subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Nov 25 2009 

Published: December 22, 2008 01:04 am    print this story  

Rap music on the country music highway

Audio slide show: YG and family make a video

By LEE WARD - The Independent

ASHLAND The Country Music Highway might have to make room for a different genre.

Ashland rapper YG spent three days at WP Studios on Winchester Avenue filming for a three-minute video to be released in early January alongside his album, “The Diamond in the Dirt.”

YG has packed a lot of living into his 24 years of life.

He grew up in what he calls a dangerous neighborhood in Pittsburgh, getting into trouble at 16.

Four years ago, he moved to Ashland and started turning his life around.

“I was trying to escape the city lights and focus more on my dream,” he said, adding he went back to school and got a GED as well as worked on his music. “I was able to do it here,” he said, referring to the slower pace and positive environment of the Tri-State.

Although Ashland is known as the cradle of much country music, YG said he believes it’s a good place to launch his career in rap music.

“I’ve been told there’s no market here, but I want to set everybody wrong,” he said. “I want to be the first rapper from the Country Music Highway.”

He said people in the area have been supportive, including several businesses that have agreed to carry his record.

His brother, Clarence Jackson, agreed, adding it’s the expression of the individual listeners and fans can appreciate.

“It’s because of the type of people here that we’ve been able to accomplish as much as we’ve accomplished,” Jackson said. He said he hopes YG’s success will open doors for other rap artists in the area who didn’t think pursuing a career in music other than country would be possible.

YG appeared in the short film “20 Zombies,” which was filmed at WP Studios and on which Dustin Mankin collaborated through his company Digimec Productions. Mankin shot and helped create the video for “Busted Open,” which Mankin said will be distributed on YouTube.com; YG and Mankin said they would offer the video to underground video stations and other outlets.

“I’ve always wanted to work on music videos,” he said. “There is more instant satisfaction in music videos because it’s such a quick turnaround time to get to the finished product.”

Tom Worden of WP Studios, where the video was shot, created the cover art for YG’s album; Mankin served as graphic designer.

YG hopes to have local support for his work, especially after performing a show at the Ashland Plaza Hotel and three shows at the National Guard Armory in Ashland for an audience with a varied background.

“My shows are family friendly,” he said. “I don’t promote drug or alcohol use.”

YG has spent seven months producing his album on his own label, Plus Squad Records, which was recorded at the studio at his home, although he also works with Thunder Bay Studio in Ashland. YG writes, performs, records, books and markets himself.

“I’m a man of many jobs,” he said with a laugh.

The album “The Diamond in the Dirt” will be available at Clark’s Pump and Shop, Junior Food Mart, Dark Wings, Rent-A-Center and WP Studios. More information is available at myspace.com/tomwordenphotos, myspace.com/digimacproductions and myspace.com/younggod1600.

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.

print this story  

Photos


The cast of YG's rap video perform for camera Thurday in an Ashland studio. YG (Raymond Duckette) created his cd in his studio and called on family and friends to be in the shoot with him John Flavell/The Independent (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
SUPERIOR FIBERS L.L.C.
leaders in HVAC Filtration, Paint Arrestors, and FRP Products is seeking applicants for Main
...>MORE

FINANCIAL SERVICE OFFICER
Financial Service
Officer
Job #10303
(AG-Consumer)

Farm Credit Services is seeking a Financi
...>MORE

WELL TENDER
Part time, for gas wells near Inez. Exp. req’d. 304-416-3226....>MORE

See all ads

Premium Cars, RVs and Boats

LEXUS LS400 FOR SALE
1998, exc. cond., 134k mi., $7,500. 606-474-2938; 922-1883....>MORE

FORD PICKUP FOR SALE
2005 2WD, auto., air, 80,000 mi., exc. cond., $8,880. 923-9203....>MORE

DODGE RAM
‘04 Ram, 4WD, diesel, 86k mi., $17,900. 928-8336 or 831-4377. ...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Real Estate

FLATWOODS HOME FOR SALE
1519 Jonathan St. 3BR, 1BA, totally remodeled, on deadend street. $73,650. Motivated seller! Call (606)571-4258....>MORE

FARM FOR SALE
GREENUP CO- Leatherwood Rd. 100 acres, barn, hunting cabin, some timber, 2 ponds, four-wheeler trails, 3 acres of bottom...>MORE

RACELAND HOME FOR SALE
3 BR, 2.5 BA, 2 kitchens, 2 living rooms, newly remodeled brick house. 1118 Green Acres Dr. $124,000. Call (606)836-8808...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Deal of the Day

ST. BERNARD PUPS
AKC, shots & wormed, $400-$450. 606-474-4316....>MORE

HOT TUB FOR SALE
Hot Springs, 7ft7in. x 8ft x 3ft deep. 6 person, 47 jets, elec. hookups & steps, like new, buyer must move! $3,000. (606...>MORE

FIREWOOD FOR SALE
1 Full Rick
Call 606-923-0717
...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index