"Bust a Move" 20 Years Later: Young MC Reflects on the Hit That Changed Hip-Hop

This was a simple interview on Young MC's experiences with the hip-hop culture after his hit song, "Bust a Move". In this interview, he explains the intentions of that song and the effects it had on his life and society. Using many anecdotes he shows how this one song changed the entire course of his life. Starting off as a college student at USC, creating that song led him to getting platinum records, a Grammy, and a lot of media attention. He explained that trying to leave the business led to numerous problems, mainly lawsuits and being banned from recording more music for almost two years after he left the record company.

Along with explaining his experiences after the song, he tells his audience about the whole nature of "Bust a Move". In a time where Public Enemy and N.W.A. were beginning to take over with gangsta rap and other vulgar styles of rap, he states that the whole purpose of the song was to provide kids with a more positive rap feeling while still providing the bass and beats that we all enjoy. He begins to reflect on his childhood and how he would only hear positive rap music on the radio: no cursing, no provocative language, nothing but the pure joy of making a fun rhyme and putting a beat in the background. He wanted to recreate that feeling with his song and, fortunately, he was successful. Looking back, he recognizes the failure of his attempt at coming back into the business but, today, he still enjoys performing the song that started this entire journey.

Application: After reading this interview, do you think that it is still possible to create a positive, curse-free rap song that kids and adults would enjoy listening and dancing to?

Application: In a world where gangsta and vulgar rap music sells, do you think that you would have the strength and courage to stray from the group and create more hip-hop music that parents would be proud to see their children listening to?