Return of the Real: YC The Cynic Falls Forward (Exclusive Interview)

I don’t sing. I don’t rhyme. I can’t produce tracks. I’m often the only non-rapper in a room. But I’ve always had an ear for good music and because of that, folks have respected my honest opinion. I don’t hold back. I’m also a fan of music. I actually remember when that meant something. RefinedHype has given me the opportunity to showcase a dope artist weekly, someone who is on the rise that has caught my ear and that you should definitely check out. This is "Return of The Real". Chea!

“Don’t fall back, you better fall forward…”

I’ve written a lot about YC The Cynic over the last few months. And I’ve seen a lot written about him. As a relatively newcomer on the New York underground Hip-Hop scene, he has gained the respect of his peers and fans alike. He also has the Hip-Hop blogs on his side. Just recently HipHopDX hailed him as DXNext, in addition to receiving accolades from many other respectable Hip-Hop sites too.

All of this aside, YC The Cynic just wants to make quality music that people will enjoy and connect with.

It all started last year when YC released You’re Welcome, which gained a lot of attention for the young emcee out of the Bronx. He’s taken that momentum into his latest project, Fall Fwd, which is one of my favorite mixtapes/albums released this year (yeah, I know it’s only March).

I’ll be honest; I thought that his previous project, You’re Welcome, was just a fresh project. Ultimately, for me there was something missing. However, you could definitely see YC’s potential. You couldn’t (nor can you now) deny his ridiculous wordplay, especially with a track like “Say Superman” and the “I can win a connect 4 in three moves...” line.

YC The Cynic is a lyricist.

It’s on "Fall Fwd" that YC takes that wordplay, links up with some underground Hip-Hop veterans (including Homeboy Sandman and C-Rayz Walz) for features and couples that with some amazing production (including 2 Hungry Bros and J-57) to give you a mixtape that plays more like an album, with repeatability through the roof. As the new kid on the block, YC sounds more like the dude that’s been doing it for a decade on Fall Fwd. I wrote in my review of the project a week ago that it “is lyrically and from a production standpoint a win for YC and ultimately his listeners.” Indeed it is a win.

Over the last year you can see lyrically and from the way that he structured tracks on Fall Fwd, there has been a lot of growth in the emcee who said he began rhyming when he was 9-10 years old.

“I’ve always thought I was the best, even when I was horrible,” YC said in our recent interview. “I always wanted the music out there. I just never knew how to get it out there. Once I saw the light, it was over.”

And he’s definitely found his way to getting his music out there. With the success of two projects and a growing fan base, YC is out on the road for March. At the time that I am writing this piece, YC is gearing up for a tour with J-Live and others, that will take him from Jackson, MS to Austin, TX (six shows at SXSW) and stops in Colorado Springs, CO and Rochester, NY among other places.

But even with all of his success, YC is still humble and still believes he has room to grow. It’s going to be dope to watch that happen.

During our recent interview, we talked about his latest project, the New York underground Hip-Hop scene, whether he’ll ever release his debut album The Spectacle and more. Check out the interview.



ThroatChop: I've heard many folks refer to you as the new guard in the New York underground Hip-Hop scene. Do you agree with that title and where do you think it came from?

YC The Cynic: I don’t even know what the "new guard" means! But if it’s a good thing, I’m honored (laughs). I always have a hard time agreeing with titles like that. On one hand, if people see you and what you're doing in a positive light, then of course it’s good. On the other hand, humility dictates that you should smile and brush it off (laughs).

ThroatChop: Who else should folks be checking for from the New York underground Hip-Hop scene?

YC The Cynic: There’s a crazy amount of talent man. Homeboy Sandman, Top $ Raz, Otis Clapp, the whole RDAC BX, Kalae All Day, OISD, Kalil Kash, Scienze, Wordspit, Warren Britt, and so many others, yo.

ThroatChop: A lot has changed since you released You're Welcome last year. How has the last year been for you musically?

YC The Cynic: It has been insane. It’s like a new life, musically. On You're Welcome, it was just rhymes. All I wanted to do was spit. On Fall FWD, I took a lot of the criticisms I got, and worked on that. I took a lot of time to craft music. Make songs. Experiment with flows. And I’m developing this eye of the tiger thing. You'll see.

ThroatChop: For me, it seems like you've grown a lot between You're Welcome and Fall Fwd. What's the biggest difference between You're Welcome and Fall Fwd?

YC The Cynic: The biggest difference is just that. The time that I spent on the project; me being so meticulous with it. Everything is how I wanted, and I was involved in way more of the process. I had regrets about You're Welcome. I love Fall FWD.

ThroatChop: Initially I thought you were working on releasing The Spectacle. Why the change to put out Fall Fwd?

YC The Cynic: Fall FWD kinda came to me. These beats that weren’t going to fit The Spectacle were so dope, that I couldn’t put them to waste. And I didn’t feel like I was ready to put out a debut album. I lot of what I do/write is based on feeling.



ThroatChop: What should folks expect with your upcoming album The Spectacle? And when can folks expect it?

YC The Cynic: The Spectacle is going to be an urban myth. I’m in no rush to release it. But it’s being worked on under the sands of the Sahara desert. I don’t care if it takes 20 years. It WILL be my debut album, and it WILL be absolutely crazy.

ThroatChop: Tracks like “Bring Us Down”, “The Harder” and others take aim at commercial radio/music being more of a dumbing down and materialistic. With that said, do you want to be commercially successful? I mean, do you think that dumbed down commercial sound could change to be more of a fine balance?

YC The Cynic: Of COURSE I want to be commercially successful. But I’m not going to change to do so. I’m mad open-minded, and flexible. I can make most things work. So, if you're trying to change me to the point that I'm uncomfortable, then I'll find something else. And yes, I do think music that's NOT dumbed down can be successful. It just has to hit the people's ears. That simple. But it hardly ever does.

ThroatChop: As an artist, what impact do you want to have on the people who listen to your music?

YC The Cynic: I want them to be hooked. I want them to feel all warm inside. Then, I want them to tell every friend they've ever had.

ThroatChop: Ok. So, when you look back on your work five years from now, what would you have wanted to accomplish?
YC The Cynic: In five years, I'll be 25, and I'll have wanted to improve in every way imaginable every year. Health, talent, notoriety, work ethic... everything. I think it’s possible.

ThroatChop: Word. I respect that. So, we've talked a lot about your music, what are you listening to on your iPod/MP3 player?

YC The Cynic: You ready? In my MP3 player is: Lupe Fiasco (Fahrenheit 1/15 series), The New Flesh by Top $ Raz, Walking With a Panther - LL Cool J, mad beats (though I could always use more), Leaders Of The True School - OISD, Blackout - Red and Meth, Hall Pass - Scienze, The Presentation - L.A., Soul Like Khan - Soul Khan, Comeback Season & So Far Gone - Drake, Blunted on Reality & The Score - The Fugees

ThroatChop: Damn, pretty similar music on our iPods (laughs). Ok, last but not least, a question I ask everyone featured on Return of The Real, what's next for you?

YC The Cynic: Everything! First, we're going to keep pushing Fall FWD and get it on every outlet, every college radio station imaginable. Then, I’m going on tour w/ J Live. Hitting up cities from Savannah to New Orleans to Austin (for 6 shows at SXSW) to El Paso to Santa Fe to Denver. And there’s some that I forgot. And there’s a super top secret EP (or something) with the man, J-57. Big tings.

For more from YC the Cynic, connect with him via Twitter and check out more music via his BandCamp and personal site.

For more from ThroatChopU, follow him on Twitter and check out TheMadBloggers.com.