Musiq World Order

Stage Name:

 Young Son

 Real Name:

Michael Hannah

 Hometown:

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 Ok… so now we're going to get a little bit personal by asking you what do you like to do in your free time?

Inmy free time, I do a lot of thinking, browse the internet, stay activewithin the online social networks and be sure to keep up on my the newmusic of all genres coming out.  I’m a firm believer of listening tofull albums and having that listening experience, ya know?  People needto start learning how to appreciate music before formulating anopinion.  (Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim throughit).  Sorry…I’m rambling.  LOL

 What made you want to become a musician? Where did you get your start in the industry?

 I always wanted to be a hip hop artist when I figured out I wanted toexpress myself to the world.  I've also been in love with music asearly as I can remember.  I've been rapping and making music 8 yearsold, but I'll say that I became seriously on my grind in 11th Grade.

 What is your music background?

I grew up on the south side of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He began gettinginterested in hip hop music as early as 4 years old.  As a youngster, Iperformed in  many of Minneapolis' community talents shows at locallibraries, parks and churches.  During my Jr. and Sr. High years, Ibecame an extensive poetry writer, being published in nationalanthologies and gaining nominations for Amateur Poet of the Year onmultiple occasions.  After high school graduation, I began a full-onplight as a professional artist.

 In October 2006, I formedan unsigned independent recording collective called "InfluentialMelodiez" with various artists from the Twin Cities.  The label servedas a group of music independent artists as close affiliates in musicalcreation and promotion, with a specific positive aim on the populargenre of hip hop, rap, soul and urban music.  Along with former labeland group mate Hypel, I was nominated for "Best Kept Secret" award atthe 2007 Twin Cities Hip Hop Awards as the collective duo, "Young SquadHarmony".  Under the Influential Melodiez company/collective, Ireleased his first solo effort, "Soul Inspired: Hip Hop's Revival" onMay 25, 2007, and since then, I've been promoted through promotion andperformances throughout the United States.   As we come back to thehear and now, I'm working on my sophomore independent LP "Dreamer'sPoetry".

 Who are your influences? Who were some of your inspirations growing up?

 Spirituallyand throughout life, my inspiration is Jesus Christ.  Without himmoving in my life, I would be in shambles.  I give him all the glory.  Musically,I would say growing up I was really influenced by soul music, oldschool joints and Motown.  While my cousins and others were knowing thelatest Bone Thugs -N-Harmony songs, I was singing "The Supremes", "TheTemptations" and Smokey.  Real talk.  LOL.  I also remember enjoyingthe golden feeling on the 90s in hip hop and urban music, such as TheFugees, Brandy and Blackstreet.  My influences in the early 2000sincluded Eminem, and two Christian rap acts Sean Slaughter and CrossMovement.

 What do you consider to be your greatest asset to this music industry?

I feel I'm what hip hop needs….sincerity.

 What do you feel you have to bring to the music world?

 That Inspirational, influential "dang, I gotta play that back cuz that homey was just so real and true with it" type feeling.

 Are you looking for an independent label deal or a major label deal?

 Truthfully,I'd love a major label deal that would still let me be me.  Anindependent label usually guarantees that, so I wouldn't mind that…theywould need good distribution and marketing though.  Definitely.

 Are you a part of any music label, if so which one(s)?

 I'mnot officially a part of a label.  I have an unsigned collective werefer as a 'label" called "Influential Melodiez" and I would like toexpand that when I get established in the music industry.

 How do you feel about the competition out there right now?

 Whatcompletion?  LOL.  Naw, but real talk.  I feel people in my age bracketisn't on what I'm on.  My competition will be the heads that are alittle older than me who are trying to make music with substance…andeven then…it wouldn't be a competition.  Everyone would embraceeveryone because they are real.

 What personality to you want to display to fans through your music?

 A genuine one.

 If you had to say one of each what would be your strength in music, and what would be your weakness?

 Ifeel my strength is really being in control and confident with what Iput out.  My weakness was the opposite of that previous statement…butI've changed now.

 What would you say is your hottest song right now?

Well,for the longest, my most popular song has been "This Far", a classic,produced by Newton, Massachusetts super producer Teddy Roxpin, with aguest appearance sample from one of hip hop's G.O.A.Ts. (And if youdon't know…now ya know!). It's been reviewed all over a lot of hip hopsites and has had minimal circulation. I'm pretty sure it helped fueledmy 2008 Nomination for Twin Cities Hip Hop Album of the Year.  Rightnow I think my current single “SUCCESS IS…” is doing well.  People haveexpressed that my joints “My Bus Ride Home” & “Git Live” have beenfavorites from my mix ape (MWO’s Mixtape of the Month last month).

 Describe your fan base. Who is your music meant for?

 Everyone. I want everyone to be touched by it.  I actually don't care if thatsounds cliché…that's just really my aim.  I want to break barriers,stereotypes, hip hop's negative connotations and even racial, style andclass divisions.

 Who would you most compare your style to?

 Toput it in a nutshell from the feedback I've received from most people,my lyrical style resembles Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco and I sonicallyresemble Biggie's speech and vocal sound at a much higher pitch(Whatever that means…lol)

 Who did you learn from the most?

 My father.  He's taught my real life lessons all my life that molded me to the man I am today.

 Who has helped you the most as an artist?

 I'mnot sure.  I had lots of influences and I want to give props toeverything as a whole that influenced me to become who I am.

 Do you write your own songs?

 I absolutely do.  There is no Gille Da Kid around here. (That's an inside Lil Wayne joke if you missed that.)

 What are your songs about?

 Communitytopics, social consciousness on the things in some of the moredown-rotten areas of the world, inner-harmony and self reflection. Other topics I speak about is God and my faith, creating music thateveryone can feel and just life in general.  Oh yeah..one more thing. I'm on that anti-ignorance movement!  I rap about this idiots stillacting a fool and giving bad reflections to the culture who probablyneed to smell the Folgers sometime soon here.

 How do you describe your music to people?

Idon't like describing my music to anyone.  I actually really loathethat question.  I simply let them find out for themselves.  It's beenso serious that I will GIVE someone my album for free to listen to justso they could fully understand what I'm about.  I could tell someonewhat I rap and write about, but in the end, everyone perceives andreceives things differently.  Why take away their individual right toanalyze a piece of work and come up with their own opinions andconclusions themselves?

 What image do you think your music conveys?

Somethingfresh content wise that will at least get someone taking that secondlook.  Haters or lovers alike will still look back and say that "Dudeis different".  I think that's the image.  They'll say I'm differentand also level headed and about my business, whether they choose tocosign or not.

 What are your immediate music career goals? (Next 1 to 3 years.)

Onthe real, I would like to have a deal by the end of 2009.  There aresome possibilities that are actually looking tangible right now and I’mvery excited about that.  I know people might look at that and laugh orsay it's a farfetched goal. But if you don't choose goals, what are youdoing? I might not be signed by then. Will I quit? Definitely not. I'lljust pick another date. It's an on going process. But between then andnow, my shorter term goals included finishing my sophomore album"Dreamer's Poetry", and packing the crowd at my release party.

What are your long-term career goals?

 Mylong term career goals is to make this my life…performing and travelingall across the world, touching people with the music.

 How would you define the word "success"?

 Successis when you reach whatever you decided "success" for you was.  I don'treally agree with you saying this can't be a short answer…becausethat's my answer completely right there.  You set your ultimate goalbased on the definition you have created to be "success" and you striveto reach it.  Everything after that is butter.

Have you had any radio play?

 Yes,I've been on a plethora of college radio stations, mostly on the EastCoast, including New Jersey.  I've been on the Top 40 Hip Hop andCommunity Radio stations in the Twin Cities, including B96, KMOJ &89.3 The Current, commonly dubbed as "Rhymesayers Radio"

 What were you doing when you first heard your single on the radio?

 I was listening at the crib.  It was played like at a quarter tillmidnight and everyone in my house was sleep and it was quiet, so I wasjust listening to it in the headphones and had to be mad excitedsilently.  LOL.

 How long did you, or have you been working on your album?

I worked on my first album from Nov. 1, 2007 until it's release on May 25th.

Istarted on my sophomore album "Dreamer's Poetry" that following month,in June 2007 and I hope to have it done and out by November 2009. 

What's the title of the album or what is it  gonna be?

 My upcoming album is titled "Dreamer's Poetry".  It came to me in a dream…no pun intended.

 Do you have a demo or press kit, or any other promotional materials?

 I have an EPK and music to distribute as demos and samples of my craft.

  Tell us a little bit about yourself…

 (Peep the rest of the interview, above and below…lol)

 What type of music do you listen to? Who is on your iPod right now other than yourself?

 Blu& Exile, Common, Consequence, Drake, Eminem, Eva Cassidy, Hope(Sweet Lemon Records), India Arie, Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Little Brother,Michael Jackson, Quest, Slink Proper and ironically….Soulja Boy's newsingle "Turn My Swag On (I used to be a hater…but you gotta dig theboy's hustle and marketing.  I can't knock it and can't front like Ididn't "Crank Dat" at least once in 2007...lol)

 Is there anything you'd like to tell the people before you go?

 2009 is the Year of Young Son.  Let's make it a great one!

 MySpace link or link to other music pages?

 http://www.youngsonmusic.com

blog.youngsonmusic.com

TWITTER.COM/youngsonmusic

 Any shout outs?

 Shoutout to my homey Hypel.  He has an album coming out March 2009 called"My Name Is Hypel, This Is My Story" and it's going to be epic.  I alsowant to shout out everyone in "The Nu Twin Cities" Collective,including Max Haben & The Fix, Young Capo, Slink Proper, Ronnie B,REV, Tameya Clark, A.J Soul, Yaro & MillionDollarKid.  Much love! The Twin Cities is taking over the world in 2009!