James Carlton Anderson better known by his stage name Yung Wun is
an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia.
Yung Wun was raised in Eastlake Meadows housing projects, otherwise
known as "Little Vietnam". Yung Wun was very quickly exposed
to the effects of crime and soon became involved with several gangs.
By the age of thirteen, he had fully embraced a life of criminality.
Yung Wun had numerous encounters with police as he took part in random
lawlessness, which landed him in the throes of the juvenile justice
system.
It was during the height of this pandemonium Yung Wun found relief
from this madness through lyrical expression. He began rhyming as
a form of escape. He even won several oratorical contests and writing
awards. Yung Wun's grandmother, Vera, regularly pleaded with him
to turn around his life. She would continually plead with her grandson
to get off the streets and concentrate on his talents of speaking
and writing. In the single most pivotal moment of his young life,
Yung Wun's grandmother died in his arms. Overwhelmed by her death,
he was left to contemplate his future path. Remembering what his
grandmother told him, he decided to clean his life up and choose
a more legal path. Yung Wun devoted his life to his art form.
[edit] Musical career
Inspired by the works of his rap idols notably Tupac Shakur, The
Notorious B.I.G and DMX, he began showcasing his talents all over
metro Atlanta, grabbing the attention of several music executives.
Yung Wun appeared on several underground down south projects while
he endured the underhandedness of the music industry.[citation needed]
His career took an upward turn in 1998 when he signed with producers
from Dark Society Recordings, an Atlanta based Production Company.
The team completed an album project and presented it to platinum
selling super producer, Swizz Beatz. Swizz Beatz was impressed with
Yung Wun's ability and offered Dark Society Recordings a production
deal on his label Full Surface / J Records. Yung Wun has been featured
on several platinum selling rap albums. He was featured on the "Down
Bottom" remix with Drag-On from the multi platinum selling Ruff
Ryder compilation Volume! He also teamed up with Drag-On again for
the remix of "Trouble" of his 2004 album Hell and Back.
He rapped alongside Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss and Scarface on "World
War III" from Ruff Ryder's second compilation and he was also
at Ryde or die Boyz at the chorus. He was also featured on Jadakiss'
first solo album and appeared on Swizz Beatz compilation on Dreamworks,
G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories.[citation needed]
Yung Wun's lyrical style consists of a blend of down south energy
and ferocious. His first solo album The Dirtiest Thirstiest was released
in 2004 on J Records co-signed under Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also
created "Yung Wun Anthem", which was included on the soundtrack
for EA Sport's "Madden 2005" video game.[citation needed]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
Album information
The Dirtiest Thirstiest
Released: December 7, 2004
Chart positions: #50 Top R&B/Hip-Hop, #11 Top Heatseekers
RIAA certification: none
Singles: "Yung Wun Anthem", "Tear It Up", "Walk It,
Talk It"
[edit] Singles
Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S.
R&B U.S.
Rap
2004 "Yung Wun Anthem" (featuring Swizz Beatz and Jadakiss) — — — The
Dirtiest Thirstiest
"
Tear It Up" (featuring DMX, David Banner and Lil' Flip) 76 39
21
"
Walk It, Talk It" (featuring David Banner)