Interview Time with Dominique Young Unique

From showing her ass to breaking down music time while spitting out war talk, Dominique Young Unique is one name that's as memorable as it is dead-on accurate. Over the past year, the 19-year old rapper from Tampa, FL has sparked a buzz around the blogs with her truly innovative style, which has lit a flare to signal both that she's arrived and that other emcees, be it male or female, need to take notice....and fair warning.

 

 

After a strong showing at this year's SXSW, Dominique is now gearing up to release her first mixtape, Domination (due out the second week of May), headed on tours of Europe and the States beginning next month, all on top of getting her debut album together. Sure that's all the hard and fast details, but we wanted to know a little more about the gal who's been put on our repeated playlists way too often, so a proper chat was deemed necessary. Let's kick it with this "gangster hard hitter outta 8 - 1 - 3".

 

SB: How did you decide you wanted to be referred to as Dominique Young Unique? It is, for lack of a better term, a unique moniker...and definitely memorable at that!

DYO: Well my name really is Dominique! [laughs] Basically, I came up with the name Dominique Young Unique when I just stepped in the rap game. I was just 12, but it did kind of stand out to me because I am a one of a kind person, got my own twisted up flow and a unique swagg. I get the young because I'll consider myself as a young lady until I reach 21, then I'mm'a take that off! So that's what it is!

 

  

SB: When did you begin to make music and what are your earliest musical memories?

DYO: I started off making music when I was 11 years old but I found my talent when I was 12 when I was writing my own lyrics and performing in front of my friends. My earliest musical memories are when me and my "so called cousin" first started doing music. We tried to come out singing but it didn't work too good! So I wrote me a lil' flow it goes "Duce duce // What I'm swanging my hands in // I'mm'a hit it to the floor // 'n do it again..." That's the first rap I ever did...OMG!

 

SB: How did you get discovered? There are stories floating around about Yo Majesty, etc....but if you can explain how you first got your break...

DYO: OK OK, so let me break this shit down! First of all, my mom introduced me to Yo Majesty when I was living in the Robles Park hood. That's were its all begins. So my precious mother calls me over to her because she wants me to meet someone...and it was Shunda K. So I hit a lil flow for her so she could hear what I got. She liked me and introduced me to my producer David Alexander. Me and David had been tight and kept in contact ever since. Yo Majesty used to tell me that they were going to open up good doors for me...used to tell me all kinds of stuff that they going to do for me but I never saw it. Now it's Dominique Young Unique and David Alexander. He's a big part of my success right now and what's going on. He's the only one who's been real to this pretty girl Dominique so we got this good bond going on. We ready for the world! [laughs]

 

SB: Do you look at any current artists today for inspiration, or is there any other musicians from the past that have influenced your sound and aesthetic?

DYO: Cyndi Lauper. I LOVE HER PERSONALITY. Also the romantic, pretty, unbelievable colors of her style! Also my girl Trina. I like her but I don't want to BE like her...I want to be better than her. No offense, her music sounds good and she got her thang going on. Just put it like this: it's JUST BUSINESS.

 

SB: If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

DYO: It would be 2pac...although of course I couldn't. He made so much music and most of it ain't out yet, but I would love to because he be on some real shit and his music inspires a lot of people.

  

  

SB: You have a mixtape coming out soon. Wanna talk about that?

DYO: Domination will be out the 2nd week in May. The mix is a sample of the music I came up with, although it's not all that I have. I just wanted to see how the population relates to this. My mix is extremely different to the people in the music business. Nobody can't compare me to nobody, who I'm trying to be like. The mix is amazing with my twisted up unique flow..

 

SB: Show My Ass has become somewhat of a blog/internet phenomenon. It's a totally bangin' track, but you're still relatively young...so what does your family think about your lyrics and content?

DYO: OK I'm grown...but my name presents me as young at the same time and I do this for the world because I give them what they want. My family is inspired by my music they love it, they push me harder....

 

SB: So what comes up next for you...is it more writing, recording, etc...

DYO: A tour in Europe for May followed by a US tour in June. Then I'm coming back [home] to work in the studio on my album. I think we have some festivals in the summer too.

 

SB: Are you going to hit NYC on your Stateside tour?

DYO: Yes, I'll be playing at Webster Hall alongside Major Lazer on June 11, I've got other dates planned in June just keep checking the MySpace!

 

   

mp3: Dominique Young Unique - Music For Millions

mp3: Dominique Young Unique - War Talk