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Tuesday, Sep. 15, 2009

Mercer artist’s song being covered by Huey and Lil Wayne

“I’m walking around like I’m in space ’cause it feels so good. I’m on another planet. I’m on another planet.”

Young R, a senior at Mercer University, penned the song “Anotha Planet” — which is currently available for sale on iTunes for 99 cents. But this local rapper stands to see major green from national sales — when a single of the song under the name “Another Planet” is released by Huey featuring Lil Wayne.

Young R, whose given name is Julius Wilson, will be listed as the song’s writer along with Huey and Lil Wayne when the single goes public sometime this month, according to Eric Newman, a vice president with Jive Records — Huey’s record label.

The single will be part of Huey’s second album. His first album, “Notebook Paper,” contained the popular rap song “Pop, Lock & Drop It.”

Young R’s vocals will remain a part of Huey’s version of “Another Planet,” providing the background for the hook, Newman said.

The local 21-year-old musician is still reeling from the revelation the song he has been performing for local clubs and Georgia radio stations will soon get national circulation, albeit under another artist’s name.

“It kind of still blows me away. A hook I wrote in the shower just took off,” he said.

While Young R will not say how much he stands to make from the deal, he said once he found out Lil Wayne would be featured on the single, he held out for more money.

“I didn’t bite on the first number they shot,” he said.

Jive Records, which is owned by Sony Music, initially approached Young R in late spring.

Then in July, Young R discovered the record label already had plans to get Lil Wayne, whose given name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., on the song — he found out when he discovered the mix tape HiTzDependence Day with “Another Planet” featuring Lil Wayne posted online, Young R said.

In an interview, he called Lil Wayne “the most popular artist there is.”

Lil Wayne has performed songs including “Lollipop” and “Got Money” from his self-titled album “Carter III.” He has also been featured in many popular songs including “Make It Rain” by Fat Joe and “Duffle Bag Boy” by Playaz Circle.

“They ended up paying me double” the original offer, Young R said.

He will split his take with Deonta Gibson, better known as K.D., another Maconite, who will be producing the final version of the song. Young R will also receive producing credit, he said.

The two have signed a contract that will give them an upfront lump sum in the tens of thousands and then 3.5 percent of first $650,000 in profits and 4 percent on all the profits made after that, according to K.D. and Young R. Newman, with Jive Records, would not comment on how much the two were being paid.

The two locals also will receive 50 percent of the profits made from publishing, K.D. said.

Young R and K.D.’s manager, J. Stone, who helped them connect with Huey, will get a cut of their earnings, Stone said.

Young R said “Anotha Planet” is a little different than some of his other songs — none of which have been picked up by major artists.

“It’s way more poppy than normal,” he said.

But in some ways, he said, the song is like any other song he writes.

“My music is feel-good music,” he said. “When you hear my music, I want you to feel like you have on the best outfit.”

He said one of the great things about selling this particular song is that he doesn’t drink — and the song is all about alcohol.

“This drank got me feeling like I’m on another planet,” Young R sings as part of the hook.

D.J. Shawty Slim, who hosts Macon’s 97.9 WIBB Monday through Friday evenings, played “Anotha Planet” on his radio show.

“I was actually one of the first to play it,” said Shawty Slim, whose given name is Shirod Cooley, 28.

Slim said it was Young R’s persistence that got him to listen to his music.

“He’s one of the few that won’t stop until he gets it,” he said.

Young R annoyed Slim until he listened to some of his songs, Slim said — and when he did, he was blown away.

“When I heard ‘Anotha Planet’ I was like yo, this is going to be the one,” he said.

Slim said selling the song was a landmark occasion for Young R and K.D.

But this doesn’t mark the end of Young R’s music career. Slim said if things go according to plan, he will be playing a new single of Young R’s called “Word Around Town.” The song is partly biographical.

A sample of the track goes:

“I started out in ’06, hit the ground running. I got a buzz quick but I ain’t ask for nothing. I met all the DJs I reached out to all the artists. Did a lot of shows, made ’em see I grind the hardest. I have been putting on for game, ain’t a d--- thing’s changed, but now you want a call because I got a song with Wayne. When I was at the flea market selling my CDs in the rain, you act like you didn’t know my name. But you see, I’m fixin’ to blow up. Now you want to show up.”

Young R is a senior at Mercer and plans on graduating in the spring with a bachelor of science degree in industrial management and then going on to get a master’s, he said.

“Moving forward, my focus is releasing my first album, finishing school,” he said.

His album, “Smart,” should be out at early in 2010, he said.

For his part, K.D., who graduated from Southwest High School and is currently enrolled at Central Georgia Technical College, said he feels good about his accomplishment, especially being from a town the size of Macon.

“Doing this out of my home, I feel great about it,” he said.

While he is satisfied with the sale, he said the full significance hasn’t hit him yet.

“I don’t think I’m going to be that excited until it is in rotation,” he said.