Young Chris, better known as one half of the duo, Young Gunz, is back to reintroduce himself. He meant what he said when he and his partner Neef gained much success with their single “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.” With his newly released mixtape as a solo artist titled aptly, The Re-Introduction, it is evident that Young Chris has matured and transformed and may be more appropriately referred to as Christopher Ries. He signed to Grammy Award winning producer, Rico Love’s (I AM…Sasha Fierce, Raymond vs. Raymond) Division One Label under the Universal/Motown umbrella and started work immediately on new songs. Parlé Magazine caught up with Young Chris for a brief but candid conversation about life as a solo artist and all that Hip-Hop is lacking these days.
His first single sets the stage. “Pardon me for the sweet interruption. Nah, this ain’t a reenactment. It’s a reintroduction.” “Rico Love heard that intro and got excited,” Ries said. “He said that’s the title. That’s perfect. The Re-Introduction.”
Ries considers himself a young veteran. He’s been around for a while and has had time to perfect his craft. “I’m unique and versatile,” he said. “That’s what defines my style. It’s about finding that balance.” While he has wanted to branch out as a solo artist for some time, his partner, Neef, is still lurking in the shadows, a very present voice who is still on board. “We’re still cool, and we’re definitely going to work together again in the future.”
Ries contends that heavy lyrics are what Hip-Hop lacks now-a-days. “I like it all,” he said. “You have to have fun with music so you can’t always be so serious, but artists don’t think as much when they spit these days.” “Air Out,” another single on the tape illustrates his point with lyrics, not only creative and thought provoking, but delivered with force and zest inclined to make his audience hear.
The mixtape, released November 20th is a sort of preview to the album slated for release early next summer.
Download The Mixtape: Young Chris – The Re-Introduction