Music
How 2 Atlanta natives became successful YouTubers in 1 year
ROLLINGOUT.COM — Yung Charc and TyTheGuy only have two singles out.
By Rashad Milligan
ATLANTA – Tylar Jones and Aden Liban bounced into a room at The Loft in Midtown on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019.
The encounter included a lot of handshakes, slang and inside jokes the two have formed over the years. The duo just finished their first rap performance together as Yung Charc and TyTheGuy in the state that they called home in high school.
“I was nervous at first, but I’m happy I did it,” Jones said. “I fell in love with it.”
Yung Charc and TyTheGuy only have two singles out, but the music videos already have over half a million views combined in three months. At The Loft nightclub, they performed the singles, as well as a handful of other unreleased music the two made together.
The artists are opening for DDG, the self-made YouTube celebrity who’s making the transition into the music industry himself. They’re all a part of a group of content creators who live in Los Angeles.
A year ago, however, this scenario wouldn’t have been possible.
“Last year, [Jones] and I was literally signing an application to the Air Force,” Liban said.
Jones confirmed Liban’s claim.
“Charc and I were about to join the military, bruh,” he said. “But then, it got to a point of ‘let’s do this s—.’ We didn’t have a choice.”
A couple of months later, the two took a chance and moved to L.A. with Poudii, another YouTuber from Gwinnett County, Georgia. The three content creators lived together for a few months before Jones and Liban moved into an apartment of their own once they could support themselves.
“Your friends don’t believe in you, man,” Jones said. “There’s somebody that always has something negative to say, or they want to hate on you. They don’t want to help you film, or do some s— when you’re down, but when you’re up, that’s when everybody wants to be your friend.”
The trio of Poudii, Blackcharcoal and TyTheGuy grew a community on YouTube with energetic, comedy-based vlogs using their own combination of Atlanta, L.A. and made up slang. One of the group’s most interesting catchphrases became “Yamboobai,” which originated from Jones mocking Poudii by saying “Young Poudii P” in his videos.
Now, Liban’s channel has over 300K subscribers and Jones has over 200K subscribers.
“Charc and I both grinded for this,” Jones said. “We put our foot in a pot, and we made it happen. Six years ago, I thought I would’ve graduated college at this point.”
The two are grateful for the position they’re in today.
“YouTube and the Internet changed my life dramatically,” Jones said. “I went from window shopping to being in that b—-, and buying what I want. I’m thankful that I can help my family out. Trump shut the government down. Say my parents had federal jobs, I make enough money to take care of my family. I’m forever grateful.”
This article originally appeared in Rollingout.com.
Arts and Culture
Oakland Jazz Great Offers Master Class as City Declares “John Handy Day”
World-renowned jazz master saxophonist John Handy, a McClymond’s High School graduate, was presented with a Mayor of Oakland Proclamation declaring Feb. 12, as John Handy Day in the city. Handy is most notably known as the featured saxophonist for Charles Mingus on “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” from the album “Mingus Ah Um” (1959) and on “Hard Work” from his own album “Hard Work” (1976).
By Conway Jones
World-renowned jazz master saxophonist John Handy, a McClymond’s High School graduate, was presented with a Mayor of Oakland Proclamation declaring Feb. 12, as John Handy Day in the city.
Handy is most notably known as the featured saxophonist for Charles Mingus on “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” from the album “Mingus Ah Um” (1959) and on “Hard Work” from his own album “Hard Work” (1976).
“John Handy is a jazz icon and an inspiration to musicians everywhere,” said Ayo Brame, a 16-year-old Oakland tenor saxophone player who is enrolled at the Oakland School for the Arts.
In celebration of this day, the reception in downtown Oakland at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle was a gathering of artists, young and old, coming together in his honor and celebrating his 91st birthday.
Handy presented a Saxophone Colossus free masterclass for musicians. This class afforded a rare opportunity to learn about the saxophone from an aficionado. The class was free and open to all – saxophonists, vocalists, aficionados, students, and casual listeners.
“As a longtime friend for over 60 years, and fellow musician who has had numerous opportunities to share the stage with John, it has always been a pleasure performing with him and hearing his creative interpretations of the music and his gift of ease inspiring the next generation of jazz musicians,” said Roger Glenn, a multi-instrumentalist.
Bay Area
GoFundMe Aims to Support RHS Marching Band’s Trip to Disneyland
Richmond High School Music Department Director Andrew Wilke recently launched a GoFundMe with the aim of raising funds to send his young musicians to Disneyland to march and perform.
By Richmond Standard
Richmond High School Music Department Director Andrew Wilke recently launched a GoFundMe with the aim of raising funds to send his young musicians to Disneyland to march and perform.
The RHS students marched at the theme park for the first time last year and the experience “motivated our students beyond expectation,” Wilke said. The band and color guard went on to secure several trophies during their competitive season, he said.
The RHS program has been invited back by Disney, which will entail a four-day, three-night trip. Wilke is trying to raise $7,000 for the hotel stay and $19,000 for two buses to transport about 80 students to Disneyland.
“When most schools go on a trip like this the students are expected to foot the bill,” Wilke said. “However, the majority of our students come from an economically disadvantaged background. So, while our students pay for their tickets to the park, we are raising funds to pay for the two buses and hotel rooms for our 80-person marching band.”
Wilke said marching bands teach important lessons to students, such as personal responsibility, being a productive community member, and self-reflection.
“The students of the RHS marching band serve our community by providing music at community events and inspiring younger students to study music,” Wilke said. “Our department has a 100% graduation rate and over 90% of our graduating seniors go to college. Trips like this help provide motivation and inspiration to our students.”
Arts and Culture
San Francisco Concert “In Honor of Women”
Raegan Bryce-Davis, acclaimed as “one of the best mezzo sopranos of this generation” by The New York Observer and Jeanne Minette Cillers, South African pianist known as a pianistic poet, will perform at San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre on Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
By Barbara Fluhrer
Raegan Bryce-Davis, acclaimed as “one of the best mezzo sopranos of this generation” by The New York Observer and Jeanne Minette Cillers, South African pianist known as a pianistic poet, will perform at San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre on Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
They will perform some of their favorite repertoire, including works by women poets and composers: Margaret Bonds, Florence Price and living composers Maria Thompson Corley and Melissa Dunphy. Bryce-Davis will honor her mother by performing music she taught her.
Bryce-Davis recalled a fellow student in music school saying, “I never use women pianists. The focus is supposed to be on ME!” That sentiment never sat well with her, though she realized it was a popular one. “Perhaps it’s one reason I’ve always, quite purposely, had women pianists as long-term collaborative partners, and advocated for artists who are less represented, yet incredible at what they do.”
Bryce-Davis remembers being a terrified American mezzo, six years out of Manhattan School of Music, meeting her coach at a European audition in Belgium. Her coach, Jeanne-Minette Cillers sat confidently at the piano to perform arias they had performed together years before. “I sang as well as I could, and was about to leave the hall, suitcase, scores and shawl in hand, when I heard faint voices wafting from the ceiling speakers.
I hastily climbed on the make-up counter and stretched my ear to the speakers. The voice was my coach, brazenly informing the artistic director of my success as an artist. She said I would be a wonderful choice for the coveted position.”
Bryce-Davis went on to prove her right. The two women, now collaborators, will perform Saturday night at Herbst Theatre.
Bryce-Davis is an alum of San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program.
She appeared in San Francisco last year at the noontime concerts in “Majesty of The Spiritual,” curated by Robert Sims.
Tickets for the Jan. 27 concert can be ordered at (415)577-0325.
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