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“I'd say my production style is probably just Friendzone meets Lex Luger.” -Yung JZA

Yung JZA, 20 year old American producer and rapper has recently mentioned an album dropping soon, 6 months after the release of his “I Hate Myself” EP. JZA constantly releases singles via soundcloud, with his cohort of artists from the groups #PurityBoyz, and #SBSG.

I found Yung JZA through the Lush Selects Youtube channel, and listened to his music. I enjoyed it, downloaded some songs and didn't think much else of it, until I saw him post in a Facebook group containing many SoundCloud-based artists, and so I added him. A couple months later, he posted a status saying he’d like to do an interview with someone, so I messaged him, we sorted it out, and this is the result

Dylan: Starting this interview off with the one and only Yung JZA, how are you?

Yung JZA:

I'm good. I actually just woke up a few minutes ago. hahaha

Dylan: 2AM here, time zones are quite different.

I've been looking forward to interviewing you, I first found your music on the Lush Selects youtube channel, and was quite surprised to come across your facebook one day. So shall we get into this?

Yung JZA:

Yeah dude! I'm down.

Dylan:

How did the name "Yung JZA" happen?

Yung JZA:

It was just a nickname from High School. I just never changed it. I used to rap with my friends SK, Droe God and Dustoff'God a lot and I hadn't had a name for a minute so they just told me to go by that.

Dylan:

How old are you?

Yung JZA:

Just recently 20. It sucks

Dylan:

I'm not too excited about growing up soon either. Which groups are you affiliated with?

Yung JZA:

Uhhhh. I got my own group #SBSG. It's all local people. Like people I've known for years and from high school and shit. It's got Macboi Æternal, SK, PinkNokia Beats, Õçëåñs Elëvëñ, Svrf Gxd and myself in it and we've been doin' that for about 2 years. Since 2013 when we bought a house together. I'm also in PurityBoyz with my homie Blizzi Boi which is an actual duo and shit rather than a collective. We're working on our first EP together. It's gonna be tight. Also, I fuck with dudes in Fatal Faction and RayBandMafia heavily. Those are family.

Dylan:

Strange that you mention those names, because they're part of the question I had for you next.

I've recently been listening to your Soundcloud tracks, i've especially enjoyed your work with Ocean's Eleven. How did you two meet and come together for the collabs?

Yung JZA:

Õçëåñs Elëvëñ is actually a duo. It's 2 dudes. Deadboi 3D and 7glock A.F. I've actually never known either of them to work separately. We met in High School. They said they made beats together and we just started working together

We both really liked Friendzone and shit so it made sense to do stuff together. They're good.

Dylan:

Oh nice, i'll have to research them further tomorrow, as i said the collabs are brilliant.

What have been your musical influences?

Yung JZA:

Well as far influences ago I have a lot. Like a lot of my singing is super influenced by older Emo bands like From First To Last, Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights, etc. but as far as rapping no one ever really directly influenced me. I just learned from rapping with my friends and making songs when we were 15-16. I started producing about 3 years ago and it was originally for Ocean Gang dudes like Cartier'GOD and Skategoddd and shit but overtime I really started to be more interested in making music that sounded like Friendzone, Clams Casino, Beautiful Lou type stuff but I wanted it to have big Lex Luger-esque trap drums rather than the chiller drum sounds you usually find in that type of stuff.

Yung JZA:

I'd say my production style is probably just Friendzone meets Lex Luger.

Dylan:

I've definitely noticed that about your work, would you relate your productions with the cloud rap genre?

Yung JZA:

Yeah. Definitely. I grew up near the Bay Area so we kinda got to hear that shit immediately 'cause it was from the area. I've been listening to Main Attrakionz, Lil B and all that cloudy Bay Area stuff for years so it has definitely rubbed off on me.

Dylan:

I'm glad it did, the world needs more of this music in my opinion.

I've noticed that one of your more popular songs "In My Arms" is far different to your other music, what was your inspiration for this track?

Yung JZA:

In My Arms is an accident. We just bullshitted that in the living room of my house. I made in 10 minutes and the verse was just one I wasn't gonna use. I think I just kinda changed as I kept creating. I mean I've made over 100 songs in the last year alone so like I change a lot quicker than I think most artists do but it's not really intentional. It's just me putting out the sounds and shit that I'm feeling.

Dylan:

It's one of my favourite songs to come up when my phone is on shuffle.

What software do you use to produce beats?

Yung JZA:

FL Studio 11 and Mixcraft 5 to chop samples.

Dylan:

What do you listen to in your free time?

Yung JZA:

iLoveMakonnen a lot honestly. He's my favorite rapper right now. I listen to a lot of my friends. I got most of Yung Xela's music on my phone and shit. I listen to a lot of Emo still. I like the new Horse Head release. That kid's music is cool. My friends Joshrefe and Johnrefe make really good stuff. I just listen to whatever.

Dylan:

Can I ask how your album is coming along?

Yung JZA:

I finished recording all my songs for it. Just waiting on features from other people who are gonna be on it. It's gonna be cool if everything works out as planned.

Dylan:

I'll be on the lookout for it, for sure.

Have you performed live to an audience and do you have any plans to in the future? If not, would you like to?

Yung JZA:

I get weird about people. I have heavy social anxiety. I got people that can get me shows though. I haven't played any yet but if things are right I would.

Dylan:

A crowd that appreciates the genre of music you put out would be the dream, honestly.

This has been great interviewing you, but it sadly has to come to an end. Do you have anything you'd like to add, any shoutouts, any information?

Yung JZA:

Thank you! Shout out to Yung Xela, Nick Cavelaa, SAINT FLARE, t h r o n e, ₩ONDERSWAN, SK, BxbNvrley1000, and PinkNokia Beats. Those are all homies with cool music. Check them out! Thank you for the interview!

Dylan: This has been @strvctural with Yung JZA.

https://soundcloud.com/yung-jza-shawty https://www.facebook.com/officialsucideboyz2000 https://www.facebook.com/yung.jza