It has been an up and down start to the team’s 2012 campaign, but hometown hip-hop artist/promoter Ya-Boy AMC remains optimistic about his Chicago Bears.
Reigning from Chicago’s Englewood community, Ya-Boy AMC has become one of the best selling unsigned artists in the world. Since release of his first album in 2009, he has totaled over 100,000 iTunes downloads. Earlier this year Ya Boy-AMC’s single, #TeamKeepWinning, peaked at number 18 on the top 200 single chart for the hip hop /rap genre.
#Team_Keep_Winning is inspired by NFL football; therefore, we thought it would be only appropriate to speak with the music industry’s rising star.
PPI: Tell me a little about yourself and your life as an artist; when it all started, where you perform, etc.
Ya-Boy AMC: As an artist I got serious around 2007. Most of the time I perform within the Chicago area but sometimes I perform an out of town show in Milwaukee, Indiana, or Atlanta as I try to expand my fan base not only in the United States, but all over the world. I have 4 singles and 2 albums available on iTunes at the moment. Now I’m trying to put out good music and take it as far as I can without a label. The way things are now with social media, it’s possible to do well for yourself without a record label.
PPI: Being from Chicago I’m assuming you’re a big Bears fan?
Ya-Boy AMC: I’m a huge fan of every Chicago sports team and backing them up. I love my Chicago Bears, I’m excited for them this season. It’s the first time in a long time that I can say our offense might be as good as our defense. I was born and raised here. I’ve always been a fan of all Chicago sports teams; the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs AND White sox – I root for all my Chicago teams.
PPI: If you could relate your music and personality to any player on the Bears, who would it be and why?
Ya-Boy AMC: At this moment I would probably have to say Devin Hester because every time he gets the ball, everybody thinks he could go all the way anytime he gets the ball. There’s something special about that guy. When he catches the ball and you give him a little bit of space, he makes incredible moves, lateral adjustments and he’ll take off on you with that breakaway speed.
With my music, you turn it up, it’s that feel good music that makes you want to dance and can make you go all the way anytime you listen to it. On that aspect it would have to be Devin Hester, without a doubt. He’s not only one of the most exciting players on the Bears, but in the entire league, especially on punt returns and kick returns.
PPI: Who is your favorite Chicago Bears player of all time? 
Ya-Boy AMC: Walter Payton – he personifies what it is not only to be a player in Chicago, but an individual living in Chicago. He was blue collar, hard working and even after all of his accomplishments, Walter Payton was always humble. That’s why he is my favorite all-time player. He’s a player the fans could always relate to, never letting the fame and stardom make him big-headed after all of his accomplishments. He was a great individual.
PPI: What is your perfect NFL Sunday?
Ya-Boy AMC: I believe it was in 2006 when we went to the super bowl with Rex Grossman. It was the game that Dennis Green blew up after giving up a three touchdown lead and said “they are who we thought they were”. The comeback win was incredible but Green losing his cool after the game in the press conference is a moment that will stick with me and a lot of people for a long time.
PPI: How do you think the Bears will fare over the course of the season? Do you think they have a realistic shot at winning the Super Bowl?
Ya-Boy AMC: I actually do think that they will come out and go to the Super Bowl – and I’m always realistic about it. I feel like my Bears can do a lot this year with the key pieces they picked up, especially at wide receiver with Brandon Marshall – he’s a key component. I’ve been telling everybody that I thought Jay Cutler was a good quarterback as long as you give him time in the pocket. No quarterback is any good if you don’t give him time in the pocket. I don’t care if it’s Tom Brady, if you don’t give him 3 seconds to drop back, make his reads and throw the right pass, he’s going to look bad.
I feel like we’ve got a good offense line this year, we’ve got a pretty good receiving core, a pretty good quarterback in Jay Cutler and Matt Forte running the ball. Offensively we’re pretty good this year. I’m one of those guys that likes to see four or five weeks of football being played before making a prediction, but I’m going to go ahead and say the Bears will make the Super Bowl.
PPI: Have you ever considered dedicating a song to the Chicago Bears? It’s been a while since the Super Bowl Shuffle.
Ya-Boy AMC: A fitting song of mine would be #Team_Keep_Winning, which I put out about 9-10 months ago. It’s a song written to create an atmosphere that I think all football fans will like, even the album cover for it – with cheerleaders; we’re in the locker room holding a trophy. I wrote that song with the football atmosphere in mind and the idea that my Bears can win the Super Bowl. I would love for the Bears to pick that up.
PPI: Do you have any new mixtapes or albums dropping soon? Where can the PPI readers find your music online?
Ya-Boy AMC: Everything I have now is available on iTunes where you can find me by searching for A”Ya-Boy AMC”. My most recent contribution to the music world was an EP called The Dream Chaser, released on June 26. You can always follow me on twitter @Ya-BoyAMC or Like me on Facebook.
