With the huge success of his first single “Racks On Racks” Vibe.com caught up with YC to discuss his sudden fame, his future in the rap game, what he has planned next, his favorite “Racks” remix, and much more.—Anthony Reynolds
VIBE: How did you get your start in music?
YC: I started out with Block Entertainment in a group. We were forming a group, andit didn’t go all the way through so I went solo.
You obtained tons of success with your song “Racks On Racks.” How are you dealing with all the new fame?
You know, just taking it one day at a time. I’m just really working to put more music out—not just one song. Mixtapes, follow up singles—stuff like that.
How was shooting the video?
It was my first video. I been in a lot of people’s video, but for me to have my own video and for the song to be so big and the video is getting such a good response. I think the first day or 2 days it got 200,000 views. So that’s good, it means a lot of people want to look at the video.
Anything planned in terms of second single?
The second single will probably come off the next mixtape im dropping before memorial day. Itll probably be one of the songs off that, im just letting the people pick it. The song that gets the best response will probably be the one we push as the next single
Could you tell us about your new mixtape?
The second mixtape is gonna be Financial Aid may feature Waka, Gucci, it might feature Soulja Boy on it. Just a lot of different artists.
Were you shocked at how fast “Racks” blew up and how quickly it caught on?
I cant lie it really kind of shocked me because it caught on so quick. I seen people work records so long just to get ’em hot and that record just caught on real quick.
Did you expect the response from people that you’ve been getting?
I expected the record to be a good record but I just didn’t expect the response. It’s a big, big record everywhere, so that’s kind of shocking. Normally you might have a record that’s just hot in the South, but it might work its way over to Texas or something. They even be playing “Racks” in LA, they’re playing “Racks” in New York, theyre playing “Racks” in Detroit, they playing it in Minneapolis. That’s shocking, that’s big.
What can people expect when they hear YC’s music?
Just expect the unexpected and expect good music throughout.
How has the music industry embraced you in terms of being a new rapper on the scene?
The embracing is pretty good to be fresh out the gate—doing what I’m doing. I feel like I got a lot of support and a lot of love in the music industry to be a newcomer.
You were brought out by Diddy during the Coming Home tour in Atlanta, how was that experience?
The crowd went crazy and everbody knew it and that felt real good. To be brought out by somebody like Diddy, that felt real, real good.
Whats your favorite “Racks On Racks” remix?
I haven’t even heard all of them. But just to have people jumping on that record not even asking, theyre just doing it to let me know it’s a big record. From Da Brat doing a version to Trina doing a version, Twista doing a version, Ace Hood doing a version, its like that’s a plus in my book.
Who would you love to do a remix with?
Wayne, Drake, Jay Z, Kanye. Justin Bieber [Laughs]
For the naysayers who may think you are a one-hit wonder, what’s your response to them?
Everybody is entitled to an opinion. Everybody got one, so everybody is entitled to it but why is somebody’s opinion going to bother me? It doesn’t make no money and it’s useless. It’s not paying the bills, it aint doing nothing. It’s just an opinion. While they’re making opinions I’m making money.
Whats next for YC?
Just to deliver my fans more music and to deliver an album that Im expecting to do real good as far as how times are right now with the music. A lot of people aren’t going platinum that used to go platinum. But I expect a great, great record.