In the middle of a shopping center in College Park, MD, Paul “Young Swagger” Baker spits more bars than “a million pair of Adidas” -the same amount Canibus proclaimed to have spit in 1998. The Washington, D.C. native raps and uses his body language long enough to spark excitement, smirks and serious head-nods from a crowd of hip-hop lovers and The Famous Firm C.E.O. and past director of A&R at Atlantic Records, Sickamore.
After the job is done, Sickamore smiles and says with confirmation, “I never heard somebody go that hard.” After years and years of practice, a craft that seems so simple to display, has only come easy after hard work and dedication. Short days and long nights were dedicated to his love for music and semblance of Tupac Shakur, Shawn Carter and Christopher Wallace would become staples of what to look for in an emcee. After studying their sound, deliveries and rhyme schemes, Young Swagger created the perfect formula for becoming the world’s greatest emcee. He would use drugs called, “conviction” and “truth,” to grab the attention of hip- hop addicts and create a base that would boil into hardcore, honest music. His product would speak for itself. It would sell and create a buzz.
taken from Young Swagger’s bio
MMIM: How did you feel leaving school to pursue music?
YS: I felt like the the pressure was on but I was ready for my destiny. Rap is the first basket I put all my eggs into. I think I would rather have this pressure then being in an office being pressured to do something I didn’t love to do.
MMIM: Tell us why you chose the name ‘Young Swagger?”
YS: That’s just what the streets deemed me when I was coming up on the battle circuit…I would put my on money up to battle folks and after a few people got bodied then folks began to get scared…The confidence in my talents brought about the name swagger.
MMIM: Who are your musical influences?
YS: Pac…..I love the passion in his music, T.I….is the one of the all around best in the game, Jay-Z….as a rapper we should all to aspire to have the career he had from top to bottom. He is the pinnacle of Hip-Hop, Biggie…even though he was cut short he was undeniable in his greatness
MMIM: What projects are you working on, can you give us any details?
YS: Debut mixtape…and just in the lab working with the best producers trying to make the best music I can for the moment. Also I’m doing features on some other up and coming artists projects.
MMIM: What obstacles have you faced trying to pursue your passion, which is music?
YS: Well my team and I finance all the things we do so it can become strenuous especially when you do this 24/7….As any other street individual I’ve lost soldiers in the streets but it serves as motivation to keep pushing….also just trying to break in this industry is tough but I have a good team and we will grind till we cant grind anymore.
MMIM: How can your fans reach out to you or know more about Young Swagger?
YS: www.myspace.com/youngswaggdc and i have youtube clips under my name young swagger….and in the DMV I am everywhere lol…for those in other cities I will be coming to a city near you hopefully.
