Before he stepped onto a Lollapalooza stage this weekend, Columbia alum CJ Young was just another fan in the crowd to see artists such as SZA, Tyler, The Creator and Future.
But this weekend, the rapper known as “Young(IN)” was on the other side of the stage, joining a lineup of emerging Chicago artists featured in the John Walt Foundation’s “Chicago’s Got Next” showcase on Sunday, Aug. 3 near Buckingham Fountain.
Getting to perform at the annual festival was a culmination of multiple steps along the way for Young.
He graduated from Columbia just this past spring with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing. Besides writing, he was active in the rap community.
Young was part of community events such as helping create “Cleva Cyphers,” which was a performance event series featuring multiple artists, as previously reported by the Chronicle.
In the past, he would normally work behind the scenes but with every opportunity received to work with fellow artists, it led up to him also becoming a part of the spotlight.
“It was dope, just being within that mold and just learning from everybody as we did, it was such a cool experience because that helped me get out of myself a little bit more than what I was usually accustomed to,” he said.
The classes he took for his major helped shape his identity.
”It really pushed me to test my limits on what I’m capable of as a writer, but also just showcased my personality,” said Young.
His music focuses on his relationship with God such as through questions in any “way, shape or form.”
Rapping started as a hobby he partook in during high school, which came out from his love for writing. Even now that rapping has become his career, the passion for penning remains.
“It’s just like what I’m really in love with,” Young said.
Amina Norman-Hawkins, a part-time instructor in the School of Audio and Music, said she met Young in her “Hip Hop: A Sonic History” class in Spring 2022.
She said he contributed to discussions, the previously mentioned “Cleva Cyphers,” in addition to bringing back Columbia’s Hip-Hop Club.
Hawkins, a founding faculty member of Columbia’s Hip-Hop studies minor and co-founder of “ManiFresh,” a mini hip-hop festival within the annual Manifest Urban Arts Festival, also noted that Young’s lyricism is very authentic and has a deep impact.
“He’s a passionate writer who is very intentional about what he says and how he says it, and THAT is why I think he’s going to go far,” said Hawkins.
To excited attendees amidst the multitude who attended the festival, Young greeted the crowd with immense pride, also felt by the rest who performed. Having just released “Need That,” late last month, he delivered the new single to the live audience.
DJ John West, an artist who has been DJing for 11 years, said he connected with Young through music.
He said he felt super excited for the rising star’s performance at Lollapalooza as he has been perfecting his newest track as well as the importance of such an opportunity.
“Young(IN) truly embodies the spirit of hip-hop through imparting wisdom and movement when he steps up to the mic,” said West.
Being able to be one of the many artists performing at Lollapalooza, especially one from Chicago, left a feeling of pride and happiness for Young.
For him, he said it was a culmination of all the hard work which came about for the event along with the involvement of fellow local artists.
“I just really love seeing how it came together and I’m just grateful,” Young said.
Copy edited by Manuel Nocera
