West Oakland’s own YouSeeIsh releases a heartfelt new track titled “Stay True”. The member of the Film Committee, a videographer group, has expanded his artistic reach to music. We got a chance to chop it up with YouSeeIsh about the new record and shift in directions. We discussed his upbringing, creative process and a whole lot more. It’s all about realness with YouSeeIsh. Read on below. (Promoted)
Thizzler: Where are you from?
YouSeeIsh: West Oakland Cali. Bottoms of the West. LOWER BOTTOMS.
T: How was your upbringing?
YSI: Aha, man my shit was crazy, I stayed in trouble. I stayed getting my ass whopped. Lol. I got 4 brothers, a sister, mom, and dad. We stayed in shelters for years. I was kicked out of school since 2nd grade. And going to the Hall from 11 to 17. So I was just all out bad as fuck! But overall I wouldn’t change anything in my life. It made me who I am today.
T: How did you begin making music?
YSI: I’ve always liked music, I use to just sit in my room inside a clubhouse I made out of milk crates and some big speakers my dad had in the living room, and just play music all day long. One day I got on the living room computer and I was using a desk mic to talk online, and somehow I opened up the sound recorder and I recorded my voice. I just loved the way I sounded on top of my mom playing her oldies in the background it sounded like I was rapping. So after that, I got this big ass karaoke machine, lol it had a 10-inch speaker in it and 2 tape recorders. I recorded on one tape and then put another tape in to do my adlibs. I played it for my friends and we ended up making a group called HYPHY HITTAZ. MISTAH FAB was our 1st feature. Back when “NEW OAKLAND” came out.
T: How did you get your rap name?
YSI: Back when I was 12 years old I made a 25min movie with 2 of my 5 [siblings]. The little movie was so funny all our friends wanted to do a second movie, we started to come up with screen names, my name was “ISSUES”. I started to do a lot of Open Mics with BIG MIKE AND DJ RICK LEE at a place called UGMX. I started to rap about different things, like girls, money, parties so I felt I need a name change, the problem was that a lot of people starting knowing my name. So I Shortened it to “ISH” I felt it was to short. I’ve progressed a lot since I was younger one thing people always said to me was “I see you ish” So again name change to YouSeeIsh.
T: How would describe your musical style?
YSI: Umm I think they should add a “Realist” section in genres lol.
T: Tell me about the new project.
YSI: My new project is still in the works as of now I got a few great features from a few Bay Area artists. I want to make sure I take my time with it so that we can get as close to perfection as possible. My team is really dedicated… so we been really working hard to make sure we give people real music that can really relate to.
T: What inspired the project?
YSI: What inspired me to do this project? My producer Frank a.k.a. WhoMadeIt. We wanted something dope like I said we want to something everyone can relate to, everybody can’t relate to nice cars and money. I don’t know too many people that have not had a hardship in their life before.
T: How is it different than previous works?
YSI: I use to rap and only do party songs, even my most hood song was at club tempo. Now I’m really being tuned in with the things that I go through, and I want people to know these are things people go through every day. The struggle is real.
T: How did your record get its title?
YSI: The “Stay True” title came about because of the way people change up. The way true colors come out. And I don’t understand why people can’t just be who they are from the jump, Stay True is something I do day to day, STAY TRUE NEVER CHANGE UP.
T: What message do you want fans to walk away with after listening?
YSI: This was some of the realist shit they ever heard. They want to replay it and can’t wait till the next track.
T: What’s next?
YSI: Next? It’s my artist J Folks and Frago, when I say my team is raw, I mean it!!!
T: Is there anything else you want to say?
YSI: I appreciate everyone for reading and listening to my music, stay tuned because this is only the beginning! I have a whole team coming with me.
Check out everything from YouSeeIsh on Thizzler. You can follow YouSeeIsh on Instagram at @YouSeeIsh. Keep up with his work here.