We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yung Bee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Yung Bee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

It was strange because I never really had to learn how to rhyme words. Certain phrases and words that rhyme have always just appeared in my head. That’s how I know it’s God-given talent and ability. I did however, have to learn the process of creating actual music. The structure of a song, how different notes and chords and tones interact with each other are all things I had to learn. I kind of just picked it up by listening, just hours and hours of listening to songs that I enjoy and analyzing how they were put together.

Although how to create music and write good songs is something that I believe is essential, in my opinion the most essential skill is marketing these days. Although I’m still learning this process, and it’s not one that I particularly enjoy, it is absolutely essential if you want professional success in the industry. The internet is a great resource, and the game is evolving everyday so you must keep up on it and actively study everyday.

The biggest obstacle that got in my way was my location. Growing up in Topeka, KS, there wasn’t much opportunity for professional musical growth. It wasn’t until the internet blew up that I was able to get attention from people outside my local area.

Yung Bee, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My stage name is Yung Bee, I’m a hip/hop recording/performing artist. The service I provide is simple, I bring joy/relief/empathy/etc… through music. I have been writing lyrics since I was 9, and creating music since I was 14 years old. I will turn 31 in 2 days so over 15 years I’ve been doing this.

I make music about a number of topics, from fun/party music, to songs about mental health/drug addiction, and even about the violent criminal underworld I grew up in and around. Everything in my music is real, I don’t make up stories and I use my music as an outlet to voice my own pain and trauma.

I have a different approach to this than most people who do what I do. Most people who make hip/hop do it with the hope of making it big and becoming rich and famous, like most big rappers. I don’t call myself a rapper, because I have no motivation to break into the industry. Although for many of my younger years I chased a career in rap, anymore I solely do it for the art. I do not pay for promotion anymore, I do not spend much time/effort advertising, and I am not motivated by financial gain. If an opportunity comes along that’s great and I would jump at it, but I am also perfectly content with just creating art and feeding my current fanbase, which only numbers in the hundreds currently. I just love making rap music,

I am an album based artist, That is my preferred way of creating. I enjoy making cohesive bodies of work that are to be digested whole, not a singles based artist that wants radio play. I want listeners to be able to appreciate the picture that is painted by a cohesive album that traps a period of time in an artists life, and I know from personal experience that it can be a very satisying experience to be able to relate to an artist that you like.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I have made music for over 15 years and spent thousands upon thousands of dollars to create quality works. I have profited 0 dollars from my music and only grossed maybe $100 in streaming revenue. If you love what you do and are truly an artist, you will create solely for the purpose of creating and not fall victim to the capitalistic views and philosophies of modern society. People look at me crazy when they share something they think will help me increase my exposure and I refuse because there are certain things that I don’t want to give up to gain fame. In the face of this I continue to create quality art

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I think they’re kind of silly, I understand the idea and it’s a cool idea, but in the big picture some things aren’t meant to be digital. Some things only work as actual items that you can louch and feel and smell. It’s hard to have an emotional attachment to a digital file that only exists if there’s access to electicity.

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/yungbee
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bnkrols
• Twitter: twitter.com/bnkrols
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpxmPkAmFINXdRFZcJWWWrw
• Other: Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6E1qiKpNWHmpWxENJxpcW6?si=muDnVPgBTzGhFc1s35yfmQ