Antoine

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Layout by CoolChaser We all remember those high school days; back when we struggled to define ourselves and stand out in a sea of our peers. Typically, there were the fly girls, the bad boys, the geniuses, the class clowns, and myriad other roles which we squeezed ourselves into. Though for some, these pre made determinations just didn’t work. These intriguing individuals were the trailblazers of our generations; the trendsetters, the leaders and the visionaries who commanded attention in high school and even thereafter. Antoine Bailey is most definitely one of these fabulous people. At the tender age of 15, this young musical maestro has mastered the art of showmanship. He possesses the bravado of a hip hop playboy, the machismo of a seasoned R&B crooner, and the alluring sensibility of that high school sweetheart, causing all of the girls to swoon. In fact it is this combination of star qualities that enables this young artist to conquer the world, one girl at a time with his smooth rhythm and blues flow. As he sings his sweet melodies to the high school honeys, it is quite evident that Antoine, who also goes by the moniker “Young Twon,” is more than a H.S. superstar; rather, he is a force, born and bred to take on the world with his superior, unique talents. Antoine was born in Far Rockaway on July 7th to a bustling family. Being the last of 10 children, Antoine was no stranger to competing for attention. Though he grew up in a two parent household, it was nonetheless a struggle for his large family to subsist. The aggressive neighborhood where Antoine was raised, Edgemere, Queens, added to the stresses of his childhood. The Baileys lived in a substandard apartment. Antoine, even at a young age, was able to gauge his environment, eventually realizing that an escape was necessary. Fittingly, Antoine found his escape in music. At a very young age, Twon began developing melodies, with which he entertained family and friends at social gatherings. Even as a toddler, Twon received significant praise and left onlookers in amazement as he exhibited showmanship and talent while most other kids his age lacked basic coordination. The attention that he attracted fueled the fire which developed as he grew older. Antoine’s family eventually relocated to North Carolina where Twon continued to develop his childhood ambition of being a musician. Antoine was merely eight yeas old when he fell in love with his craft. After his father introduced him to Byno, a local producer who allowed the young singer access to his studio equipment, Twon began his formal training. He learned how to work efficiently in the studio environment, he perfected his songwriting skills, focused on maximizing his singing abilities via vocal training and, and took both dance and piano lessons. Soon after, Twons father enrolled him in amateur showcases, thus allowing him to get a feel for the stage and the art of live performance. Twon’s star qualities quickly became evident to major artists like Kelly Price, with whom he developed a strong mentor relationship, as well as major labels like Sony, with whom he secured a meeting at the age of 11. By the time Twon was ready for high school he was a virtuoso performer. He had the talent, drive and ambition to achieve great things, and the admissions board at ____________________________ School for the Performing Arts realized it, and accepted him immediately. Twon enrolled at the school for gifted adolescents, and continued to hone his skill for a year. The following year, Twon moved back to Queens New York, where he enrolled at Andrew Jackson High School. At this point, Twon embarked on a journey to define him self as an artist, rather than allowing him self to be pigeon-holed into the teeny-bopper pop category. Rather, he cultivated an eclectic style, independent of trends. Though he grew up listening to classic and contemporary greats like Michael Jackson, Usher and Tevin Campbell, Antoine sought to blaze his own trail. While millions of youths around the world sit glued to the television, straining to mimic, imitate and impersonate the monotonous acts that fill the screens of music broadcasting powerhouses like BET and MTV, Antoine Bailey has decided to take an alternative route. As impressionable as today’s youths are, Antoine refuses to follow any ones lead. Conversely, he has created a style of his own, broken all of the rules and fashioned a new paradigm for young artists in the music industry. Both figuratively and literally, Antoine Bailey is a breath of fresh air amidst a stifling assemblage of standard competitors. Even as he cocks his head back and allows his melodies flood the halls of Andrew Jackson High School as he sings his sweet serenade, the ladies can’t help but take a breath of admiration in unison. It is easy to get lost in the rapture of Young Two, but this is no puppy love. Antoine’s soulful crescendo affects mocapable, willing and poised to redefine the meaning of Rhythm and Blues. st people in this way; he represents something new, something that is needed in the music industry. Currently, Twon is working diligently on his first CD, with the help of a strong support system consisting of his family, management by Draft Entertainment and his enormous yet loyal high school fan base. With his smooth voice, a mean swagger, advanced writing abilities and intense dedication, Antoine proves to be more than another cute-young-thing. Rather he proves to be a formidable artist, well-rounded,