YAH RECORDS
IN 2003, 19 YEAR OLD FORMER HIGH SCHOOL/JR. COLLEGE BASKETBALL STAR LIONEL SMITH (better knowN as L-TRAIN) LEFT HIS HOOP DREAMS TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MUSIC. L-TRAIN WAS BORN IN CHICAGO BUT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA SINCE 1995. GROWING UP WITHOUT A FATHER AND BEING POOR MOTIVATED L-TRAIN TO STRIVE FOR ANY GOAL THAT HE HAD SET FOR HIMSELF. HE USED TO BELIEVE THAT HIS B-BALL SKILLS WOULD ULTIMATELY LAND HIM AN NBA CONTRACT. EVENTUALLY 6"3' CENTER L-TRAIN MADE THE DECISION TO PUT THE HOOP DREAMS TO THE SIDE AND TAKE A SHOT AT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. IN 2004, HE FOUNDED YAH! MOB (now YAH! RECORDS) WITH CHILDHOOD FRIEND DEVIN "D-RIDE" JONES,18, WHO WAS THE PRIMARY ENGINEER AND PRODUCER FOR MANY EARLIER STAGE YAH! RECORDINGS. L-TRAIN AND D-RIDE WORKED HARD TOGETHER AND EVENTUALLY YAH! MOB ADDED NEW MEMBERS TO THE GROUP AND RELEASED THEIR DEBUT 21-TRACK COMPILATION YAH! MOB: NAPPY HEADED NATURE VOL.2 WHICH SOLD OVER 1,000 COPIES WITHOUT THE HELP OF DISTRIBUTORS OR LABELS.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
IN 2003, 19 YEAR OLD FORMER HIGH SCHOOL/JR. COLLEGE BASKETBALL STAR LIONEL SMITH (better knowN as L-TRAIN) LEFT HIS HOOP DREAMS TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MUSIC. L-TRAIN WAS BORN IN CHICAGO BUT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA SINCE 1995. GROWING UP WITHOUT A FATHER AND BEING POOR MOTIVATED L-TRAIN TO STRIVE FOR ANY GOAL THAT HE HAD SET FOR HIMSELF. HE USED TO BELIEVE THAT HIS B-BALL SKILLS WOULD ULTIMATELY LAND HIM AN NBA CONTRACT. EVENTUALLY 6"3' CENTER L-TRAIN MADE THE DECISION TO PUT THE HOOP DREAMS TO THE SIDE AND TAKE A SHOT AT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. IN 2004, HE FOUNDED YAH! MOB (now YAH! RECORDS) WITH CHILDHOOD FRIEND DEVIN "D-RIDE" JONES,18, WHO WAS THE PRIMARY ENGINEER AND PRODUCER FOR MANY EARLIER STAGE YAH! RECORDINGS. L-TRAIN AND D-RIDE WORKED HARD TOGETHER AND EVENTUALLY YAH! MOB ADDED NEW MEMBERS TO THE GROUP AND RELEASED THEIR DEBUT 21-TRACK COMPILATION YAH! MOB: NAPPY HEADED NATURE VOL.2 WHICH SOLD OVER 1,000 COPIES WITHOUT THE HELP OF DISTRIBUTORS OR LABELS.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
WE ARE PLANNING LIVE SHOWS FOR THE UPCOMING SUMMER. IT WILL PROMOTE OUR SOPHMORE ALBUM YAH! RECORDS:NAPPY HEADED NATURE VOL.2 COMIMG THIS JUNE!!!!!
Your musical influences
2PAC, BIGGIE, ICE CUBE, DJ QUIK, THE ISLEY BROTHERS, MARVIN GAYE, RAY CHARLES, R. KELLY, KANYE WEST, TWISTA, COMMON, JAY-Z, NAS, THE FUGEES, MAC DRE, TOO SHORT, MC HAMMER, E-40
What equipment do you use?
SONAR, FL STUDIO, REASON, AND PROTEUS
Anything else?
THE NEW COMPILATION ALBUM YAH! RECORDS:NAPPY HEADED NATURE VOL.2 COMING IN JUNE 2005
THE NEW COMPILATION ALBUM YAH! RECORDS:NAPPY HEADED NATURE VOL.2 COMING IN JUNE 2005
