CONTAINED: ARTIST INTERVIEW -
YOUNG EMAN x 32 OFFLINE
Words: 32 Offline, Young Eman, Cal Risin
Photography: Samuel Edwards, PLUS MINUS Productions
YORKSHIRE BASED DUO ‘YOUNG EMAN X 32 OFFLINE’ EXPLORE THEIR NORTHERN ROOTS, DREAM FESTIVALS AND MORE.
Wearing SKITZO, 4TEMPLARS
How did the collaboration between you two come about?
32 Offline: It was in church in year 7 around 2015, I moved into the area and my parents where trying to find a new church. They chose ‘Forward and Favours’ a church I go too. I met Eman in the church there and started talking about the fact we both do music, and we have been doing music since then. It really started off in the church and moved on into the actual industry.
Young Eman: I got introduced to music by my brother, but weren’t too serious about it back then. So, I was making beats around the same time I started recording vocals - there’s just been progression from there to build bangers. That’s how it’s been man.
Where do you come from?
Young Eman: I’m from Sheffield born and raised.
32: I’m from Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Tell us more about ‘Certified Boys’.
Young Eman: I started ‘Certified Boys’. The first ever track released I was in the studio with Alex’s older brother, we were recording it and I made the beat too. I must of said “We are the samurai boys” and they where like “Nah, nah change it we will be the certified boys, that’s the type of flex we’re on, doing our own thing. So, since then I’ve been trying to find people that are like minded, because the certified boys is a mindset and a lifestyle. So I went through secondary school trying to find and grab a few people to see if they are on the same flex, not too many were found. I did find out not too many people have the same ideas as me you know? I found people like 32 and CK and now it’s a group with a different mind set.
32: ‘Certified Boys’ is an establishment, it’s a statement in a way because all of us is a bunch of young kids trying to get out a situation and just trying to level up in life. Our passion and dreams are what makes us chase it. It’s not just a rap group, it’s a collective of people trying to do well. CK is a footballer but he’s trying to put as much graft in as we are with his dream, not just the music side but everything in life.
If you had to choose one festival to headline, where would that be and why?
Young Eman: I got three, Glastonbury, Wireless and Coachella.
32 Offline: Mine would be the same I think, Coachella I would love to do so bad. We love performing and entertaining the crowd. One goal I want to complete in my music career is just like Travis Scott did, hosting a dedicated festival like Astroworld. That would be lit, big achievement vibes everywhere.
What’s your most memorable experience in the music industry to date?
32 Offline: You know what it is, my mind set has changed so drastically with professionalism and how we see ourselves. To the point where making a track in a studio used to feel so big, but now we do that every single day. So, when it comes down to pin pointing something, it would be meeting a big record label manager when they are looking at you. That says to me that to get front of the eyes of these people is a result of me putting in this hard work. I try not to get gassed at the moment, there’s no room to party and get gassed.
Young Eman: If there’s any year 11’s watching this, don’t go to sixth form if you have dreams, just don’t go. My most memorable experience so far was when was in sixth form and I got an email from a big record label, I go home and make a track and It was the best track I’ve ever made. That same week I had two other record labels trying to get in contact and everything. I’m on 6 million streams right now but when I reached one million streams I looked back and realised it’s leading somewhere. To hear people say you won’t make it, and making beats at thirteen, it’s nice to look back at. A lot of people don’t do that but being in our own lane has took us so far already.
How do you think your musical style has evolved?
32 Offline: You know what it is, from a viewers stand point it’s a bit weird cos we make track and we put it out and that’s how people view us. But, if we made like an Afro track or an R&B track it’s like what’s next? Where’s the transition?
Young Eman: From the get go, and even when making beats. We just listened to beats last week and we thought “Ah that’s a ‘Suave’ type beat” but I feel we have transitioned more because I didn’t have my own style back then, I was doing what ever like R&B or other genres.
