Exclusive Interview: Meet YC The Cynic, The Underground New York MC To Look For

YC the Cynic is an underground rapper from the Bronx. Just 22 years old, he has already released three projects: You’re Welcome (2010), Fall FWD (2011) and this year’s GNK, which has served so far as his breakthrough album. On October 28^th, YC performed at a Red Bull Sound Select at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. The event showcased three artists newly signed to the Sound Select: YC, Kiah Victoria and CharlieRed. YC showed off his skills as a wordsmith by merging a few of his hit songs such as “Hello Newman” and “Molotovs at Poseidon” and even a few dizzying acapellas. From his choice to spit so many acapellas, to his use of call-and-response hooks, to his physical presentation (his signature orange-lit, retro mic), YC’s set left the crowd in awe. Speaking on how he approaches live perfomances, YC told us, “When I do shows, I just like to perform the best songs from over the span of my career that translate well to the stage, participation and energy.”

We first spotted YC in front of the venue surrounded by a few of his close friends. He was sporting new eyeglasses changing his look from that in the picture below to the one above.

Photograph by Julia Schur

When we asked him to tell us about this style change, he laughed, saying, “You know I like to try new things. I always wanted to rock some Lennons. I like to change it up a little bit.” Even though the young MC likes the Lennon look, he is not a die-hard Beatles fan: “I respect the Beatles. I wouldn’t say that I’m a fan, but I love the music that I have heard. I just haven’t dug deep into their catalog. They are undoubtedly one of the best in history,” he said.

Otis Clapp & YC during the concert.
Photograph by Julia Schur

Earlier this year we went to YC’s album release party for GNK. Peter Rosenberg was there, Rebel Diaz was there, ScienZe, Otis Clapp, Dao Jones, Final Outlaw, Soul Khan, Frank Drake (who produced the album) and many more. At the Red Bull event, a few familiar faces were seen: Otis, Frank Drake, and Final Outlaw (who went by “James” for the night, calling it “more humble.”) Speaking on how all these friendships came about, YC told us, “It’s a pretty small scene, the open mic scene that existed in late 2000 early 2010. I met [Soul Khan] at an open mic, he was doing shows called Brown Bag Thursdays with The Brown Bag All Stars and they picked me for one of the shows. It’s just a cool friendship. Then I met ScienZe and Sene and we kind of formed a ‘crew’ called The Holy Order. We put out one song!” he told us enthusiastically, adding, “It’s called ‘The Holy Order.‘”

GNK has been highly acclaimed by critics and fans. “I expected it to be a step that would open me up to a new fan base, just like a new world of people. and it’s done that. It definitely feels like the defining step. This feels like the beginning of my career again. Not in terms of what I have put out, but in terms of finding out what kind of artist I am and want to be.” Since his album dropped, YC has had more and more people hitting him up via social media websites, he said, adding that whether it’s someone quoting his lyrics, or changing their profile picture to GNK‘s cover, “It’s a really good feeling I have never experienced before.” YC feels such a connection to those that have shown love, in fact, that he made a point of saying that he doesn’t like using the term “fan.” He would rather call his faithful listeners “supporters.” Even though the feedback he received for GNK was great, the Bronx native is not completely satisfied. “Well, I’m never satisfied,” he explains, “I read all the reviews, at least I tried to…”

For the past few weeks, YC has been on tour. “Touring is amazing,” he told us, excited again. “It’s always fun to play music for people who have never seen you or even never heard you before.” This was made all the more possible by the fact that YC did not headline the tour. Organized by a company who brought together 25 artists and musicians from 16 different countries, the tour gave the Bronx native a number of new experiences. “We stayed in Florida for two weeks and created music from scrap. It was crazy! I saw instruments I had never seen or heard before,” he said. YC was unable to even give a name the wildest instrument he saw: “My friend Jiha Park from South Korea had this crazy instrument. It looked like a gun from Men In Black or something. It was a crazy experience!” YC went on to say that he considers his new found group of international friends to be a “family.” The tour ended two weeks ago, so it’s hard for him to tell whether his new friendships will last with time, but he certainly hopes so.

In November, YC will leave again to go to the Midwest: Chicago, Milwakee, and Detroit. Chicago has been the city to look for in the hip-hop-sphere with artists such as Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, and Chief Keef blowing up. “I’m super excited–my friends Rebel Diaz are from Chicago. I’m just looking forward to seeing how they blow up, and to getting a feel of the scene.”

Towards the end of the interview. YC pointed at Frank Drake–“Yo Frank, do this interview with me dog!” They explained that two met via email: “When I was in college I had a Hip Hop blog,” explained Drake. “[The blog was] trying to do what all the other hip-hop blogs are doing, and I was following YC around. He was probably 19 years old at the time. I kept him in mind, and I finally decided to send him my beats.” When asked about the origin of GNK‘s powerful subject matte, they quickly admitted that the the concept of the tape was entirely created by YC. “[Frank] didn’t know anything [about the album]… I’m glad and thankful he kind of just grew with it. It was all kind of my brainchild,” YC said. The project was born after Frank sent YC about four or five beats, each of them making it to the final album. “We made this album in two years. It was gradually, song after song, changing.”

GNK (which stands for “Gods, Niggas, Kings”) is appropriately full of references to the two crown jewels of hip-hop royalty–2Pac and Biggie. YC elaborates: “Biggie was a big inspiration for this record. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan, but his music…for some reason…the music that I got from Frank and the stuff that I have heard from Biggie both inspired me and kind of like fused together. Tupac as well…” Smiling, Frank Drake, added, “Yeah, Tupac was definitely there in spirit–the executive producer,” before worrying that such a comment will get the duo in trouble if people don’t realize he’s kidding.

Frank Drake and YC have similar humor, but very different influences. “I’m really influenced by a lot of artists not really one more than anyone else,” YC explained, adding, “it’s definitely changed over the years but I feel like Cee-Lo is probably my biggest influence and I think after that it’s a free for all. Whatever I like.” Frank Drake, on the other hand loves “for producers–Dilla, Dj Premier, 9th Wonder, Black Milk. Rappers–like, Andre 3000 is the best rapper alive.” The dynamic duo exchanged joking looks. “I can’t argue that,” YC admitted, smiling.

You can catch YC in concert in New York City at the Gramercy Theatre (127 E, 23^rd Street) on January 18^th, 2014, alongside Homeboy Sandman, I Am Many, Open Mike Eagle and Tone Tank.

You should cop GNK: here