YoYo

My name is Youssef Kobach born in Pickens South Carolina but I was raised in Syria. My experience taught me to grow up quick. Constantly in an abusive environment that made me weaker but music made me stronger. When I was 9 years of age, I moved to the United States back to the state I was born in. I only spoke arabic and coming from that previous negative atmosphere to a state that only made it worse for a minority like myself and my family, didnt help. I was struggling with my english and was antisocial so I naturally gravitated towards music because school didn’t help. It was Christian rock music at first mainly Skillet. I was able to pick up on words and then I started listening to the up and coming rappers at that time. Such as B.O.B, Lil Wayne, Kanye, Drake, Eminem, and old school rappers like Biggie, nas, rakim, etc. Rap music helped strengthen my english speaking abilities and inspired me to write some of my own material to further understand myself. Throughout elementary, middle and high school, I was constantly bullied by my classmates because I am Arab and muslim. 8 mile was the first glimpse of hope I saw as far as music goes. It was an epiphany I had that started my passion for rap battling in middle school. Lil wayne taught me to look up to myslef, Eminem taught me to be me, drake taught me to take care of myself, B.O.B taught me creativity. Kanye taught me it was okay to be different. So on and so forth. Rap music took over my life. I started becoming a better writer throughout time and a better creator in general. It opened my creative box as a kid who used rap as a therapeutic experience and a tool for literature. I’ve always preached to speak out and speak up for yourself and others when making music.