A Conversation with Yung Cortex

Arguably one of the more prolific producers in recent years, New Hampshire native and moneyposse member Yung Cortex boasts an impressive list of credits, including extensive work with GothBoiClique. However, Yung Cortex also has a collection of solo work that is equally incredible. We got the chance to ask the multi talented producer about his introduction to music, the creative process behind the classic GothBoiClique hits “Hellboy” and “Witchblades,” his solo work, and much much more.

UU: So you’re from New England, New Hampshire to be specific. Where exactly in NH are you from, and what was it like growing up there?

Yung Cortex: I grew up around the lakes region. I mainly grew up in Meredith, New Hampshire though. New Hampshire is mad cool, it’s really nice because it’s kind of in the woods everywhere; there’s lots of nature and it’s really chill to go away there. But living there got old fast [laughs].

I’m from New England myself so I feel you for sure. Who were some of your earliest musical influences?

Nice hell yeah. My earliest influences are mostly like Aphex Twin, or the Postal Service. They’re both my all time favorites.

Someone told me your dad plays drums, do you think his percussion skills are reflected in your production in any way?

Yeah probably, I’ve thought that before but I feel like I surpassed that and began to figure things out myself.

Did you play any instruments before you made beats? When did you start making beats?

I just played guitar and piano a little bit and drums, all self taught.I started producing in FL Studio when I was 12, I’m 24 now.

Wow, how did you get exposed to FL Studio that young?

Well I was at my local skatepark wearing an old Boys Night Out band hoodie and the guy that worked at the skatepark fucked with them and told me he liked my hoodie. He was working on a Song in FL studio behind the counter thing at the skatepark and I asked him what that was. Long story short he became a good friend of mine and showed me how to use FL when I was really young, then I kinda just taught myself what I wanted to know from there

That’s awesome, do you still use a super old version of FL or do you update it?

I just stick to FL studio 11. I don’t know why, I don’t like 12.

How did you decide on the name Yung Cortex? Is it an obvious reference to the brain, or is it deeper than that?

Nah, I got it from my favorite game Crash Bandicoot [laughs]. Cortex was the bad guy and I always thought he was cool, so yeah I became Yung Cortex.

I would never have guess that. Have video games impacted your music in other ways?

I used to want to make video game music for the longest time, and I still do to be honest. I love when games have really epic music, like I love the Final Fantasy soundtracks they always snap [laughs]. They’re inspiring to me.

That’s super intersing. I’m really curious however, how did your collective moneyposse come about, and why did you join?

Me and Smokeasac made it like 5-6 years ago. We always made music together, but decided to come up with a name, so we made moneyposse. The first tag ever was me saying moneyposse bitch and pitched it down hella low it sounded so funny [laughs].

How did you and Smokeasac connect?

We went to school together in 8th grade when I moved to Virginia and then became good friends.

Damn I had no idea! What was it first like making music together? How did you know it was something you both wanted to do?

Well we were in a group with our old friend from school Skyler, and we all made like Three Six Mafia music. Skyler and Smoke didn’t make beats so I would make these really horrible Three Six Mafia wanna be type beats [laughs]. Some were fire as fuck though.

Once we got out of high school we went to collage in Boston. Smokeasac DJ’d and I produced, so he ended up showing me how to DJ and I showed him the gist of making music. Then he figured whatever he wanted out with it on his own.

So when did you decide you had to get out to California?

Me and Smoke hated the East Coast and had a chance to drive over there so we just said fuck it and went. It was a bitch.

Let’s talk about your work on Hellboy for a second. You produced three songs on the tape, including co-producing “Hellboy,” which was the first track that Lil Peep would come out to on stage for most of his performances. What was the process like creating that tape? Would you make the beats in person, or would you send Gus beats?

Every song we made together on that album was when we lived together. We’d get faded and stay up for night after night and the end process was Hellboy. We just sampled old songs we liked and turned em into that. The beat would get made then Gus would do his thing and record himself in garage band and he somehow made that shit sound fire as hell.

You also co-produced another GothBoiClique classic, “Witchblades.” What was making that track like?

That was another day we all stayed up and were just crazy lit in the studio. It was Tracy, Peep, BigHead and me, and some other people were there too but I forget. But me and BigHead made that beat, and at first I wasn’t so sure about it then BigHead switched the sample we had in it to begin with and then boom. That was “Witchblades” [laughs]. Gus called me like “Bro you’re never gonna believe what me and Tracy just made over that beat you made with BigHead.”

I’m really curious, what were some of your fondest memories with Gus?

We had a lot of fun times together, just living together for a while a bunch of funny shit would happen. We’d just be cranking music until the morning and making music like literally every single day. I miss it, it was something I’ll never forget.

Sounds like so much fun. How did you feel when people who barely knew him were speaking on his death?

Pissed as fuck to be honest. All these dumb ass new fans were commenting all over my shit calling me a Lil Peep wannabe, but don’t even know I was his friend and produced for him. It had me heated. But people are idiots and you can’t really do anything about it.

I couldn’t even imagine.

Annoying as hell. Like my friend passed and people show so much disrespect it’s wild.

What do you think the most important thing people remember about him?

That he was a great friend and one of the most talented people ever.

https://soundcloud.com/gothboiclique/lil-peep-lil-tracy-witchblades-prod-bighead-yungcortex

So, similar to many producers, your name is often only associated with a list of producer credits and placements. Does it bother you when people only associate you with the people you produce for? I would assume that you feel like you are much more than that.

Yeah it’s pretty annoying. I’ve done lots with music and it’s annoying when people only know me or like me for producing one song for someone. I have lots of music I make that I wish people would listen to. I have so many albums out of instrumentals and stuff, even an album of me singing but it’s whatever *[aughs]. Not everyone likes everything.

I am actually a huge fan of your vocal work, particularly your song “fast car (faster).” When did you make your vocal debut, and what was the process like?

Fuck yeah thanks! I’ve rapped and sang for years, but wasn’t really comfortable with it until I put out “fast car (faster)” to be honest. I took singing lessons when I was younger, and just used what I knew from that.

So what would you say your favorite vocal track of yours is?

Definitely “fast car (faster)” I’m trying to do more like that. I like “speeding in my car” too. I make so many songs about cars, I really don’t know why; I don’t even have one [laughs].

What I love about those songs is listening to them reminds me of a 1980s Miami night with Ferraris and neon lights, which definitely a different vibe than your beats with guitars. Do you try to experiment more in your solo tracks? Also, we need to get you a car.

Hell yeah I make a lot of different types of music, I hate sticking to one thing. And I know right? I just drive my girlfriend’s whip.

You just made the perfect transition for me. A lot of people are curious to know how you met Bella, perhaps better known internetgirl?

She was in LA And we hung out, chilled for a bit and connected really well; we had many of the same interests and such. She’s great, the best girlfriend ever.

Was she the one that took the infamous pants picture? Also, how does it feel to be a meme?

[Laughs] Yes she was. I love it, I want to be more memes.

So looking forward, what collaborations/projects do you have in the works? Any that you can speak on?

To be honest I just been working on lots of new stuff. I was just with Tracy and we were talking about working on some new stuff, so that will soon come hopefully.

Wrapping things up here, is there any message you want to give your fans?

Thank you for supporting me and my music. It means a lot to me.

Explore Yung Cortex’s extensive discography down below.