so I will have their merchandise on the site for purchase. The clothing line is called “AN CLOTHING”
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH BPETV. YOU HAVE A GOOD HEAD ON YOUR SHOULDER, YOU ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, I LIKE THE WAY YOU MOVE. WE’ll BE CHECKING OUT EVERYTHING. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH AND WE WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS.
Thank you so much and I appreciate your time and giving me the opportunity to come on your platform to share my story. You have a great day and I’ll make sure to keep in touch.