The Evolution Of Kid Sister ÂŤ Clutch Magazine: fashion.beauty.life.culture
The Evolution Of Kid Sister ÂŤ Clutch Magazine: fashion.beauty.life.culture
The Evolution Of Kid Sister
(Born Melisa Young, in Markham, Illinois) has only been in the music game for about three years, but has already made quite a splash in the scene. While sheâs worked with Kanye West and Pharrell Williams, been featured in countless publications and appeared in a Converse ad, she still seems to maintain the silliness, charm and candidness that will no doubt aid her as she continues her rise to the top. Drawing from Hip Hop and House music, her debut album, Dream Date (Downtown Records) is slated for a November 4, 2008 release and features production from Spank Rockâs XXXChange, Trackademicks & Gant Man. The self proclaimed tomboy has (along with her brotherâs DJ duo Flosstradamus) helped build upon the Chicago scene that artists like Common, Twista, Crucial Conflict and the aforementioned Kanye West have laid the foundation for. Melisa sat down with Clutch for a quick look at the evolution of Kid Sister.
Clutch: How long have you been emceeing?
Kid Sister: My first show was October 31âHalloween, 2005. Iâd been writing a couple of songs and I was really, well you know! Youâve known me since I was poor! And before you knew me I was even poorer, if you can image that. So basically I was living in this one bedroom apartment, which was basically a glorified studio. Really overpriced and I thought the neighborhood was whatever.
So, I was in my one bedroom crappy apartment. I remember one time my dog boo booâd all over the couch and I had to throw it away. All I had were these little foam cylinders to sit on. They were like $20 each and those are what I wrote some of my first songs on, these little cylinders. I had little time to myself cause I worked a lot. But the little time I had to myself, I would write these songs.
Clutch: Itâs been a pretty quick rise.
Kid Sister:No kidding! Itâs been really awesome!
Clutch: And since then youâve worked with Kanye, youâve toured the world, and had the video on MTV. Youâve been featured in a Converse ad and been nominated for a BET award.
Kid Sister: Yep! Worked with Kanye, worked with Pharrell, Iâve worked with David Banner, worked with Estelle. All these crazy big names, who would have thought, you know. It doesnât even seem real to me, itâs crazy. Iâm so flattered and so excited, itâs like I wake up every morning wanting to grab my pompoms, do a cartwheel you know what I mean? Iâm just like, âOh my god!â Sometimes it isnât the ideal lifestyle, but most of the time I just have to have a really positive attitude because everything is so much better than before.
Clutch: Through the hard work and dedication, youâve gotten that quick rise. A portion of that seems to come from the fact you donât have the same label horror stories that a lot of artists have.
Kid Sister:Definitely not. Downtown Records has been amazing. Theyâre great because they have the money and backing of a major label and they give artistâs the freedom that an indie label normally would. So, itâs really the best of both worlds. And you know, Iâm biracial so I keeps it the best of both worlds (Laughing)! But itâs true, everything about me is about keeping that balance, even down to the label I signed with. I really believe that itâs important to find that balance in every aspect of your life.