Join Year of the OX as they share how they make music that will stand the test of time, what inspires them, and more.
Year of the OX stands out as one of the most uncompromising rap duos in the scene. Led by diligent emcees Lyricks and Jae Young, their lyrical prowess and unwavering determination set them apart. Whether engaging in rap battles, dropping dedicated weekly tracks, or gearing up for their forthcoming debut album, Year of the OX is driven by a quest for hip-hop supremacy.
In their latest endeavor, the duo joined forces with fellow Los Angeles artists Junoflo, Justin Park, and G2 for an unprecedented collaboration album. With an upcoming show on March 26th in LA featuring all five artists, I had the chance to catch up with Lyricks and Jae Young to discuss their collaboration, their artistic identity, and their ongoing journey of skill refinement.
Hello, Year of the OX! Firstly, thanks for taking the time to speak with me. Please introduce yourself to my readers.
Hello, Rae. Our names are Lyricks and Jaeyoung, and we are the rap duo Year of the Ox.
Congratulations on your upcoming project with Junoflo, Justin Park, and G2. What excites you most about the new music and the show in Los Angeles?
It excites us to bring new music to our YOX fans and also the supporters of our friends you mentioned. It’s been a while since we worked on a collaborative project with another artist, let alone three. (85 Seoul with Reddy was our last one.) The combination of styles and personalities really shines through the music, and we are eager to see how everything meshes together on the same stage on the same night.
What impression do you hope to leave on fans with this new project?
We wanted to show the people that YOX can still be versatile. The people were already familiar with our skill sets, but introducing new flavors has always been the name of the game
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Push-ups, a shot of tequila, and a quick prayer huddle.
Your lyrical talent is unmistakable. How did you make sure that Jaeyoung and Lyricks were represented in the new singles “Gold Rocky” and “Dale Denton”?
J and I are firm believers in making music that will stand the test of time. Even if this means doing things our way regardless of how it’s received at first. The power of having two heavyweights with the pen game guarantees to level up with every track.
“Dale Denton” plays off the fight scene in the movie, “Pineapple Express.” It feels like it could be an anthem for anyone wanting to challenge the naysayers in their life. Was that intentional?
YOX has always supplied fight music for the world. Whether it means a soundtrack for a street rumble or gym music that you use to fight against yourself for that last rep… we’ve always been the supplier of stampede sounds.
The song “Gold Rocky” has a more carefree vibe. Was there anything in particular that inspired you when working on this song?
Sometimes, when we’re too occupied trying to out-bar each other, we forget about our female audience group, haha. Having a talented artist like JUSTIN serenading on the hook, we wanted to deliver something smooth while keeping the message intact.
You shot music videos for both “Gold Rocky” and “Dale Denton.” Are there any memorable behind-the-scene stories or moments you can share with us?
During the shoot for Dale Denton, the producer forgot to mention that he hired a street bike team to perform tricks with wheelies and such during our verses. So, mid-way through our shoot, when a group of gentlemen started circling the parking we were in, revving their throttles and looking like a problem, Jae Young and I thought things were about to go left. I switched the grip on the glass bottle I was holding and tried to survey the situation, preparing for a war. Thank God they were on our side…
What inspired you to start making music? How did you decide to become a rap duo?
Both coming from the state of Virginia, a huge reason why we started rapping was to rebel against this so-called “planned out course” our immigrant parents had in mind for us. Not saying that we wanted to disobey our families, but we always knew that we had something more to offer than becoming what they wanted us to become. Jay Young and I have been rapping together for over 10 years. Ever since our song seven rings surpassed 14 million views on the internet we decided to join forces officially, the rest is history.
For newer Year of the Ox fans, what song of yours would you recommend them to listen to first? What’s your favorite song from your discography?
It’s so hard to choose just one song that represents us. But if we had to choose one, the track "Stampede" off of our first EP is a clear representation of who we are as a group… unapologetic, unforgiving, and relentless with our force. It’s that “ if you stand in our way, you will get run over” type of track.
Do you have any goals that you want to achieve this year, either personally or as artists? The natural evolution of a duo is as follows: At first, we fuse everything together and compromise with each other to brand ourselves as a unit. Now, our goal for this year is to celebrate and highlight our individuality and separate passions while waving the flag together. Jae Young is now a beast producer, and Lyricks is venturing into other mediums outside of music as well. Be ready for what’s to come.
What can fans expect from you next? A tour? More shows? New music?
New everything. Same everything. More content, obviously more music, a tour is DEFINITE.
Lastly, can you please share a message of love for your fans?
To all the fans and supporters of YOX, thank you for trusting the process! We would be nothing without you guys. As you guys know We are not a group that’s making music just for the recognition and accolades. There have been trials and tribulations over these past few years and, most importantly, growth from both of us. Our hearts are aligned once again and our vision is set, thank you for ROCKING WITH US ALL THESE YEARS!
Connect with Year of the OX on Instagram, Lyricks (IG), Jae Young (IG), and YouTube.
Listen to their music on Spotify and SoundCloud.
*Special thanks to Year of the OX for this exclusive interview.