Yawng Boss Talks Forthcoming Album (I Forgot To Love You), Family, Life and More In Exclusive Interview.

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Yawng Boss is your ideal representation of a superstar. Effortlessly, he wears the attire of celebrity. He's so careful not to dent it. When he speaks, his cadence gives inklings of, not where he is, but where he wants to be in years time, a place he ought to be. In his raps, his vocals scream: 'I was made for this shit'. His dress sense, however presented, is always fine-tuned to disclose his suave persona. 

Yes, Yawng Boss is a star! He commands uncontested attention wherever he shows up; more than needed to build a solid fact about his artistic affluence, are a concrete proof of his ability to effect atmospheric changes with his presence. Yawng Boss is somewhat the opposite of what many emerging artistes are in that unlike most (emerging) artistes, who put a target to reach, before they feel sophisticated enough to display an ounce of eminence, he doesn't have to wait for the validations of a certain height in his career before he shows you this.

Being in the industry for over a decade, Yawng Boss, has been armed with a wealth of experience—some, good. Some, bad, and some with a sprinkle of indifference. In his years of service so far, he has found himself in different capacities, collaborating ideas in a bid to emerge victorious, while not losing sight of the overall prize. 

The rapper whose name would easily emerge on any 'top 10 favorite rappers in the South' list, is no stranger to the dynamic nature of the industry and, as such, is always prepared for new battles. 

In 2019, one of these battles masked as issues beyond human control, plagued the release of his first project, Welcome To Yentown, and left him devastated.

Apparently the release of Welcome To Yentown looked possible only on the surface. It looked as though the album was ready, and healthy for public consumption. The conveyance of assurance owing to Yawng Boss's repeated promoting of the release date on social media, instinctively tripled fans' expectations. Unfortunately, and, to the bewilderment of both Yawng Boss and his fans, the album would rather be released on a later date.

Yawng Boss has fully recovered from that momentary setback and is looking forward to better moments on his musical journey.

One of such moments he pined for was at the 2019 Bayelsa Musical Artists Awards (BMAA), where his album Welcome To Yentown, won best album of the year. Other wins, are his performance at Timaya Day, 2020, and the occasional reminder of the potency of Welcome To Yentown and his talent.

However, in spite of his strides, Yawng Boss knows well that true success is dependent on consistency, and has, therefore, emulated an ethic practiced by most successful industry players by leveraging the success of Welcome To Yentown.

"I Forgot To Love You" is the title ceaselessly being pushed on social media. It's his second body of work. It's his attempt at solidifying his place at the top, where Welcome To Yentown has put him. 

I Forgot To Love You is on its way to your favorite streaming platforms.

The Sleek Buzz hooked up with this incredible artiste to discuss his forthcoming album, life as an artiste, and other facts which, without this interview, would still be oblivious to the public.

How would you describe your journey through life as a human so far?

Stressful, complicated and blessed. I have been through a lot, some of those circumstances could have ended my life, but I'm grateful to God I overcame. Sometimes when I reminisce where I started from, it reminds me of the so many blessings I have been blessed with.

You just mentioned the downsides of being a creative...of being an artiste and of being what you are today. Didn't you prepare for all of the negativity that came with the path you chose?

Of course I was ready for anything, the only reason it hit me hard most times was because I wasn’t strategic, didn’t have a plan, had nobody who was blown at the time who I could have asked some vital questions, I just knew I wasn’t going to stop, it was the part I chose.

Don't we all face the challenge of role model here?

Hell yeah, it is an obvious challenge where we come from. Although we have superstar mainstream A-list acts like Timaya, Timi Dakolo from Bayelsa state, we barely have a seat at their table. I think they are in the best position to teach us how to move in the industry, however, that doesn’t happen. But we love and respect them still though, we appreciate all they do and hope someday they will reach out to us, like Payper Corleone does frequently.

One challenging time for you was the process of releasing your first project, Welcome To Yentown, right?

Yeah, that was the toughest thus far, considering the fact that I fell into depression at some point. I was frustrated with the process of making the album, there was a lot going on at the time, post production brought in the headaches, and I am glad people like you ‘Garbi’ and my blood forever ‘Chiff Timz’ were in the mix to uplift my spirit and help me come out of it. Like you know ‘Welcome To Yentown’ which is my debut album, ended up winning the BMAA 2019 album of the year, I am forever grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of that project.

I consider the album a masterpiece. I still listen to it whenever I'm able to. But what do you have to say about a creation of yours?

I try my possible best to give my all when I create art, so I consider my creations unique and mind-blowing as I am always conscious, I only let it out when I am sure I am satisfied with the product as well. However, I mostly leave the criticisms for my fans and supporters, haters are welcomed too, lol... they are the ones receiving it, and so their opinions count a great deal.

Welcome To Yentown had some standout tracks, amongst my personal favorites are Doing The Most, Pay Attention, Don't Start A War and others. Now, while listening to the album, I paid close attention to the quality of production and realised one thing: Bayelsan producers are really dope.

You can say that again and again my gee... the album is a proof of the quality of music coming out from this part of Nigeria. Shout out to my brothers, the producers and sound engineers who did the most to put the city on the map - Chiff Timz, Pakiss10, Toby Rein, Smart P, JaySam Beat, E-Brown Beat, Abobi Eddieroll, Abiri the hit producer, Dreamcent beat and Praisegod of Alba group.

Yea, awesome producers. Which of them was less challenging to work with?

All of them actually, maybe because I have great relationships with each one of  them, built with trust and love.

So what halted the release of the album, if everyone was doing their job? What brought about the delay?

It was pretty much technical issues, failure of equipments at some point, computers crashed, speakers had issues, and I felt like some of my village people were on my case... lol.

That’s on a lighter note, but then it was equipments, and we realized we needed more sophisticated equipments.

I read online a new project is in the pipeline... True? Not true?

True, 100 percent.

I Forgot To Love You is the title

What a title! Reminds me of a single of yours, Retired Heartbreaker.

Yeah, it’s kind of a continuation of my repentance lol.

That was the inspiration behind the title?

Not really, it was because I actually forgot to love someone that meant the world to me because I was too busy working and hustling.

Is that even humanly possible? To forget a love interest?

Hustle is real, my nigga, I didn’t pay attention to her emotional needs. She was down and I saw the devastation caused by my actions.

Or maybe you were just being selfish.

Nah! I was hustling

Did you work with similar producers as you did Welcome To Yentown?

Yeah, just a couple of them, but there are some new guys I am working with too.

You want to tell us about these new guys?

If I really have to shine light on a new producer, it has to be the extremely talented Enoask, an extra ordinarily nice music producer and artiste, his sound is the future bro. Watch out for the man, that’s the much I can say.

Tell us a little about yourself, Yawng Boss... ...something we would never have known if you hadn't said it here.

Let me see... that would be the fact that I am addicted to Owigiri music, a huge fan of the late King Robert, Alfred Izon-ebi (Junior Robert) and Barrister Smooth amongst others lmfao! I have over 200 Ijaw songs on my phone.

The industry is expanding every day, we're witnessing a rise in great content. How does this make you feel?

Good, fantastic... and that’s because I feel like having a lot of players in the game would actually help in promoting value, we can be rest assured the uncreative ones will not hide too long, they will validate the creative ones at the end of the day.

You're right! A lot of young hip-hop artistes see you as a role model, does it give you any worry, or does it leave you with a sense of empowerment?

It doesn’t. I, too, was inspired by a few peeps. Shout out to Ja Rule, 50 Cent, Sinzu, Meek Mill 2Pac and others, some I adored for being creative, and some others for how they move. 

I do not restrict myself in trying to get pass marks for being a great role model to anybody, I just do me and hope they can filter what is important and what isn’t.

Speaking of role models and using your art as a tool for social reforms, which your last project did, are we to expect the same with I Forgot To Love You? You're tackling issues too?

Of course, what is the need of creating a body of work if you are not addressing some sort of issue(s), especially for a rap musician like me. Some of the themes you can find on this project include; Love, Betrayal, Disappointment, Regret, Sex, etc., it is pretty much centered around girls and relationships.

Do you feel your colleagues are doing the same with their music?

Honestly, a chunk of them are doing just that, I see that with Pakiss10, Chiff Timz, Payper Corleone, EL Vidal, Soda Presh, Ruthy Jay, Arité, Wall Zee, Kvng KiLa, Mas and even Jah Wondah just to mention a few.

You posted Rick Ross the other day.

Yeah, it was Father’s Day, I posted him alongside my dad. Thing is he inspired me a lot especially with the way he moves. I learn a lot from his BOSSY personality, so that was pretty much about celebrating my dad, letting him know like Rick Ross amma boss up some day and take him out the ghetto for real.

We really would love to know a little more about your dad. What is his take on the path you've chosen?

My dad is amazing, he has always been supportive from day one. While we were having a conversation recently about his early days as a youth, he told me how he started off as a disk jockey, rapper and singer back in the 80s, little wonder he isn’t furious or surprised I chose this path.

Which is your dad's favorite song off your discography so far?

Lol... I don’t really know, he has a lot of my songs on his smart phone, I just haven’t asked him yet.

Back to your upcoming album: Every project, as far as we know, comes with a surprise(s). What surprise(s) comes with I Forgot To Love You?

Just like the title of the project itself came as a surprise, the fact that I had to push my singing a bit was most surprising. I am not known for love songs, I barely talk about women in my music, this project entirely is about women, and I am surprised that I pulled through, maybe I was inspired by Shaggy lol.

lol.. What kind of impression and impact do you want the album to make?

Let’s see, firstly the fact that I am versatile with the music, I have different shades of me, I can make any type of music I want, depending on my emotions, like how I am feeling at the time mostly. I also want to consciously impress some mad lovers of Afrobeats & Afrofusion, especially the ladies, I wanna have more females listening to my music too, you know... would love to be acknowledged by some successful musicians I look up to if they eventually get to listen to the album, that will be it for me.

Besides your album dropping, a lot of other hip-hop acts will be dropping too. There seems to be a sudden rise in hip hop in Yentown compared to other genres, that were dominant in the past.

The real ones will always stand the test of time not minding the genre they represent, the fake ones well... you already know how the story ends. 

So a big shout out to everyone out there doing some real shit.

What's your Bayelsan dream, as it concerns entertainment?

Really, I would love to see the spotlight of entertainment shine on the local entertainment industry in Bayelsa state, you know I have been around for a decade or so and I understand the plights and challenges faced by entertainers over here, there are really talented people roaming the streets without sponsors, some have been discovered while some need to be, I really can’t tell why elites and businessmen over here do not see the need to invest in this very lucrative industry. I would also love to see it become the most active entertainment centre in the Niger Delta region, while I hope to see a united Niger Delta entertainment industry too, that will be huge I think.

Finally, could you talk about your upcoming project once more?

I FORGOT TO LOVE YOU is a project about different tales, circumstances and happenings that transpire between the female folks and that of their male counterparts mostly in intimate relationships, the diverse issues raised in different songs on the album make it really solid & special, for example, the song “I Forgot To Love You” houses the themes - regret, disappointment, breakup & heartbreak, a situation where the man realizes his wrongs & owns up to his mistakes. On the other hand the song “Pressure” details a situation where the female folk pressures her man to give her the luxury she knows he can’t afford at the time, the songs “Pussi” & “Again” are erotic, knowing sex is part of intimate relationships of course, lol. 

So much time, passion, hardwork and sacrifices was invested in making this album, and I am sure it will end up my biggest project thus far.

Thank you, Yawng Boss, for making out time to share your opinions with us... Best of luck with I Forgot To Love You.

Thank you Garbi, shout out to The Sleek Buzz and every member of your team for having me.

PS: Days ago, Yawng Boss released the first single I Forgot To Love You off his upcoming album I Forgot To Love You. 

You can listen to the single here: 

 I Forgot To Love You

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