King Yosef is a force to be reckoned with, qualifying as a producer, vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He's worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry with credits ranging from XXXTentacion, Ski Mask The Slump God, to Sam Ryan, Tytuus, Vann, Fifty Grand, A$AP Ant, CATXSCAN, Dane O$even, and many, many, more. Way too many to list actually. This guy plays an important role in both pop and underground music that is being released right now.
Do yourself a favor, listen to his 2017 album "Fortune Teller", followed by his most recent release "GUILTY." in 2018. Youtube search him, and you'll find a plethora of exotic visuals shot by the legendary Ryan McKinnon, featuring some of the best popular and underground rappers and performers in the game right now. King Yosef combines monstrously deep heavy hits, with toxic vocals, and evocative lyrics that will both inspire and haunt you. Crossing several styles and introducing unheard of unique blends of Rap, Metal, Goth, Industrial, and Hip-Hop. But it can't be limited to even those descriptors, it's its own thing, listen and you will discover that it's impossible to find a cut by King Yosef that won't raise the hair on your arms or break your neck.
At just 21 years of age Yosef is a professional. Both polite and fierce, his commanding musical presence echoes respect among artists and producers. If you haven't heard his personal library of beats and bangers, you've more than likely heard one of the dozens of artists he works with.
How long have you been learning music and production?
I started playing music at 10, so 11 years ago and making beat seriously at 16 or so.
Where are you from?
Stupid white trash town called Medford, in Southern Oregon. I actually lived in a way smaller town outside of it, but it's irrelevant.
What’s your favorite meal?
I'm a mashed potatoes or veggie hot dog guy.
What do you enjoy about making music the most?
It's one of the few times where I feel a good amount of worth. I'm fairly shitty at everything else, so music is my realm to feel strong in.
It's a double edged sword though because music can also feel like the most defeating thing in the world with how much pressure I put on it.
How has your life changed since you started pursuing music?
I've only ever made music really, since I was young this was just what I was gonna do. so I don't know how my life has changed, it's just always been a further version of this.
the better thing for me to ask myself is how would my life be without music.
When people ask you what type of music you make...how does that make you feel?
What do you say?
I don't know what kind of music I make. I wear my influences on my sleeve so once you dive in you can gather what I'm doing.
I always explain that its like, industrial stuff but with metal and hip hop and some goth stuff.. ish?
Your music is very diverse. Why have multiple “genres” on one album?
That's just the shit I like. I feel like I can't always summarize my feelings lyrically on the same type of beat a hundred times either.
At the end of it all, it's more of a testament to being a musician, that I can write and that I want to showcase it. I've been dedicated to making music for so long, it'd feel like I was selling myself short by not writing all I want to write. I have separate accounts where i post even more music because sometimes I write too far out of the
"king yosef" box.
Any off the wall studio experiences with any of the artists you work with?
I ended up on tangents with artists a lot where we end up deep on youtube showing each other weird music we both like and not working. nothing too crazy honestly. I try to get all of my musical
ideas out instead of getting too distracted.
What is it like being able to work with some of the best bands, photographers, and rappers in the music industry?
Bizarre, eye opening, disappointing, fulfilling and a bunch of other feelings. I'm really past the awe of it all and more on the factor of making real friends, instead of just working with
people for a day and never speaking now. So, now that I've really started learning about a lot of people, Im forever grateful they're my friends. a lot of other people are just fucked up or
doing all of this for the wrong reasons, and its disheartening when you take art so serious.
What are some of the messages of your music?
My main points are always to wear my heart on my sleeve in my music. Everything I'm trying to say comes from a genuine place. I'm genuinely depressed, genuinely angry, all of it. Also I call out fake artistry when I see it. I know within it that a lot of people probably feel the same way about me but, its all opinions.
How do you feel about the metal scene in the northwest?
I'm really far from affiliated with it anymore. I used to play a lot of shows, but a lot of times its the same shit, same people, playing music that was popular 8 years ago.
Which I'm not talking down on, but that started to feel redundant for me musically.
What is your opinion on recent hip-hop artists and music?
I think some of it's great, I think some of it is just a giant persona put on for entertainment. Depends on the day, my opinion changes constantly. I think things are changing for the better now.
What kinds of things should someone expect after deciding to work in music?
If you really want to be good, healthy self doubt is necessary. Expect not a lot of friends for a while, a lot of people belittling your passion and having to constantly remind yourself that it isn't the normal path, so you gotta work a lot harder than you think.
The pay off is great though, seeing people fuck with your music makes you feel good.
Do you get fucked up when you work alone or with other artists in the studio?
I don't know whether this means sobriety fucked up, or mentally, but a lot more likely to get in a weird mental space than I am to drink or anything when I write. My feelings aren't as honest when I'm fucked up and my vision of myself isn't as clear, so I steer away from doing that. I fuck with drinking some beer outside of that though.
What skills and assets do certain artists possess that make them easier to work with than others?
Knowing your program is important, knowing when it's time to tap someone else in on a project is great too, understanding music outside of the realm of what you're trying to make
helps too. Just educating yourself and being self aware is the key point.
Do you have any advice for bands or rappers?
Make YOUR music. Learn as much as possible, listen to as much as possible. Soak up influences, ideas, and make them your own. You either have to make music that last or last with the music.
trend hopping just leads to a quick fall off.
For music and more info about King Yosef visit kingyosef.com
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