The Chicago rapper making post-election anthems for her muse, family, friends and community
Meet Yung Assata.
[Y]ung Assata is a rapper operating out of Chicago. In a post-election climate that makes almost every creative move a political one, Yung Assata’s forthcoming debut LP is in the process of taking on an inevitable activist edge. Inspired by her own experiences as a young, queer African American female, Yung Assata is writing anthems for her muse, her family, her friends and her community.
As part of our ongoing series focussing on emerging talent in Chicago, photographer Jingyu Lin, caught up with Yung Assata for a series of portraits and an interview.
What's inspiring you right now?
Usually I’m inspired by my environment, being raised on the south side of Chicago, and my identity as a young queer African American female. With everything that’s been going on in terms of being brown in America and elections season, for my own mental health I needed a break from it. I think those things will always be a foundation for my voice but for now, about a month ago I found a new muse so right now she’s my inspiration for the project I’m working on. I’ve become really infatuated with the idea of her so the project is based on love and infatuation. But not just in relation to her, but to my family, my friends, my community, and myself.
"There are a lot of intelligent and talented black and brown woke youth and Chicago and they definitely have been bringing it post election"
How has Chicago influenced your sound? Where's your favourite place to play in the city?
Chicago let me know that it’s ok to do my own thing to my own tune. There’s such a rich and diverse music scene here and everybody’s doing their own thing and so much of it is amazing. It pushes you to be original, find something new. I’m really down to play wherever a crowd is down to vibe with me. House party shows are always a good time or art and music shows.
Has the atmosphere in the city changed in the aftermath of the presidential election?
I think the atmosphere everywhere changed. I think it changed and stayed the same. There are a lot of intelligent and talented black and brown woke youth and Chicago and they definitely have been bringing it post election, just constantly finding success within their craft and giving the world care free black joy. It was also nice to see so many people stand in solidarity at all of the protest that were happening and that was inspiring. It wasn’t even just black and brown people there were a lot of white people which is good but also kind of sus because easy to have strong reactions to things immediately when they happen, but eventually feelings subside and new things get your attention.
After the election results all of sudden all of these white people here wanted to be an ally with brown bodies and were so distraught about everything as if they just found out America was racist. But for black and brown people we’ve always lived with this burden so the elections were just statistical proof. I feel like want-to-be-woke white people were more distraught than the black and brown community with no reason. They made a post or two about how they don’t approve and after a few weeks went back to their normal lives. Black and brown Chicago youth still care, and it’s a lot of us still doing everything we can to put on for our people and be heard…as usual.
What would you like to see more of in 2017?
On the hopeful thinking and cliche side: peace, love and equality and I wouldn’t mind if Trump was assassinated before inauguration. In real life I’d definitely love to see female rappers really pop out on the music scene because underground right now they so lit. I want to see black and brown people continue to unite and demand their right to be treated like human beings, building up our own communities, and loving our selves and our melanin despite what the world has told us. For myself I want to see me give everything I got to my music, hustle hard, more shows, and finish my full length LP.
Follow Yung Assata on Instagram here and on Soundcloud here.
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