A Bay Area legend, Yukmouth has been doing his thing for years. First as a member of The Luniz, with partner in rhyme Numskull, as they rode the wave to platinum success due to their mega hit single, "I Got 5 On It", and then as a solo artist. Not many artists have done as much for their hometown as Yuk has done for Oakland. From introducing mixtapes to his hood to putting on local stars, Yukmouth has been Mayor of the Bay for years.
Raised in the projects, Yukmouth was able to avoid the street life and become a star. Not only were the Luniz the only group to go platinum out of the Bay but Yuk has continued his reign with his click The Regime and his own record label Smoke-A-Lot Records.
Sixshot.com caught up with Yuk to discuss his relationship with Nummy, why he is the Bay, and his upcoming album the Million Dollar Mouthpiece.
So Yuk, you been around man, what was your time with the Luniz like?
My time with The Luniz was really like the birth of Yukmouth. That’s when I learned how to make songs and hooks. Before that a nigga used to have long ass verses that never had hooks. I traveled the world and got platinum and gold plates from both he re and overseas so my time in The Luniz was real good.
Do you think you were a pioneering act for the Bay Area?
Of course we were. We’re the only rap group to go platinum in Oakland. We got platinum solo artists like Too Short and MC Hammer but no group ever did it like us.
"I Got 5 On It" is classic, did you expect it to be that big?
When we did "I Got 5 On It", we knew it was a hit off top but we had no idea it would be a platinum hip-hop classic, I’m still shocked!!
Are you and Numskull still close?
We used to be real close but now I’m doin’ me and he’s doin’ him.
What's your favorite Luniz album and why?
My favorite is the Operation Stackola album because we were hungry and it’s the album that went platinum.
A lot of dudes are coming out of the Bay now, how do you feel about the
new school of MC's?
It’s a good look for the Bay. We need new talent and music to make the Bay movement bigger and stronger so I’m lovin’ it. We back!
Tell us about The Regime and Smoke-A-Lot records.
Well The Regime is my click. It’s me, Tech-n9ne, Gonzoe, Dru Down, Monstah, Tha Realest, Amp Pacino, Chino Nino, The Fleet, Doracel, BG Bulletwound, Lil’
Hyph, Young Dru, Freeze, Dizzle Don, Lee Majors, Rah Man, E-Blak, Kenny Kingpin, and Govnermatic. We all bosses who came together from different states to get this rap money, we like a hip-hop co-op. Smoke-A-Lot Records is the label and home of the Regime but we all got out own solo deals on other labels.
The Regime All Out War Mixtape series is a real good idea. How did you
come up with the idea to sell the mixtapes as a package?
Yeah that’s a classic collection so I sold it as a package because we squashed all the beef with the niggas we rappin’ about on the mixtapes so for the fans to get the classic beef mixtapes I put it out there as a collectors set.
What is your favorite solo release and why?
Thugged Out: The Albulation is my best solo work because I was hungry and I poured my heart and soul into that album. I gave my fans the personal side of me that was never given to them when I was rapping with The Luniz. I was finally able to be.
In The Luniz, I couldn’t really do me because when you in a group, yall come from different backgrounds and Num didn’t go through the shit I went through growing up in the projects. He had it good and I didn’t ,so I couldn’t rap about my life on the Luniz album. So on my solo album I went all out to let the world know who I am.
What have you done for Bay Area hip-hop?
I’ve done a lot for Bay Area hip-hop. I helped Mac Dre reinvent himself by calling him Thizzle Washington. I started the DVD hustle out there with United Ghettos of America. I started the mixtape game out with the All Out Wars and I helped a lot of local artists become ghetto stars out here.
Niggas know I put niggas on, period. Last but not least, I’m one of the best artists reppin’ the Bay and keepin’ us relevant to other states and markets in hip-hop. I am the Bay, like I said on Beef 3!
What projects do you have out or coming up that the fans should be checking for?
Well, my solo album Million Dollar Mouthpiece drops in February so go get that. UGA Volume 3 and the soundtrack is comin’ this summer. The Thuglordz new album is coming this spring and the new Regime album is comin’ in August.
The Million Dollar Man DVD is coming this summer so I got a lot on the plate this year and who knows, I might pull a DMX and drop two solo albums this year, shiiiit, you didn’t hear that from me. (Laughs)
Anything you'd like to say to your fans at Sixshot.com?
Yeah, to all my fans who been waitin’ for my album to drop, I apologize for the wait, I have to get my business straight and now that it’s straight I can drop my album. It’s business, never personal. Yall can hit me up on myspace.com/yukmouth or hit my website www.smokealotrecords.com for all my latest show and album updates. Dragon Gang for life!
Raised in the projects, Yukmouth was able to avoid the street life and become a star. Not only were the Luniz the only group to go platinum out of the Bay but Yuk has continued his reign with his click The Regime and his own record label Smoke-A-Lot Records.
Sixshot.com caught up with Yuk to discuss his relationship with Nummy, why he is the Bay, and his upcoming album the Million Dollar Mouthpiece.
So Yuk, you been around man, what was your time with the Luniz like?
My time with The Luniz was really like the birth of Yukmouth. That’s when I learned how to make songs and hooks. Before that a nigga used to have long ass verses that never had hooks. I traveled the world and got platinum and gold plates from both he re and overseas so my time in The Luniz was real good.
Do you think you were a pioneering act for the Bay Area?
Of course we were. We’re the only rap group to go platinum in Oakland. We got platinum solo artists like Too Short and MC Hammer but no group ever did it like us.
"I Got 5 On It" is classic, did you expect it to be that big?
When we did "I Got 5 On It", we knew it was a hit off top but we had no idea it would be a platinum hip-hop classic, I’m still shocked!!
Are you and Numskull still close?
We used to be real close but now I’m doin’ me and he’s doin’ him.
What's your favorite Luniz album and why?
My favorite is the Operation Stackola album because we were hungry and it’s the album that went platinum.
A lot of dudes are coming out of the Bay now, how do you feel about the
new school of MC's?
It’s a good look for the Bay. We need new talent and music to make the Bay movement bigger and stronger so I’m lovin’ it. We back!
Tell us about The Regime and Smoke-A-Lot records.
Well The Regime is my click. It’s me, Tech-n9ne, Gonzoe, Dru Down, Monstah, Tha Realest, Amp Pacino, Chino Nino, The Fleet, Doracel, BG Bulletwound, Lil’
Hyph, Young Dru, Freeze, Dizzle Don, Lee Majors, Rah Man, E-Blak, Kenny Kingpin, and Govnermatic. We all bosses who came together from different states to get this rap money, we like a hip-hop co-op. Smoke-A-Lot Records is the label and home of the Regime but we all got out own solo deals on other labels.
The Regime All Out War Mixtape series is a real good idea. How did you
come up with the idea to sell the mixtapes as a package?
Yeah that’s a classic collection so I sold it as a package because we squashed all the beef with the niggas we rappin’ about on the mixtapes so for the fans to get the classic beef mixtapes I put it out there as a collectors set.
What is your favorite solo release and why?
Thugged Out: The Albulation is my best solo work because I was hungry and I poured my heart and soul into that album. I gave my fans the personal side of me that was never given to them when I was rapping with The Luniz. I was finally able to be.
In The Luniz, I couldn’t really do me because when you in a group, yall come from different backgrounds and Num didn’t go through the shit I went through growing up in the projects. He had it good and I didn’t ,so I couldn’t rap about my life on the Luniz album. So on my solo album I went all out to let the world know who I am.
What have you done for Bay Area hip-hop?
I’ve done a lot for Bay Area hip-hop. I helped Mac Dre reinvent himself by calling him Thizzle Washington. I started the DVD hustle out there with United Ghettos of America. I started the mixtape game out with the All Out Wars and I helped a lot of local artists become ghetto stars out here.
Niggas know I put niggas on, period. Last but not least, I’m one of the best artists reppin’ the Bay and keepin’ us relevant to other states and markets in hip-hop. I am the Bay, like I said on Beef 3!
What projects do you have out or coming up that the fans should be checking for?
Well, my solo album Million Dollar Mouthpiece drops in February so go get that. UGA Volume 3 and the soundtrack is comin’ this summer. The Thuglordz new album is coming this spring and the new Regime album is comin’ in August.
The Million Dollar Man DVD is coming this summer so I got a lot on the plate this year and who knows, I might pull a DMX and drop two solo albums this year, shiiiit, you didn’t hear that from me. (Laughs)
Anything you'd like to say to your fans at Sixshot.com?
Yeah, to all my fans who been waitin’ for my album to drop, I apologize for the wait, I have to get my business straight and now that it’s straight I can drop my album. It’s business, never personal. Yall can hit me up on myspace.com/yukmouth or hit my website www.smokealotrecords.com for all my latest show and album updates. Dragon Gang for life!
