Our inbox has been flooded with questions about the video that was released by unite2write's CEO Since his announcement on the 30th, we finally had a chance to sit down with Matt Young and ask him a few questions about his departure from rap music.
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^-_-^ HOW HAVE YOU ENJOYED YOUR "RETIREMENT" FROM MUSIC?
It's been incredible, really haha! I've focused so much of my time and energy on unite2write for the past 7+ years.. it was like gaining 5-10 hours of TIME each and every day. Imagine that!! Imagine having an extra 70hours a week haha it was Life changing. It's allowed me to do so many things that I was able to do previously. I've caught up on a LOT of sleep hah (anybody who knows me, knows I've ran on 4-6hrs of sleep a day since highschool) so It's been nice to just refresh my body completely. I've been meditating a lot. And reading. The things that really interfered with what I was trying to do with u2w. I spend a lot more time LISTENING to music instead of just MAKING IT all the time haha.
It's crazy to me. The local musicians; the ones I specifically helped so much; they're the quietest to say goodbye. The "diehard fans" and my rapper entourage disappeared quickly haha but the people I never knew, never expected; Those were the first ones to call me and support me. And its been that way. Even to this day; somebody will just find out and they'll go on about how I "NEED" to keep rapping. But it seems like all theatrics to me. Sadly, the ones who proliferate the loudest, are (ironically) always the ones who have NEVER made it to a show. Never bought a CD or teeshirt. Maybe even never visit the website. THE THINGS THAT ANY ARTIST/MUSICIAN NEEDS AND REALLY APPRECIATES. Thats the stuff that keeps a career going. Thats the stuff that pushes a career to the next level. And thats why support takes many different forms. It comes in many different ways. And I'm shocked and flattered by the tremendous amount of ACTUAL support I've received. Many even saying: "I'll support you in any of your future ventures" that stuff means the World to me. To know that folks have stood by me thru WHATEVER. That's beautiful.
^-_-^ HOW LONG HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT QUITTING?
I'd be lying if I didn't say FOR A LONG TIME haha sorry But it's the truth!! Since I found out I was about to have a daughter; from the single moment... I flipped the eggtimer. I knew that I had limited time to accomplish what I wanted to do. It made me completely restructure and reschedule my music career. But at the same time; it FUELED me in a way I've never been gassed up. It was a REASON to be great. It was a PURPOSE to do great things.
As my daughter was born, and as she's eventually gotten older... I knew my time was getting shorter. It was like watching a fuse burn. Some people may not understand the correlation between my daughter and "needing to quit" But theres no way that I am being a responsible father to a daughter by being a famous rapper. Period, end of story. And as I saw that, and knew that.. accepting it was probably the hardest thing to do. I tried to justify it. Or glorify it. And when that didn't work, I just said FKIT "this is what Im suppose to do with my Life"
But I was overlooking the fact that I ALREADY DID IT!! I live with absolutely no regrets! From the age 17 to 27; I was the most kickass whiteboy rapper from the Detroit suburbs. No Questions Asked. Everything I wanted to do, I set out; and I accomplished. I traveled the United States. I broke World records. I made front-page news. I recorded and released more music than any other artist in any other genre. Ever. And it was 1000% completely self-made.
^-_-^ WHAT MADE YOU FINALLY DECIDE?
It wasn't one specific event... more of just a FEELING that I had. It just FELT like it was time. My passion was gone. I was bitter about a lot of things in the industry. Certain people. The way that certain things worked out. I had just "had enough" of the music business. Make music (itself) is one of the most incredible things I'll ever do. It's my therapy. My outlet. My way to breathe. But the business behind making it a CAREER is just plan shitty. It honestly sucks. And that goes for ANYTHING in the "entertainment industry" but the "rap game" is especially crappy.
unite2write Records is like a child to me. I've said it before my daughter was even a thought; and I'll say it now that she's here to enjoy it with me. My love for u2w will never compare to the real Love I feel for my daughter.. but that doesn't mean it is any less real. I've watched u2w grow and take shape and build a purpose, which gained a following. It was incredible to witness. It got to the point that, anything I fathomed... I could accomplish with u2w. Musically. Events. Conceptually. Nothing was off-limits.
And that was powerful to me.
I could never let that just DIE. I can't bury that! I just want to take a different seat in the car haha I want to see it out of a different window. A different view. I want to start producing records... making the instrumentals and building the hooks and choruses. All different genres. Maybe assemble a band of go-to musicians. I still love performing. I still love writing. But I want to take it out of the club scene and take it outside of the mic booth and Spread knowledge and love and inspiration in many different ways. I love doing charity events; that's become a new passion of mine.
With that being said; my brothren Joey (aka "Tha Sicknaz") will continue to be an artist on u2w. His passion and understand of unite2write's goals, are only matched by his extreme talent and lyricism. We've already done tons of songs together; and from here on out... Anything he needs; I am willing to help and assist with. He's a major force in this local rap scene; but he ALSO has an awesome understanding of how this game works... and so, he approaches it different than a lot of other MCs.
I'd love to always keep u2w going; maybe expand into different regions, genres, and markets. The most beautiful thing about unite2write, has always been it's ability to take ANYTHING and some how make it very u2w-ish haha Put our own spin on it. And thats what I intend to do. For the rest of my life... as long as it's humanly possible. u2w will ATLEAST be around for that long, because u2w is so much of ME and who I am!! As long as I'm alive, u2w will be Alive!
^-_-^ WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR UNRELEASED MATERIAL?
Sicknaz is releasing his second solo mixtape, R.I.B.S. vol2. A lot of my "last verses" are on that project. As a whole, my brother Sicknaz has completely blown my mind in how much he's stepped up and how much he's accomplished in ONE YEAR! THIS MIXTAPE IS GONNA DROP WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF RAPPING (professionally) THATS TWO SOLO MIXTAPES; plus all the team tape verses he did!!! I couldn't be prouder!! That's more than some people do in their entire career; and my brother did it in months. Easily. And he poured his heart out doing so
The same day as RIBS2 is released; we are also going to release 3 different u2w team tapes. The first will be the (highly anticipated) (and finally) release of The Hunger. This tape was something I put together with a lot of the familiar faces of unite2write and Wolf Gang Radio. My whole swag and vibe beasted up in late 2012, and after a few days in the studio I created The Hunger as a project concept.. and it turned out to be as much as I thought it would haha! The songs on here are amazing examples of everybody involved. I was impressed by EVERYBODY!
Another tape being released that day is The Lee Bros EP. This is another conceptual project I came up with; which would be kinda like Rockin Role (think guitars+rap) but more original work instead of remixing classic rock songs. Thats how it started. The name LEE BROS came from an inside joke.. I always said I was gonna rap as "Serious Lee" haha and that's how it spun-off into The Lee Brothers! This project is (again) some real unique, refreshing "rap" music and I think it will be a gem in any music-lover's collection. Very lyrical, and relaxing.
Thirdly, I'm putting together another team tape with my "last verses;" which me and Sicknaz wanted to name PLAY. PAUSE. REWIND. It will contain every single unreleased verse that I have on my computer; and is sure to be another classic. Lots of local yokals on here. Lots of original beats. It's gonna be an awesome addition to your playlists.
^-_-^ WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?
Still doing what I love. Hopefully; happy and healthy and free; working very little but living comfortably with my entire family. Still laughing. Still writing. I'd like to start public speaking more at schools or youth groups. I'd like to be more involved in the politics of my local community. I want to go overseas and volunteer. I want to spread as much love and knowledge to my daughter as possible. And; I'll probably write a book haha!!
As for now, I'm just enjoying the extreme amounts of "freetime" that I have, now that I don't work 20hrs a day hahah it was crazy how little I've slept (for years) but I feel very zen-like. I feel recharged. I feel; HAPPIER than I've been in a long time. And that lets me know, I made the right decision.
^-_-^ WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH ALL YOUR EXTRA FREETIME?
Read. Write more. Meditate. Take up a few new hobbies; maybe try a new sport or something. Spend more time with my family; especially the older (and wiser) members. I'm gonna start blogging again; and updating this website a lot more frequently. I'm gonna start being a lot more active in the local politics too. Attend more rallies and speeches. Go camping more often and just disconnect from our ugly, technological cages. Spend more time outside. Spend more time with my phone off. Read again haha!
^-_-^ ANYTHING YOU WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?
Not at all.
^-_-^ DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY FROM YOUR CAREER?
I have a ton... but here's a few of the top of my head.. 2005/2006ish; we did a show in downtown Chicago with Steve Chucks (this was back in the days of the very original u2w) did the show on a Friday night and everything was as incredible as you could imagine. Woke up, we all motorcade back to the Detroit area the next day; did a show at our old highschool in front of 2900 kids (largest crowd) it was a superstar moment.
Did 3 shows in one night before; which was awesome. Did 2 shows in one night multiple times.
Getting the email saying I had been nominated for the Unsigned Musical Genius Award of 2011. Ended up winning. Couldn't explain the feeling of being recognized for something like that. It was amazing. I was nominated again in 2012 and came in 2nd place..
Made a bet with myself (and the entire Worldwide web) that I could release a CD a day, for the entire month of February. Quit my job in the last week of January; and did it! "Webuary" is one of my shining accomplishments; and it will forever be something I am proud of. Two unknown facts from Webuary; I was contacted by the Guinness Book of World Records for "most songs recorded" AND on one day alone; my combined websites received 22,000+ hits. The most I've ever had in one day (to this date)
^-_-^ WHAT WAS THE BEST LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED?
Be yourself; Do it yourself; and Never let them tell you that you can't do it. Period.
^-_-^ ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD?
I hope you all stay in contact and stay in touch. I'm not going away; I'm just going in a different direction! Stay tuned in to Wolf Gang Radio. Support u2w. Come out to all the WAMWAP events. It's time for a CHANGE not just for me or for music but for the World. It's time for real, tangible changes. But it all starts in your own heart. It all starts at home. And that's why I'm calling it Motown's Revival. We need to BE the change we wish to SEE ^-_-^
