Famous Queens Resident Series, Part XII

Young M.C. - The rapper, whose given name is Marvin Young, is straight out of Hollis. Young was born in South Wimbledon, London, but was raised in Queens, New York. After graduating from Hunter College High School in New York City, he moved to the opposite coast to attend the University of Southern California. He graduated in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in economics, which he received before Stone Cold Rhymin completed production.

In addition to producing the hit "Bust a Move," (bass-line provided by Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea and lead vocals sung by Stevie Wonder's studio background vocalist Crystal Blake, not Diana Ross as many have speculated). Young MC was also an accomplished songwriter, having co-written the hits "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina" for Tone Loc. In 1990, he appeared in several Taco Bell and Pepsi commercials.

Even though his follow-up to "Bust a Move," "Principal's Office," did not become a huge hit, it was still nominated for Best Rap Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards.

Young's follow-up album, Brainstorm, began his fade into obscurity. The first single from the album, “That’s the Way Love Goes,” received some play on MTV, but very little radio airplay. The song failed to be a hit, and signaled that Young MC had drifted out of favor with the ever-changing music scene. Despite that, Young MC continued to record albums into the new millennium. His later albums favor East Coast Rap, West Coast Rap and conscious minded Hip Hop instead of the Crunk and Southern Rap that were popular during the early-mid 2000s.

Young MC was briefly featured on the 2002 VH1 program 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders. In 2002, he also appeared on the hip hop edition of The Weakest Link, of which he was the winner. He returned to the spotlight in 2006 by appearing on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club 3.

Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine turned "Bust a Move" into a swingin' Lounge style on their 2006 album "The Sunny Side of the Moon: The Best of Richard Cheese".

"Bust a Move" is the track which accompanies John Candy's meandering through a High School Party in the 1989 film Uncle Buck.

"Bust a Move" is the track which accompanies the beginning of the closing credits of 2006 film You, Me and Dupree. It is also the first song played in a trailer of the film Norbit.

"Bust a Move" was ranked #85 on VH1's 100 Greatest One-hit Wonders.

"Bust A Move" was sampled for an advertisement campaign Old Navy Tunicks. MC Lyte rapped the ad's theme song called, Bust A Tunick.

“Stress Test” was featured in the movie Crossover as well as the trailer for Four Brothers.

“Get Your Boogie On” was used in the trailer for the animated film Barnyard.

“Feel The Love” was in both the television shows Entourage and Wonderfalls.

“Rollin’” was featured in the national Burger King “Open All Night” campaign.

William Shatner performed "Bust a Move" in an ad for Priceline, in the spoken-word style for which he is well known.

Jesse and Chester perform a music video for Bust A Move in the hit film Dude Wheres My Car

In an episode of Scrubs, "My Conventional Wisdom," Turk and J.D. meet Old MC, the foremost Young MC impersonator, who can only say the phrase "Bust a move." J.D considers this a problem and suggests he find help.

In another episode of Scrubs, during a flashback moment "On & Poppin" can be heard playing in the background of JD & Turk's room.

"Bust A Move" was the song played during the Freestyle dance routine, by Apolo Anton Ohno on the 4th season of Dancing with the Stars. "Bust A Move" was ranked #37 on MuchMoreMusic's 50 Guilty Pleasures.

Young currently lives in Arizona and still does concerts. One of the most recent high profile concerts Young MC was a part of WKTU New York's Beatstock in mid 2006.
In 2007, Young MC completed his latest album entitled Adrenaline Flow. Songs from the album will be submitted to movies, TV shows, commercials, video games, and other alternative outlets for licensing.

Courtesy of Wikipedia