It seems like yesterday when a nimble-tongued rapper emerged from Louisiana, The Bayou State, and captivated the world of hip-hop with his majestic flow and reality based lyrics. He evoked the spirit of the grand tradition of African American oral literature. Armed with nothing but his heart and insightful lyrics, Young Bleed dropped his remarkable debut LP appropriately entitled My Balls and My Word. The LP went gold and garnered Young Bleed the kind of respect and admiration that many MC’s can only dream about. Despite the hype and accolades, Young Bleed still remains the same humble and laid back person he was, while living as a struggling artist grinding on the Southern underground scene. It is this humble disposition and strong sense of self that keeps Bleed so levelheaded.
Bleed returned two years later with the equally compelling My Own. That album established Bleed as a solo artist who could stand on his own creative footing. While recording his third collection. Bleed enjoyed success by launching Da'Tention Home Entertainment with his manager Uncle Pauly, but he also lost several of his family members before the release of 2002's vintage.
"Vintage is a look back at all the people that helped and supported me" Bleed says "I had a lot of homeboys and family members within that time of 2002 that had funerals. I was burying my people I was giving back and looking back."
Bleed gave back again in 2004 with the release of Young Bleed Presents Da Carleone Family's - Family Business, a compilation featured of Bleed's hand picked favorite local artists. He also collaborated in 2004 with fellow No Limit member Magic on the club smash "I Smoke I Drank" which put blood in touch with long time admirer Roy Jones.
I deal with the basic necessities, says Bleed. Water, air, treeslife. I keep it at a minimum. I ain”t interested in fame and all of that. I’m just trying to put it down for those who don’t know. They can try and pick up on it and look at it from the perspective of life, away from all the materialistic stuff that comes with the gunfire and everything that gets you caught up in all that hype. It’s like a fire. When it dies down, you come back to yourself and if you stay yourself from the jump, it ain’t going to change you.
Being true to self is one of the many themes that run throughout Young Bleed’s work. In fact, along with the moral code that lies at the core of Bleed’s lyrics, it is one of the things that make him stand out. I approach my rhymes from the perspective of a writer, says Bleed, who deeply and honestly deals with the complex issues of ghetto life. Bleed claims his influences are as diverse as Dr. Suess and Rudy Ray Moore. It’s like writing a book, he adds.
Young Bleed is part hustler, part philosoperhizer, part preacher and all the way real. So it should come as no suprise that the Louisiana raised Rhymers stunning new album "One Upon A Time In Amedica" is a compelling artistic statement from one of raps most gifted poets. Young Bleed says "Im considering this album an autobiography of a young man coming of age in the Southern Ghettos Of North America.
Once Upon A Time In Amedica is the latest masterpiece in Young Bleed's impressive musical resume.
Album features the hit single "Im Just Doing Me" Ft Rich Boy. Will be released on Da Tention Home Entertainment/West Coast Mafia/Body Head.