Well my name is Yussef....at first it was Mista RG, but that changed such as things in life. I just wanted something unique and I like dark or black comedy...so it was Yussef Noir and even Fere Noir (Brother Black), but I settled on Yussef Black.

I have not performed live in almost 12yrs, but when I did I really love doing it and just the interaction with the fans and other artists. I am definitely going to do it again....so all booking agents get at me! Holla!

It takes down the filter and what a few people at the top think is hot music. It forces the industry to take notice if an artist no matter their genre has a faithful following, they are getting numerous hits per day, and selling more units independently. They can not control it...so it is now an even playing field so to speak because signed artists have sites and mp3 to compete with the indies and unsigned.....I believe it is a good change and it reaches more ppl as well globally.

That really depends on a lot of factors....on the outside it looks good, but the politics on the inside makes it quite different and an artist may be forced to change. For the moment, I would like to remain independent and control my own sound and creative direction.

Yussef Black, the artist formerly known as Mista RG, is a rapper, producer, and songwriter. He got his start in music as a DJ in the 9th grade in his room mixing different sounds and taking instrumentals adding his vocals to them. Even then, Yussef has always had an ear for unique sounds and blending the most unconventional of things. This stems from his mother, who use to be a radio station deejay and she would often take Yussef to work with her.

Yussef graduated to the mainstream in 1995 when he met former rapper and recording engineer Ed G, from the Phatheads, and Robert of the Polygon recording studios in Pennsaukin, NJ. It was during this time when, Yussef attended Rutgers University in Camden, NJ that he recorded such songs as "Eveready" and "An American Tale" which had the first sample of Willie Hutch's "I Choose You" from the blaxapoliation classic The Mack. He was met with resistance from the industry at that time....even one A&R went as far to tell him that your style is more spoken word and we are looking for the next DMX. Being ahead of his time, he had only to wait 2 years before artists like Kanye West, Mos Def, Lil Wayne, Nelly, T.I., The Cool Kids, and countless others would turn the music industry on its ear. So now 11yrs later, it is now the perfect time....I give you, Yussef Black!

Currently, Yussef is working on his debut album titled, Conflicted, and he has enlisted a few independent artists who share his vision of hip hop music...Iranian rapper, Salome, tha Outsider; and South Texas rapperproducer LoDown Magellan of LMD Produkchiz210 Faction just to name a few. Conflicted is slated for a late January '09 release to be followed by an EP titled, Conflict Resolution which will include remixes, commentary on the making of the album, as well as a few tracks that did not make the final cut for the album. So until then you can check out some leaks on his myspace page and also his singles "Baby's Fire", "Hello", and "Breathe On Em" available on Itunes, Amazon, and Rhapsophy. Peace out 1!

I like classical music, jazz, blues, and oldies. I like using a lot of strings in my music. I don't listen to a lot of hip hop or r&b when I write my music. Some people have told me I sound like the Pharcyde, Digable Planets, De la Soul, a laid back OBD, and even Scarface! Artists that do or have had such influence over me are Common, De la Soul, Rakim, Too Short, Ice T, NWA, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, 2Pac, Digital Underground, Pete Rock, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, BB King, Billy Joel, Chuck Berry, Q-Tip, The Roots, Charlie Parker, Guru and Premier, Miles Davis, and Kool and the Gang....there a countless others...I just love music in general.

Hmmm....South Street in Philly and Casablanca in Morocco

Cubase (all Steinberg Stuff), Yamaha USB Mixing Studio, Keyboards, and of course two turntables and a microphone (not into the virtual dj stuff....I still like the feel of vinyl b/c it makes me feel like I have accomplished something that old school sound.....but that's just me.)

Anything? Really! Anything?!?