Wednesday, May 09, 2012

GET FAMILIAR: YA-B THE NAIJA RAPPER TEARING DOWN CHI-TOWN

Ya-B The Rapless

 
Yaqub "Ya-B" Al-Amin began writing songs at a young age but started taking music seriously when he left Chicago for Nigeria at the age of 13. After a 15 Minute Audition with Mr Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo "D1" Adeneye, he and his Lagos based rap group "TMT" were offered a spot on the most watched show in West Africa at the time "Primetime Jams". By the time Ya-B was 15, at the turn of the century, he had learned Yoruba language fluenlty and had shared the stage with some of West Africa's top recording artists including Eedris Abdulkareem, Femi Kuti, and Many More.

        Ya-B is often seen wearing New York Yankees caps despite that he is a native Chicagoan to represent the mesh of Nigerian and American Culture “The NY stands for Niger/Yankee” Ya-B explained. Upon his return, Ya-B recorded a slew of new material at Chicago indie label illregards Records, which earned the Chicago Rap scene's attention. Slipping in Broken English and Yoruba language while still getting his positive point across to his fellow American MC's.

Ya-B The Naija Yankee Rapper

        He then went on to sign with a Chicago based independent Label, Zoawe records in Fall 2005. While at Zoawe Ya-B worked with Grammy Nominated Engineer Greg Magers, Soundstarz Productions as well as 1&15th Label Owners Chilly and Lupe Fiasco on his debut "Ya-B Presentz: The Rap Lesson". While recording "The Rap Lesson" Ya-B linked up with 2Face Idibia and joined his tour for 5 city's. After touring, Ya-B worked together with 2Face and Beatsmith productions to record a remix of 2Face's Hit record  "The Finest" featuring singer/songwriter/producer B.Howard.  Ya-B would also go on to join funk/soul giants Sharon Jones & The Dapkings on stage.

          Tragedy struck when Ya-B was shot 3 times while leaving an event in Chicago's south loop. As fate would have it Ya-B pulled through and made what can only be described as a miraculous recovery. After which he would make even more "Culture Packed Super-Powerful Music". Ya-B has since worked with a slew of Chicago based Afro-fusion taste makers such as Afro-Beat Productions, Naija DJ's, and Gavan Media, to become instrumental in pushing a campaign for Afro fusion music currently unmatched in Chicago today.

Discography

Freaking Out - Download
No Yawa (No Problem)- Download

I Mean..Who Is That

Friday Night On The Scene (Late Friday) - Download

Back From Insanity...

A Brief Look Into This World

The Finest feat 2Face Idibia & B.howard- Download

Body On The Floor feat. EZT

Levelz

Dr Super Monkey Urban Terrorist

Free (short)

Ya-B Says Its On...

Definitive prod. by EZT for SoundStarz

Fly Tha Knot (Freestyle)

No Go Tire

Iwo Ni Mo Fe Mega Mix feat Eedris AbdulKareem

I'm So Naija ft Ya-B

Bada Bye Baby ft D Best

Walking Through Anno Domini

Green White Green ft Blink & Titi Lokei (Prod. by Kid Konnect)

Omoge Akoka

Trust Me ***download for a limited time!!!***

Original Akata Music

Surgery

Never Look Back

Feel Me freestyle

Keep It Movin

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