“Principal’s Office” broke into the Top 40 and was nominated for Best Rap Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards, and “That’s the Way Love Goes” achieved some success on the charts as well, but neither was able to top the success of his first hit. Young also had a hand in establishing the fame of Tone Loc, writing his two biggest hits, “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina.”

Young is driven and relentless when it comes to his passion for music, but he refuses to conform to the latest industry trends to achieve success. He’s had a string of albums over the years, including Stone Cold Rhymin’, Return of the One-Hit Wonder, and Ain’t Going Out Like That. Although they didn’t all top the charts, they still kept Young somewhat in the celebrity spotlight. He has appeared on the television shows The Weakest Link and Celebrity Fit Club 3, and his songs have been included on countless movie soundtracks.

Now with a move to Arizona to clear his mind and regain his creativity, Young has a new album in the mix, a new home, and a renewed desire to achieve his music-oriented goals. North Valley Magazine had the pleasure of speaking with the talented artist about his recent move to the valley, the highs and lows of his music career, and his expectations for his new album.




North Valley Magazine: You have just recently moved to Arizona. How do you like it so far?

Marvin Young: I moved here with my fiancée in June, and I like it a lot. I wanted to get out of L.A. so I could have a less cluttered existence—an existence where I could be more creative. I became very tired of the traffic, cost of living. and hassle of L.A., and I wanted to find a new place. My fiancée had taken a few trips here and loved it, so we came out, looked around, and found a beautiful house in North Scottsdale.



NVM: Have you found a favorite Valley restaurant yet?

MY: I’m not that much of a restaurant person, but there definitely isn’t a shortage of restaurants here. My fiancée and I have been to some here and there, but as we’re here longer, I’m sure we will get out more.



NVM: How about any local nightspots? Have you and your fiancée been out to any of the bars and nightclubs?

MY: I’ve been to E4 and it was nice, but I’ll get out more in due time or when I get around to it. I’ve been more concerned with my day-today life, meeting people, and finding a decent studio to record in.



NVM: The people, the weather and the vibe must be very different in Arizona than the other places you’ve lived. What has been your favorite part about your new life in the Valley?

MY: The peaceful days, peaceful time, and the ability to block time out to get creative and make creative things happen.



NVM: Growing up, when did you first become interested in music?

MY: Music was always a hobby for me. My dad had a big record collection, so I listened to that all the time. I got into MCing when I was 10 or 11 years old, DJing when I was 15, and then producing came from DJing. Music was what really got me inspired, rather than sports or any of the other things kids my age were doing. Music was always it for me.



NVM: Your huge 1989 hit, “Bust a Move,” is still around today. It’s played frequently on the radio and has been used in commercials and movies. How does it feel to be such an integral part of rap history?

MY: It’s kinda scary when you’re going through it because you don’t recognize that. I wrote three verses for “Wild Thing” in a half an hour. “Bust a Move” I wrote in an hour and a half because back then, there was no pressure and I just wanted to get ideas out. One of the beauties of “Bust a Move” is that it all came out in a stream of consciousness. People still like it; one of the problems today is that people don’t write hits anymore. They don’t make hit records, they just want to get it out and get their sales and money, and that’s all they focus on. They don’t have records that last a long time like “Bust a Move” did when it came out.



NVM: You also became the first-ever Grammy Award recipient for Best Rap Recording for “Bust a Move.” Do you feel that you helped to pave the way for other rap and hip-hop artists?

MY: I guess I did, but there were people that paved the way for me too. Grandmaster Flash, Run-D.M.C., and Spoonie Gee when I was a kid, they were out before I started rapping and helped to influence me. It’s great, because not that I feel like I’ve done anything that special, but I’m pleased I’ve been able to continue on and carry the torch, especially for the West Coast. I was raised in New York and came out to California to go to college, and when my album came out, I was identified as someone who came from the West Coast. A lot of the West Coast rappers heard my style and that inspired a lot of those guys out there, and that’s what makes me feel good about it.



NVM: Is it true that you auditioned for your first label over the phone?

MY: Yes. I was in college. After my sophomore year, I went to New York to try and get a record deal, but it didn’t work out. Some people at Delicious Vinyl called me in my dorm room and I rapped a few verses for them over the phone. A week later, they mailed me a recording contract.



NVM: Did you have verses written down, or did you freestyle for them?

MY: I had stuff written down. I pride myself on being a songwriter. Even when I was a kid, I used to walk around with my rhyme book, and could spit it out well. I’m better at memorizing than freestyling, although I can do it.



NVM: What do you think of today’s rap and hip-hop music?

MY: I don’t have a problem with the hardcore lyrics; what I have a problem with is that everyone has to sound a certain way. The major labels took all the variety out of rap music. When gangsta rap came along, they didn’t have as much of a need anymore for the party stuff. Labels all said that everything had to sound like gangsta rap—even if that wasn’t your style or sound, they’d turn you into that. You basically have everyone fighting to sound the same way to get the radio play or the sales. There’s not a lot of room to be original. When I was out, you had guys like me and Tone Loc doing the pop stuff, and other groups doing different styles and no one felt threatened by that. And it did wonders for rap. But whatever the hottest song on the radio is, that’s what rap is. And that’s not necessarily the best case scenario for the art.



NVM: Do you continue to write music?

MY: Yes. I just finished an album called Adrenaline Flow, and I’m getting the artwork done for it so it can be presented. I will send it out to movies, TV shows, commercials, video games, and those kinds of outlets for licensing. I’ve been doing pretty well with movies and film. I’ve been focusing on that, and I feel really good about where it’s going to go in that market.



NVM: So you don’t have any plans right now to release the new album on the radio?

MY: No, it’s not something I will look to put in stores or on the radio here yet. I’m more interested in sending it to movies, video games, and TV shows, but if a major label gets interested, great. There are so many good records that no one hears because they are not one of the ten or twelve artists that gets played, so I won’t try to fight that battle. I’m more concerned about having my catalog become more valuable and make some money. I know my music is good enough for a label, but I’ve found a good niche in terms of getting in movies and other outlets.



NVM: What are some of the movies your songs have been in?

MY: I have a song called “Stress Test” that has been in the movie Crossover, as well as the trailer for Four Brothers. I have a song called “Get Your Boogie On” that was in the trailer for the animated film Barnyard. I also have a song called “Feel The Love” that was in both the television shows Entourage and Wonderfalls. My song “Rollin’” was featured in the national Burger King “Open All Night” campaign. All that is on top of the “Bust a Move,” “Wild Thing,” and “Funky Cold Medina” used in movies like Norbit, You Me and Dupree, Dude Where’s My Car, etc.



NVM: Where do you get your inspiration from for writing music, and how do your song ideas come about?

MY: Inspiration comes from all over. I could hear a phrase on TV or the radio. A melody could come to me when I’m driving or in the shower. I usually make the track first, then the lyrics and the hook are inspired by the music. Once in a while, a hook line will stick with me, then I’ll build the music around that. I just try to keep myself flexible and not rely too much on a formula to make my stuff.



NVM: Have you thought about doing any concerts in Arizona at the local venues?

MY: I have, and I will want to eventually, but I want to get my producing chops together first. I want to get more connected with local opportunities, and once that starts happening, then I will look to do shows and invite the people I know and the people I’ve met, and that way, it will mean more. I will be in Arizona for awhile and I want to do a show when it will have more impact.



NVM: You were in Celebrity Fit Club 3. What was that experience like?

MY: It was great in terms of guidance and losing weight. It was not great in terms of being on TV and in a reality show because they have to make everything interesting. Losing weight by itself isn’t that interesting, so they had to make it more than it was. Just the reality show aspect of it was a bit annoying, but then again, it goes right along with it. I had a good time and learned a bunch. And it was that experience that convinced me I could leave L.A. and be okay. There were people involved with the show that were so concerned with how much publicity they could get from it, and it occurred to me that no big movie producers or record producers are going to see you on a weight-loss show and decide you’re going to be in their next movie or give you a record deal. It’s just not going to happen. You might get a little something from it, but not much more. No offense to Celebrity Fit Club—it’s just not going to work. I was in it to make a little money, lose weight, and meet new people, and I did that.



NVM: You have many fans, of all ages who would love to see you in the spotlight again. Do you have any future plans for acting or touring?

MY: I’m open to touring and I do shows every few months—sometimes every month. I do shows at colleges and fairs back east. I have a few more years left in me where I can still do that stuff. As far as the acting goes, I am interested in it, but I want to get the music established here first, then I can think about acting. I co-produced a movie two years ago titled The Zero Sum. I acted in a small role and created a theme song as well. We just got a distribution offer, so I want to watch that deal develop before I dive into anything else right away.



NVM: Do you have any advice for anyone looking to break into the music industry?

MY: I get asked this question a lot, and despite the fact that the industry has changed so much, my answer is pretty much the same. If you’re in school, stay in school. If you have a job, keep your job. Make music your hobby until it becomes lucrative enough to become your job. It is easier to be creative when your housing, food, clothing, etc. are taken care of. It also allows any potential business deals to develop naturally instead of rushing to sign something just to pay next month’s rent. I stayed in college even after two big songs I had written—“Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina”—had been released. Artistically, I tell everyone that they should write songs and keep on writing. You should eventually write more songs than you can perform, because another artist can perform it and you can get in the door that way. Never let anyone else destroy your dream, but be honest with yourself as well. Only a tiny percentage get to do this for a living, but everyone at some point wants to be a singer, actor, or athlete.