Consistent creativity. It is the lifeblood of successful music careers. And it remains an elusive elixir for so many that have cracked a mic, punched pads or picked up an instrument in the hopes of earning a living from their craft.
Hip-hop is no exception. It is a culture with a penchant for devouring its own stagnant, one-trick ponies. Countless examples over the last three decades prove that only the strong, innovative and motivated survive.
Queens-bred MC Yak Ballz has not only outlasted many of his contemporaries, but tagged his name in bold, permanent ink on the global hip-hop soundscape with his hyper-creative, ever-evolving brand of songwriting.
A true lyrical prodigy, Yak turned the burgeoning rap world on its ear as a teen in the late ‘90s with his demo, “Flossin’” and clever, head-nodding freestyles on Bobbito Garcia’s legendary “CM Famalam” radio show.
He’s never looked back.
A founding member of the juggernaut Weathermen, Yak impacted the hip-hop world with a slew of bar-setting releases in the early part of the new millennium, setting the stage for the introspective MC he is today.
In 2005, Yak cooked up Scifentology, a mixtape that opened eyes and ears across the globe with its irrepressible energy and undeniable artistry. Tracks like “In a Flash” and “Glory Days Gone” endeared Yak to a new, thirsty set of fans who clamored for more.
And an abundance of beautifully brazen music is what they got.
Yak Ballz launched Scifentology II in 2008, a missile of a sophomore effort that retained the character of a rock opera and obliterated preconceived notions of what a rap album should sound like. Amid apocalyptic sonic imagery, Yak’s second offering oozed originality with blistering beats and brutally honest rhymes.
Propelled by fierce theses like “Trust is a Timebomb,” “Nuclear Society” and “Out of Range,” and hailed by critics as “dynamic, thoughtful, creative,” Scifentology II proved once again that Yak Ballz is one of the most innovative MCs on any level.
If Scifentology II blasted Yak into a different stratosphere of artist, his next project, Gas Galaxy, will no doubt chronicle his exploits among the heavens. Due for release later this year on Definitive Jux, GG promises more of that ambitious, edgy flavor from one of independent hip-hop’s most respected – and consistent – creators.
Yak will push the envelope again, keeping the audience on its toes while staying true to the magnetic flow and charming wordplay that has kept him on the front lines of the movement.
Michael Cusenza
