Published: Sunday - October 23, 2005
Words by Ronnie Gamble
Young Sicc (Photo: Shellshock Ent.)
Growing up in San Diego, California, Young Sicc (who is of Mexican American decent) became heavily influenced by hip-hop music such as N.W.A., Too Short, Eazy-E and the D.O.C. at a young age, beginning with his days as a student in elementary school. By the time he reached junior high school, the young rapper began to develop more of an interest in hip-hop, which led him to start writing lyrics as well as performing at school talent shows. His love for hip-hop stayed with him throughout his adolescent days, but life wasn't always easy growing up for Young Sicc, as he slowly found himself leaning toward the street life. Being located in the center of a low rated neighborhood of gang violence, he began to run with the homies in the hood and started living the street life first hand.
His father, who was an old school veteran himself, constantly encouraged his young son to stay away from the neighborhood and stay in school, but Sicc brushed off the advice. "I was lucky enough that I had a pops," Young Sicc remembers, "but I just got down with the hood 'cause I wanted to see the streets for myself. I had homies and relatives from the neighborhood -- that just made me wanna participate in the same environment even more."
As he grew older, Sicc began to transform his street life experiences into music, making underground songs with his friends. Now, in his 20s, he is determined and focused to take his shot at the industry doors that lie ahead!
After graduating high school in 1998, Young Sicc hooked up with Southern Cali based Latin rapper, Mr. Shadow, and started recording records. But, after a botched deal with indie label, Beyond Entertainment, early in his career, Young Sicc regrouped, began to hone his skills on the mic and started grinding in the street of San Diego.
In 2000, he released his first album, entitled Spread The Word, and that's exactly what it did. It helped spread the word about an up-and-coming emcee outta of Cali, who wasn't just rapping to the Latin community, but rather to the hip-hop industry as a whole.
Now, five years later, he has finally dropped his sophomore release, The Statement. This time around, instead of trying to Spread The Word, he's making a statement as a Mexican emcee in the rap game. "I'm trying to make a statement in the rap game with this album," says Young Sicc. "I want the A&R's in Diego to start signing these real artists out here and not categorize us as Mexican gangster rap."
With the album's first single, "Can I (Take You Home)" featuring established R&B artist, Frankie J, Young Sicc received airplay and major spins earlier this year in various radio markets on the West Coast. But, when industry politics became involved, the single slowly died out. Still, the rapper is optimistic about the album and what fans will take from it.
Scouting Report
As the Latin hip-hop movement grows and grows, emcees like Young Sicc have a chance to break into a broader market. But, there are only so many who can actually achieve a feat such as breaking commercial boundaries. Unlike most of So. Cal's Latin rappers, Young Sicc can reach beyond just the Latin community with his music. As he tightens his mic skills, and grows into the emcee he is to be, he has the ability to create that break out hit he needs.
Don't be fooled by the album cover with Old English writing, this emcee has more to offer than meets the eye. For these reasons, Young Sicc is capable of more than just regional success.
Contact
MySpace - MySpace.com/YoungSicc Site - YoungSicc.com
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