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Rago Magazine managed to catch up with the one of the hottest artists on TF Records/Swishahouse to give us the lowdown.

I’m from Sunnyside on the Southside of Houston. It’s home DJ Screw, Lil Keke and the whole screwed up thing, that’s where it originated from and that where I grew up at.

What was it like for you growing up there?

Pretty average I was a young kid and I grew up with the older kids. I kind of grew up fast, my grandparents raised me. I discovered rapping at an early age and after that it was on.

Am I right in saying that it was Lil Flip who started you off rapping?

Yeah actually I met him in high school; we played on the same basketball team. I was already fascinated about music because I had met DJ Screw prior to that, I was the little guy in the neighbourhood and everybody knew I could rap. So, when I met Flip he had a group and one of the guys from the group died, so I took his place and that is how I started rapping.

Did you put any music out with Flip’s group?

Yeah we put our first album out together called ‘Hustlaz and Stackin Ends - H.S.E’ and it sold 100,000 records. 

You said that you met DJ Screw prior to meeting Lil Flip, did you ever feature on any Screw tapes?

I knew DJ Screw for years but I’ve only been on one screw tape ‘Freestyle Kings’ and that was the only time ever.

Were you invited to just go round there and freestyle?

Yeah, me and Flip used to go round to different little parties and go and rap and get into competitions and stuff like that. We were always able to freestyle about any everything and anything around us. So that was pretty much how we got known.

What artists influenced you back then?

Back then I didn’t really listen to a lot of rap, but there where certain songs like, 8Ball and MJG, UGK and of course Scarface.

You’ve been releasing music independently since 1999 what have you put out?

The first album was ‘H.S.E’ my second album was ‘713’, and then I dropped ‘The Paper Route’. I’ve released 100’s of mixtapes in between those. The most recent thing is ‘The Day Hell Broke Loose’ and the update thing right now is ‘The Cost of Living’ which I did with Lil Keke. I’ve also got a mixtape series called ‘Eviction Notice’ I’ve released 4 of those. I had ‘Paper or Plastic’ with Paul Wall. You can find me on Slim Thug’s album, Paul’s album and Lil Keke’s album as well. I’ve done a whole bunch of music!

How has the game changed for you since 1999?

In Houston it’s definitely changed now because the same formula of rapping about, you know; how pretty your car is, your wheels and your diamonds are gone. You’ve got to really rap now and I’ve always been a rapper, so that’s no problem for me. The game has changed a whole lot.

A lot of people say that your one of the most underrated rappers out there in Houston, how do you feel about that?

I really don’t care, because I know that all it take’s is for me to get one side of daylight, for me to get a record to go super national and it will be over for me. I know how to write records, I’ve written for so many people anyway so, I have the formula a distinctive voice and I have the look. You know? So it’s no problem, I just know it’s a matter of time.

You’re signed to TF Records, how did you hook up with T Farris?

Actually me and T Farris have always been homies since high school, and we just always said whoever got out first we’d come back and get each other. We just followed through on that promise and that’s how it is! He’s my manager too, but he lets me do a lot of stuff on my own so it’s cool.

You mentioned briefly your mixtape series called ‘Eviction Notice’, your on number 4 now can you tell us about the new mixtape and also the concept behind the series?

I wanted to do something different for Houston, kind of like, to show that people down south can rap and be creative, fly and flashy at the same time. I was always a pretty boy at school I always had hood respect and was always clever with words. So, I just put it all together in one bar and said, ’Here you go!’ That was it! ‘Eviction Notice’ is also just me venting out a problem that I might have had, things that I think about or people I didn’t associate with anymore that’s why it’s called ‘Eviction Notice’.

Are you working on an album at the moment?

Yes it’s called ‘Dead Presidents A.F’ the A.F stands for ‘Altimate Future’.

Will you be dropping that this year?

Hopefully it’s been done for about a year but I’m still going back into it. You know how label politics are you got to wait for this and that, it sucks but that’s the way it is. I think I’m going to leak a few records!

Can you tell us who features on the album?

I got Lil Keke, Slim Thug Z-Ro and that’s it. I didn’t really want anybody else on there.

What would you say has been your biggest achievement in you career so far?

Just being able to not ever have to have a job in my life! Rapping blessed me to never have to work for any kind of workforce. You know what I’m saying? I’ve been rapping since I was 16 and rapping has blessed me to have a home, cars to drive my lights stay on, my mother is taken care of….everything!

A lot of artists have other businesses like a clothing company, car shops etc. Do you have another side-line?

I also have a writing company, a clothing line and a record label too called ‘Future Rich’.

Do you have any artists signed to the label?

I’ve really got writers right now; I just want to write records for different artists that are already established. So I’m not looking for artists to actually sign to the label.

What artists have you wrote lyrics for?

I was on the ‘Too Fast and Furious’ soundtrack, I wrote for Flip, Paul, Trina. I wrote for Ludacris’ ‘Release Therapy’ album, B.G, Scarface.

So how do you go about writing for an artist?

Basically I let them do their verses I don’t have any control over the verses they write. I come up with the idea and the choruses and stuff like that…that’s me.

Have you done any videos lately?

I have one called ‘Amnesia’ and ‘How the Hustlers Do it’, which is me Lil Keke and Webbie, I‘ve also got one called ‘Rumours.’ If you go onto You Tube you’ll be able to see my videos, just type in Yung Redd and you’ll find me.

What other projects are you working on?

‘Eviction Notice 4’ is about to drop pretty soon and I have another mixtape called ‘The Ghost Monster’ and another one called ‘Flight School’. You’ll be able to find them iTunes and they’re all on original beats.

Yung Redd thanks for doing this interview! Do you want to shout out your websites?

Yeah to find any of my music go to www.swishahous.biz or www.mixtapedaily.com you can holla at me on twitter @therealyungredd.

Is there anything else you want to add?

Oh yeah check Paul’s album ‘Heart of a Champion’ make sure y’all go and get it.

Interview by Jai Boo
www.myspace.com/jaiboowolftown