The Y.B.B.I. Collection (formerly Ya Boy Black Ice): Nearly 20 years of Y.B.B.I. :::: Browse it. Buy it. Wear it. Share it. |
Ya Boy Black Ice | Promote Your Page Too |
PURCHASE CLASSIC G-FUNK: CD & MP3 If you rather visit Y.B.B.I. at CDBaby.com, please click below
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Title: Rapper and International iRadio Personality
1990: • Ya Boy Black Ice: Po Black Citizen My first official group was Po Black Citizen. Ya Boy B.I. was the rapper. Poetry was the Producer. I was 19 and ready to take over the world. We did a lot of songs. Several tracks are featured above in the "1990 Melody" available for download. We mass produced one project, a Cassette Single ( CDs didn't exist): Po Black Citizen: At the time, It was the best thing since sliced bread. Po Black Citizen is one of the 1st rap groups in Richmond CA to have an actual retail ready project. We were going to perform at 1991 KMEL Summer Jam...SIKE!
1995: • Ya Boy Black Ice: 5.0 REASONS & By 1995 I had found my flow. Being from Richmond, CA, the rhymes are a matter of fact and confident with aggressive delivery . Ya Boy black Ice says, "I am a storyteller. My lyrics have two levels. Level one is for folks who check for the track and flow. Level two is for those who actually dissect the rhymes. You always get a beginning, middle and end. I intentionally leave things out, so your imagination takes over. Chains of events may vary based on one's personal experience. I always wrote songs that I understand, because the songs are based on my everyday experiences." But just like the 1990 single, everybody didn't understand what I was go through. What I needed was a per song system where I could write whatever I wanted and distribute it. Then MP3.com was created. I've been in love with the internet since 1995. "The 1st project 5.0 REASONS was my polished introduction: 'Hi, I'm Ya Boy Black Ice. I drive a Fifty (Ford Mustang 5.0), I have a few personal problems, my uncles are crack heads, and here's what happened last night.' That was me in 1991-95. The lyrics are so relevant today. Unfortunately this rap shit was looking kind of fruitless, so I went into other elements of Hip-Hop: 95' Travlyrics Graphic Design (graffiti) and 98' The 41510 Apparel (gear).
1998: • 41510 Apparel The 41510 Brand Apparel was created for on reason. As a Rapper/Graphic Designer, I wanted to create a quality-first, Easy to understand, “For Us By Us”, Bay Area Hip-Hop Based Clothing Brand allowing local artists (like myself) to Identify Home as we traveled worldwide.
2001: • Travlyrics.com Exit: Ya Boy Black Ice. Enter: Travlyrics.com This would have been my third release, had I continued to chase the dream. With four songs done, it became clear, I was too busy with Travlyrics Graphics and The 41510 Brand Apparel was on a roll. Then dotcom bubble burst and expendable money began to dry up. Then 911 hit and the economy completely shut down on independent clothing designers and there was no real time or money to complete the "Last Rhyme" project. Also it was crystal clear (to me) that there was a new breed of rapper coming up in the Bay Area, so I chose to lay back and ride it out. My mentality at this point was "These are timeless records with fresh lyrics and a competitive image. Eventually I'll be able to play by my own rules".
2003-07: Self Exile Basically in the late 90s, my timing was off. By 2000, I was in my late twenties with a lot of lumps from experience. By 2001, my vision on life was becoming clear. I understood why certain things happen and I wanted to discuss it. Simultaneously, Bay Area Hip-Hop began to demand less, marking the pre-stages of going Dumb. Eventually Bay Area Hip-Hop made a conscious decision to ride the yellow bus. (Download "13 O'clock" Prophets of Rage featuring Ya Boy Black Ice.) By 2003, I needed a break. I needed to catch my breath and live outside of Urban Paradox of clothing, music, meeting in night clubs, fashion shows, tables, booths and contests.
2007: • The Travlyrics Company LLC Recently, several things have occurred to re-spark my faith. 1. At 36, my business now has structure and I know my position. 2. I've grown wiser and more articulate (fewer curse words). 2. I became a Husband and a Father. 3. The 5.0 REASONS Album has become a Underground Rap Classic in The UK, France, and Japan. 4. Web 2.0: Google, PayPal, Itunes, Myspace, YouTube and Snocap have leveled the 5. I've decided to be a part of the solution by example. The dream has been realized. For years I've admired Prince and Chuck D for their internet presence. Since 1996, I've operated www.travlyrics.com, with hopes to make both my entire music catalog and private design catalog available for download. No inventory. No red tape. No Drama. Just an instant fair trade with no robbery, between you, me, your ipod, and your closet. The Travlyrics Company partnered with CDbaby.com and Cafepress.com essentially giving our music and other brands that simple international Sells and Distribution deal we had been dreaming of since 1995. The new structure of The Travlyrics Company allows Trav Lyrics to focus on Brand Management and Custom Graphic Design; YBBI to concentrate on music and personal appearances; while our strategic partners handle delivering the product to you. It is a beautiful thing.
2008: • 5.0 REASONS 10th Anniversary 1998-2008 We spoke with many rap music collectors who agreed with Sharingan-Masta; so, we added 4 unreleased YBBI songs from the Golden Era and re-issued the 5.0 Reason CD for the international market via CD Baby.com, iTunes, Rhapsody.com, and Napster. In March 2008, thanks to our new international connections at 187 RADIO in Paris, Ya Boy Black Ice accepted an offer to host an internet radio show. The platform allowed me to finally spread my wings on my own terms. "Introducing the YBBI SHOW on 187 Radio. The only place you will go from Richmond, Cali to Paris, France and Back in one hour. Get that Golden Era Bay Area rap that we all love but never hear. Get discussions the folks who created the sound. And listen to YBBI chop about what ever. Its cussin radio for adults. Parental Advisory Advised." The 'G-Funk Cafe' (inside Travlyrics-On-Demand) was created to deliver on-demand consumer products that compliment the now classic albums affiliated with The Travlyrics Company and YBBI. It is interesting that every rap album cover designed by Travlyrics Graphics is considered Classic Bay Area G-funk, G-Rap, or Mobb Music. as well as the few albums where YBBI made guest appearances. The 'G-Funk Cafe' offers T-shirts, posters and other products. visit Travlyrics.com to browse the The 'G-Funk Cafe' (inside Travlyrics-On-Demand).
2009: •
The Clean Collection Album is released 2010: • TCC EP is released • 5.0 Reasons 12" Vinyl Two Pack (Japan Exclusive) |
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©1991-2007 Travlyrics Company, LLC