Los Angeles, California is generally thought of as the birthplace of West Coast hip hop and has created and inspired some of the most memorable names in the history of the rap genre. From the hustler's hustler Ice T to the heavyweight contender Glasses Malone, southern California's volatile environment of street life and survival of the fittest has helped shape some of music's most enduring careers. For Compton California's own Young Lawless this influence is no different. Originally known as Flawless, the young charismatic emcee began writing raps in the Eighth grade; originally taking the position as a ghostwriter for other emcees it wasnt until he was sixteen years old that the future Lyrical Assault Weapon would begin to take rapping seriously. The pressures of adolescence and the everyday struggles of a teenager began to take their toll until finally he found the guiding light of hip hop as a way out of his troubles."When you're 16, you start having a lot of problems and start going through these phases and one of my phases almost got my killed multiple times; so I needed something to take up my time because the route I was going was going to end in my own self destruction."Armed with a CD player, a pen and pad the artist then known as Flawless began to study a who's who of hip hop. Countless artists from A Tribe Called Quest, Kurupt Young Gotti from the Dogg Pound, and Gangstarr to Tupac Shakur, Common, KRS One and Nas can be credited with developing one of the West's most vibrant young talents. After a chance encounter with another young emcee from Watts, Flawless began his career in freestyle ciphers battling any emcee that was bold enough to take on such a volatile contender. His first major shot as a real force to be reckoned with came on the Killa Krock & Stixx "Heaven & Hell" mixtape on a track known as the West Coast Anthem alongside emerging talents: Giftee, Chevy Jones, & Candice Pilay. The verse was so influential that it caught the attention of GRide which led to a chance encounter with Big Fase 100 and Brazil Street Records."Somebody heard my mixtape, found me and told me to go up there. The next day I went up there ask for G-Ride, and by luck caught Fase talking to one of his homies on the block, and I spit for him. Gave him some material, and he told me to comeback the nextday. Since then, it's been a wrap."It was also around this time that a more matured Flawless, dropped the F from his name and simply became known as Young Lawless."I was always rebellious, and didn't have respect for rules what so ever. My mom, my principal, and anybody who really knows me could tell you that. I guess Big Fase just saw that in me and dropped the F on my name."And it was here that Lawless began to realize the full depths of his potential. After a successful debut on the Brazil Street Hustlas mixtape, and releasing several successful singles including the hyphy driven "Bay 2 LA" track; Lawless began to branch out expanding his wrath to other regions and collaborating with numerous other artists. In his mentality he is a conscious rapper alive in a land of the lost. A being that understands the value of the spoken word with an appreciation that an upbring in the harsh urban environment of Los Angeles brought to him. Always the type to lash out against the norm, Lawless set out on a mission to break the mold; spitting raps that captivate the listener and grab the audience rather than cater to the whims of an oversaturated and commercialized industry. Driven by the desire to break down barriers and establish his position in this business he is also captivated by his human nature and desires for the finer things in life. This in turn developed him as the total package, a complete emcee. One that was conscious in his thoughts, adaptable to a battle rap scenario, flashy with a unique attitude suitable only to him and knowledgable to the gangsta atmosphere that birthed him."A person can be diagnosed with AIDS and want the doctor to tell them that they're in perfect health, but the doctor has to know their role; and tell that person, “Hey you have aids but we have a treatment that can slow it down from spreading as fast.†You feel me? Artists are not playing their roles; I’m not saying preach but nigga play your part because if you don’t this shit is going to fall apart. The West Coast is coming back and I’m happy, but like I said some artists are not playing their parts. Nigga everything on the West Coast isnt about low riders, khakis and chucks. And I can’t even tell you their impact, I honestly don’t know. I don’t want to underestimate and I don’t want to overexaggerate."Now with a revamped attitude and fresh motivation, Lawless has aligned himself with Cory "Focus" Harris' Focus Music Group and is preparing to make the next step in seizing the reigns of a rebirthed West Coast hip hop movement. He's more focused and has developed a broader horizon to become a truly emaculate lyrical phenomenon. A verbal flamethrower armed with an extensive arsenal of metaphors and punchlines as well as a slick Sinatraesque swagger with his youthful cutting edge and controversial delivery. After analyzing a new who's who of rap including T.I., Common, Jay-Z, and Kanye West Lawless is in a mindstate where he can begin to plot his coup de etat of the hip hop industry."’There's only one way I can put it… I’m what you need. I’m like your nutritional pyramid with a little sugar for your system when it’s needed. A lot of these other artists are just junk foods. You like them, but they’re bad for your body, they’re unhealthy. You can’t live off just candy and sodas. And its going to come to a point where your body is gonna shut down because you need real food. I’m that five-course meal, your body needs; you feel me. So you can overload yourself with the twinkies and snickers if you want to, but you’re going to pay for it in the long run. Even doctors will tell you, people who eat right live longer than those who don’t eat properly according to their diet. Just look at how many people died from the chaos of gangsta rap (laughs). "
