What do you get when
you put five teenagers together who each share a
passion for music, a desire for change, and skillful
creativity? Young Crowd the latest forthcoming epidemic
in youth and music. With an aim to influence change
in the lives of all youth for a better tomorrow;
this DC girl & boy group seems promising.
Despite their recent member drama, which at one
point led to a messy break-up the "Young Crowd"
era refuses to disperse; showing no signs of giving
up anytime soon. Formed in April 1999 as "The
Platinum Kids" in Washington, DC by two kid
rappers Lil'Kilah and Mizz Redz, "Young Crowd"
the teen Urban Crunk group has developed into an
upcoming super group. Majoring their musical focus
in a new genre of music in which they call "Urban
Crunk", their distinctive style puts Young
Crowd in no comparison to any other music groups.
This Urban Crunk group also delivers a universal
message to all youth that its Time For A Change.
No, they are not a gospel group but they do have
a gospel to preach! They are not afraid to do what
isn't selling today's hottest artists, and that
is why they are expected to do more than just sell;
This five-some will indeed make a difference and
be trend-setters of tomorrows new world.
Like no other group but itself "Young Crowd
displays a "Sassy City Essence". That
would explain why they would call their music Urban
Crunk; "Dark edgy beats with a touch of city
soul". Urban Crunk is a genre made up of several
different styles of music, which includes Hip-Hop,
R&B, Jazz, and even Rock. Most music genres
make up of just one style of music.
"Our music has purpose, meaning, and soul.
Urban Crunk is music with lyrics telling a story
in a way to grab your attention so that you can
be positively influenced and become a leader of
your own life; its like a gospel. We want to influence
positive changes in the lives of today's youth;
and hopefully through those changes they'll strengthen
their religional beliefs and behavior. It has nothing
to do with Crunk-n-B. Its just our little style
that we have for our purpose." - Young Crowd.
It all started late July 1998, a audition call
was issued in Washington, DC by the parents and
grandparents of then uncle and niece kid rap duo
"IC2" (Larry Pretlow II, Kie'Arra Pretlow).
They selected Keyshia Douglas (8) and Devin Williams
(9) to join eight year-olds Larry Pretlow II and
Kie'Arra Pretlow (who are just 53 days apart). The
Pretlow's then enrolled the kids into both dance
& singing lessons where they would spend the
next 9 months learning how to perform; they were
not officially a group just yet.
The quartette was officially proclaimed as "The
Platinum Kids" on April 23, 1999 a kiddy hip/hop
group. The kids spent the next two years performing
on Saturdays & Sundays, Spring Breaks, and Summer
Vacations. In June 2001 "The Platinum Kids"
were signed to a local record label "Starshine
ENT.", the group released their home-hit single
"Something Different". Despite the take-off
success of the single the kids were in for a crash
landing. "Starshine ENT." was faced with
a $3 million dollar class-action lawsuit in March
2002 for making "mendacious claims that artist
signed to the production label would be exposed
to major recording labels & producers. It turns
out that "Starshine Ent." had no actual
connections with any professional producers or major
recording labels. As stated in the judgment opposing
in the companies favor Starshine ENT. no longer
existed. The artist and their families also learned
that the label did not own any of the rights associated
with its artists music.
For about the next year and a half The Platinum
Kids would go back to their normal routine before
the Starshine deal. In August 2003 the group experienced
its first membership change; the tragic passing
of founding-member Keyshia Douglas (13). The singers
passing left the group as a trio calling themselves
IC3 as they refused to continue to perform as The
Platinum Kids. Five months (January 2004) later
the group called it splits when male singer Devin
Williams (13) decided to move to ATL with his grandparents;
leaving behind remaining members Larry Pretlow II
and KieArra Pretlow.
The group reassembled in July 2004 as teen urban
crunk group Young Crowd; a group with heart, a purpose
and a soul. Looking at life a whole lot differently
with a new attitude and a reconstructed passion
for music 14 year-olds Larry LilKilah Pretlow II
and KieArra Mizz Redz Pretlow refused to be held
back. They were joined by 13 year-old Alzater Al-Baby
Acee, Mitchell Big Mitch Brown (14), and KeVonna
Misfit Graves (14). The newest members were all
proclaimed original members of Young Crowd and not
The Platinum Kids; though the prior group is well
associated.
Shopping demos around to several major labels Sony
Music seemed hopeful that Young Crowd belonged there.
In August 2005 the group began performing under
the Sony Music logo. As they worked on their first
album; Acee and Graves began to bump heads. The
conflicting views of the two singers resulted in
a November 2005 fist fight. Graves left due to irreconcilable
differences between herself and Lead Singer Acee.
With the album not near completion and the changes
taking places within the membership the group was
booted. Graves was replaced 12 days later by Acees
next-door neighbor Tranica Babee Phat Ford (14)
who auditioned for the position.
As they traveled to the UK in December Acee began
to distance herself from Brown, Pretlow, Ford, and
Pretlow. The group had released a demo track as
their street single a month earlier. Take Ya Time
was a UK street-hit. Despite the minor success they
traveled back to the states in late January 2006
to continue their USA career.
In February 2006 Lead Singer Alzater "Al-Baby"
Acee (15) who was the last original member added
to the group; did not agree and/or comply with several
of the groups policies which included her violation
of the groups Confidentiality & Public Appearance
Agreements; she was booted from the group and swiftly
replaced by Shawnice Nee-Cee Clark. Al-Baby was
then dubbed the Queen of Chaos by the groups hometown
fans and reporters.
Shortly afterwards, founding-member KieArra Mizz
Redz Pretlow was booted from the group for violation
of the groups Sexual Preference policy when she
was reportedly spotted being intimate with another
girl. It is against group policy for any member
or employee to have a homosexual or bisexual sexual
preference due to the groups religious beliefs.
Pretlows replacement was added to the group in April
2006.
In March 2006 replacement Tranica Babee Phat Ford
was nixed from the group after she did not show
up for several group functions which left Young
Crowd in a temporary debt of $15,000 in fees for
breaching several contract obligations. The groups
management decided to reinstate KeVonna Misfit Graves
whom Ford replaced originally.
Escaping the drama and getting the show back on
the road, the remaining members of Young Crowd are
currently preparing for the release of their professional
debut single and album. As well as for their very
own performance tour across the USA called "Music
N' The Streetz". The headlined tour by Young
Crowd will also feature some well-established performers!
The tour will take place Spring 2007.
Meanwhile 2006 will be a year full of accomplishments
for this upcoming teen super group. Stay tune! &
Look out!
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