Ya Boy Black Ice aka YBBI
aka YA Boy B.I. aka Travlyrics.com.
Under 40 Genius? or an Over 30 Tortoise?
You Decide. Either way, those who value good music already know.CDs are Retail-Ready replications from glass masters.
NO CDRs NO CDRs NO CDRs
Quick History Ya Boy Black Ice (YBBI) began his career in 1990 with the group "Po Black Citizen". Their only release is the cassette "Suicide/Dip To the Beat" (1991). That same year some faulty shit happened involving an AK-47, a high-speed chase, and a terrible collision. This episode force YBBI to leave Richmond. He learned a lot, came back to the Rich in 1995, began work on the now classic 5.0 REASONS Album which released in 1998. He worked the 5.0 REASONS Album for 2 years started a new album. Trav Lyrics saw a new era coming and jumped out the way. YBBI was officially locked in the gym as of 2002, so Trav Lyrics could effectively operate The 41510 Brand Apparel without the distraction of rap. ( www.41510.com & myspace.com/the41510 )
Our Goal Our goal with this music page is to keep you up on the YBBI & Trav Lyrics Story.
Fortunately, Ya Boy Black Ice and TravLyrics Music with help from Poorman Dre and Big Park (R. Parker) made timeless songs; and since well written stories spit over classic beats can never die, all the songs are still relevant and sound good today.
It is true YBBI stayed in the gym even-though is career had little activity between Y2K and 2007, when The Travlyrics Company focused on other opportunities. YBBI says, "I am forever grateful, because through rap, I learned a lot. I was able to travel. I made a lil money. I got a whole lot of free drinks. Most of all, I can tell my grandkids that no matter what happens, I am BA OG MC wether the new niggas like it or not. No one can take that away from me".
Fast forward to 2008. Ya Boy Black Ice and the 5.0 REASONS album are considered Classic Bay Area G-Funk by music collectors around the world. YBBI says, "Back in 1991, while recording the 'Po Black Citizen Tape' at Starlight studios with Darren "Digital" Harris in Richmond, CA, we never thought that 17 years later we would re-issue our music. Shit, I couldn't define the term back catalog. I did know, by 1993-1994, that I only wanted to release timeless tracks that made good sense." We learned quickly, After releasing 5.0 REASONS, that in Bay Area Hip-Hop scene, good sense ain't always popular. Also what is popular don't always make good sense.
However, in today's WEB 2.0, the Playing Field is level.
The French Critic, Sharagin-Masta wrote about the Original 5.0 REASONS, "Ya Boy Black Ice offers us an album almost perfect. Although a little short and quickly consumed, few things are objectionable...G-Funk in a sense, more Mobb in another, is a classic... Absolutely essential for all, an opus to obtain any emergency."
(http://sharingan-masta.blogspot.com/2007/06/ya-boy-black-ic e-50-reasons.html)
We agree and people who value good music know the truth.
Update : July 2008 • Back in March 2008, thanks to our new international connections at 187 RADIO in Paris, Ya Boy Black Ice accepted a platform to spread his wings like an american eagle.
• Introducing the YBBI SHOW on 187 Radio. Hosted by the BA OG MC, Ya Boy Black Ice. The only place you will go from Richmond, Cali to Paris, France and Back in one hour. Get that Golden Era Bay Area rap that we all love but never hear. Get discussions the folks who created the sound. And listen nto YBBI chop about what ever. Its cussin radio for adults. Parental Advisory.
Update : April 2009 • Release of "YBBI : The Clean Collection" 15 songs with no curse words. Includes 4 Unreleased Tracks of YBBI from Golden Era + Radio Edits of "5.0 REASONS" album for the Collectors with Babies. You must hear "I love My Mama".
• The One Year Anniversary of The YBBI Show on 187Radio.
• Big Park agrees to produce 10 track for a collab/reunion album.
• YBBI produces his first beat. Prepare for "YBBI : Kitchen Table Music".