Baltimore is brimming with gifted individuals in art and music, and Yung Brazi is one of the fresh talents blazing a trail behind the city’s rising stars—JPEGMafia, YounG Moose, Tate Kobang, King Los, Shordie Shordie, Deetranada, and YBS Skola—and legends such as Lloyd Banks and 2Pac. Before Yung Brazi dropped his new EP in March 2024, he gave us the Ghost EP in 2022, featuring 5 tracks including 3 guest artists, and the SOS in 2019, featuring 8 tracks and 2 guest artists. Both albums capture the heartbeat of hip-hop, sharing the real inner-city struggles and victories on the journey to success, from the budding artist perspective.
Yung Brazis’ latest EP, Broken Dreamer, released on March 11, 2024 is featureless and contains melodic tracks unexpectedly over Pop beats. In this project, we hear Yung Brazi experimenting with sound by mixing genres and showcasing more emotional range. The EP name captures the essence of the songs and Yung Brazi’s endless belief in his evolving art form, as he experiments with genres and expresses his emotions throughout the 4 piece set.
Broken Dreamer kicks off with ‘Now I’m Frankenstein,’ where he sings, “Losing to the world with a happy face, I was still confused, thought I’d be ok. Wear the same mask, just another day.” These words and the whole EP touch on the ups and downs of love, feeling let down, yet staying hopeful.
The chorus expresses a raw feeling, “I used to feel alive, now I’m Frankenstein, I only feel a rush with you in the night,” showing a struggle with love’s emotional roller coaster. But by the last song, ‘Love Is a Drug,’ Yung Brazi paints a picture of a love that’s reciprocal and satisfying.
While Broken Dreamer lyrically sounds like the artist’s most transparent and vulnerable project, the first two projects sounded more mainstream hip-hop. They consisted of synthesized snare and kick drums, with complex hi-hat patterns, that loop around the repetitive chorus melody, punctuated by grandiose ad-libs.
Not a lot of new artists dare to mix up their sound like this because it takes bravery, but it’s no surprise coming from a go-getter like Yung Brazi, born and bred in Baltimore. This kind of musical exploration isn’t just brave; it’s smart for reaching more listeners and growing a fan base.
The most beautiful thing about being exposed to a music artist in the brick-laying stages of the brand, is you get to hear them in the most raw and authentic light. The light is not blinded or obscured by commercial label expectations, marketing campaigns, or revenue projections. This project reflects the range and rarity of his artistry and perspective.
In addition to more YB Production community events and seasonal charities throughout the DMV region, I also look forward to more live concerts and hopefully more interviews to allow the fans to connect with the man behind the music.
Lingering Post EP Listening ?s
- When did you fall in love with Hip-Hop? And what made you decide to turn it into a career?
- What does being called the “Prince of Maryland” mean to you, and what duties do you feel it brings to your community?
- What prompted you to pivot and experiment with Pop and Rock on the Broken Dreamer EP?
- You have done multiple community and charity events in Baltimore—when did reinvesting in your community become so important to you?
- What are the most challenging aspects of being a Label CEO and being an upcoming Artist currently still building a fan base and brand?
- Lastly, what should your fans look out for from Yung Brazi and YB Productions in the coming year?
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