Premiere: Rich Fly Gees rapper Yetti Boss links with Joolz Balla for ‘Wild Way’ featuring real LA Bloods, Bone

When Tim Turane and I met for a meeting with our Congressman Gregory Meeks on behalf of the Recording Academy, he told me about the artists he worked with, and Yetti Boss was one of them. I didn’t know who he was before that moment, but I thought his name had a memorable catch to it. It’s one you don’t easily forget, so when he reached out with the opportunity to premiere his music video, it piqued my interest. I wanted to put a face to the name. Satisfied with what I’d seen, I wanted to be part of YB and Rich Fly Gees’ progression. To bring it all home, we talked about his Compton ties, his famous cousin, and the origin of his mafia-like name.

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How did you come up with the concept for the song, especially, the hook?

The concept for the hook was developed during a writing session at Bushgi studios. Tim had a beat from one of his producers from One Brikk and my cousin pulled up with Joolz Balla. We caught a vibe and Joolz came up with the hook: “You know I live the Wild Way”.

Joolz Balla has a unique voice, which kind of reminds us of Ja Rule’s legendary raspy vocals that he’s lent to several Hip-Hop/R&B classics including his own. How did you two meet?

We met through just being around and talking about music. He rocks with the musical movement we have going on in Rich Fly Gees, but he has his own thing too with Wild Hunits. Him and White Boy Joey definitely moving with Wild Hunits.

The area has such a rich culture and is home to many music legends like NWA, Compton’s Most Wanted, The Game, DJ Quik and Kendrick Lamar. What was it like to shoot your video in the legendary ‘hood with Bone and Lil John from the Fruit Town Pirus? And what does it mean to have some of the most influential people from the area in your video?

It means a lot to be invited by Lil John On Tha Fingazz and Bone, personally. I was in LA meeting on a different type of time with family. They heard the record through some family and was like, I should shoot the video out here. They gave me red carpet treatment and really showed love to me.

What was it like for you coming up in Hollis, Queens as a young boy? There’s often a misconception about artists who are kin to stars in the industry. Would you say your relation to Waka Flocka Flame made it easier for you to do business in the music industry?

I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. I had to grind. Growing up in Hollis, I feel everyone has to carry the torch on for something. I just watched everything around me when I was younger. I am a sponge. If I felt like it would help me I would apply it. Hollis is a rough town. Crackheads, gangsters, rappers are all equally well-known. So, you have to know what you want to emulate when you get out here. As a young boy, you are forced to think like a man rather quickly.

Hell, he says it would make it easier, but I rather get it in. I want people to know me as Yetti Boss, YB, chubby n***** from Hollis than Waka’s cousin when it comes to music. When it comes to life, best believe that’s blood right there though.

Where does the name Yetti Boss derive?

They said I was a cold nigga. I tend to make decisions that can benefit my family and others and that kind of made me a Boss. I lost my mother to cancer and that took a big toll on me. I was forced to get my act together and hold the family down. All that rah-rah had to stop. Now, I am still cold but the things I do would make my mother proud.

One cold move I made was talking with Steve Lobel and get Sprayground backpacks donated to kids going back to school in Hollis.

Would you say there’s a difference between the people of Hollis, Queens and Hub City?

Is there a difference? Hell yea, they have sunshine year-round. At least, Hollis gets cold and people leave the drama alone for a season. Out in Hub City, it’s on sight, day/night, 24/7, 365. It’s like Hollis in a way considering they have OGs like we do, but the way they rep is not how we perceived it to be here in NY. They don’t rep colors, they rep family. I think we simplified it to be red or blue, but it’s deeper than that. So when it comes to the “game time”, I believe it’s a Wild Way out there.

I really gotta show love to Bompton because of the way they embraced me. They truly know how to love each other and others. They also have each of their people’s back.

Thanks for having me. Shoutout the other half of Rich Fly Gees, King Yadi. Yadi, my brother, really helped me develop as a rapper. Rapping is my alternative.

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