Young MC - Album Collection 1989-2007

Marvin Young (born May 10, 1967), better known by his stage name Young MC, is an English-born American singer, rapper and actor. He is best known for his 1989 hit "Bust a Move". His debut album Stone Cold Rhymin' found international acclaim; however, subsequent albums have not reached the same level of success. Even if you hate pop-rap, Young MC is an artist with a discography you could really love!











Stone Cold Rhymin' is the debut album by rapper Young MC. It was originally released in 1989 on Delicious Vinyl and was later re-issued by Rhino Records. The third track, "Bust a Move", was Young MC's biggest hit and is his most well known song, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in Australia. His follow-up single, "Principal's Office", reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was nominated for Best Rap Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards.

Young MC wasn't given props at the time and he wasn't respected in the years following the release of his debut Stone Cold Rhymin', largely because he worked entirely in the pop-rap/crossover vein. All the same, that's what's great about his debut, since it's exceptionally clever and effective, a wonderful combination of deft rhymes and skillful production. And there's no discounting Matt Dike, Michael Ross, the Dust Brothers, and engineer Mario Caldato, Jr. (the latter two names are members of the Beastie Boys' inner circle), who make this record easily accessible, without a trace of guilt, even if it does sample from familiar sources. And, really, Young MC is a gifted rapper, spinning out rhymes with a deft touch and turning out rhymes much more clever than they should be. Yes, Stone Cold Rhymin' is a product of its time, particularly in its sound and lyrical references, but divorced from the Bush era, it comes off as one of the catchiest, friendliest pop-rap records and it's still an infectious party record years after its release. Reviewed by Stephen Thomas Erlewine allmusic.com

Track Listing

01. I Come Off
02. Principal's Office
03. Bust A Move
04. Non Stop
05. Fastest Rhyme
06. My Name Is Young
07. Know How
08. Roll With The Punches
09. I Let 'Em Know
10. Pick Up The Pace
11. Got More Rhymes
12. Stone Cold Buggin'
13. Just Say No


Album Released: September 5, 1989















Brainstorm is the second album by rapper, Young MC. The album was released in 1991 for Capitol Records. After the huge success of his debut album, Stone Cold Rhymin', Young MC signed a two album deal with Capitol Records. Brainstorm did not perform as well as his previous album, only reaching No. 66 on the Billboard 200 an No. 61 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop album charts. Though the album failed to make an impact on the charts, it nevertheless was cerified gold by the RIAA on October 9, 1991 for sales of over 500,000 copies.

In hardcore hip-hop circles, more commercial rappers generally aren't thought of as having a lot of technique – the consensus is that they're getting over on their pop or R&B appeal rather than their rapping skills. After "Bust a Move" became a major hit in the R&B market, Young MC was viewed suspiciously by b-boys. But make no mistake: the clean-cut L.A. rapper has considerable technique and could no doubt hold his own in a microphone battle. While his second album wasn't the hit that Stone Cold Rhymin' was, it's a decent, enjoyable effort with strong hooks and definite dancefloor appeal. Such congenial, R&B-ish fare as "That's the Way Love Goes," "Listen to the Beat of the Music," and "After School" obviously wasn't aimed at hardcore rap audiences, but leaves no doubt that Young MC could flow with the best. Reviewed by Alex Henderson allmusic.com

Track Listing

01. That's The Way Love Goes
02. Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
03. Do You Feel Like I Do
04. After School
05. The Right One
06. The Um Dee Dum Song
07. Album Filler
08. Keep It In Your Pants
09. Use Your Head
10. Listen To The Beat Of The Music
11. Inside My Head
12. Life In The Fast Lane
13. That's The Way Love Goes (Broken Heart Remix)


Album Released: August 5, 1991















What's the Flavor? is the third album by rapper Young MC. The album was released in 1993 and was not only his last album for Capitol Records, but his last for a major record label.

On his third album, Young MC was trying to recapture his audience, adding elements of jazz-rap – thanks to the production of A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed – to his pop-oriented style. While it didn't rocket him back to the top of the charts, the results were agreeable and likeable, with only a couple of embarrassing tracks. Reviewed by Stephen Thomas Erlewine allmusic.com

Track Listing

01. We Can Do This
02. Love You Slow (feat. Candyman)
03. What's The Flavor?
04. Foulin'
05. Bob Your Head
06. I'll Go
07. Love You Slow (Beach Mix Interlude) (feat. Tone-Loc & LL Cool J)
08. Don't Sleep
09. Open Up The Door (And Let Me In)
10. Back In The Day
11. Ease Back
12. Just Like That
13. Bob Your Head (Reprise Interlude)
14. What's The Flavor? (Mo Flava Mix) (feat. MC Hammer)


Album Released: June 7, 1993















Return of the 1 Hit Wonder is the fourth album by rapper, Young MC. The album was released in 1997 for Overall Records and was Young MC's first release on an independent record label. While the album did not chart on any album charts, it did have two charting singles; "Madame Buttafly" reached No. 25 on the Hot Rap Songs and "On & Poppin" reached No. 23. The title refers to Young MC's only Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit, "Bust A Move".




Track Listing

01. One Hit Intro
02. Freakie
03. On & Poppin'
04. You Ain't Gotta Lie (To Kick It)
05. Madame Butterfly
06. Lingerie
07. Coast 2 Coast
08. Fuel To The Fire
09. Bring It Home
10. Intensify
11. Mr. Right Now
12. On & Poppin' (Remix)


Album Released: July 22, 1997















Ain't Goin' Out Like That is the fifth album by rapper, Young MC. The album was released in 2000 for Young MC's own record label, Young Man Moving Records. This album marked Young MC's return to the charts with the album reaching No. 85 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It featured the single "Ain't Goin' Out Like That" and also featured a remix of his only top 10 hit "Bust A Move".




Track Listing

01. What It Look Like
02. Ain't Goin' Out Like That
03. OH!
04. Way Of The World
05. That's Right
06. After Dark
07. Y'all Don't Hear Me Doe
08. Where's The Party At?
09. Dreamer
10. Ain't Goin' Out Like That (Smooth & Scratchy Mix)
11. Bust A Move (The Y2K Mix)


Album Released: October 24, 2000















Engage the Enzyme is the sixth album by rapper, Young MC. The album was released in 2002 for Stimulus Records. The album did not make it to the album charts, however it did feature the hit single, "Heatseeker".

Once, Young MC was a more clever Fresh Prince, a guy whose pop hits tapped the same middle-class themes without all the smarminess. Things might have worked out better if Young MC (aka Marvin Young) had been insufferable instead: while Will Smith was plugging his latest blockbuster film, Men in Black II, with an accompanying single, Young was releasing this comeback on a small independent label to little fanfare. However, time and circumstances haven't eroded Young MC's mic skills. Still one of the wittiest rhymers around, he sounds like he's back to his old chart-topping form on Engage the Enzyme, which is full of tunes that back his sly observations with sturdy hooks. Of course, Young MC knows the odds against scoring another hit; "Stress Test" details the music industry's disinterest in his kinder, gentler approach. But that doesn't diminish the simple pleasures of "Unsigned Diva," a tale of bootylicious wannabe singers, or "Heatseeker," where the star tries to score at a club and is advised, "Young MC is much thinner/And he's got more hair." The album's finest moment, however, is "Crucial" – which not only became hip-hop's best 9/11 song on its release, but easily bettered most of the attempts in any musical genre to capture that fateful day. Unencumbered by the conspiracy-theory paranoia of many of Young MC's peers, or the moral relativism of the rock world, "Crucial" is a straightforward recounting of the attacks and their aftermath that isn't afraid to blame the terrorists or display some authentic patriotism. "I never really been a big fan of war/But if we don't fight now, what will we fight for?" demands Young MC; the irony is that a belief shared by so many Americans could have so little chance of reaching them, as there was scant chance hip-hop radio would have any use for the song or its sentiments. Yet those who seek it out – along with the rest of Engage the Enzyme – will find it more than worth their trouble. Reviewed by Dan LeRoy allmusic.com

Track Listing

01. Intro
02. Stress Test
03. Feel The Love
04. Heatseeker
05. Whoop De Whoop
06. Flows
07. Unsigned Diva
08. Babe
09. Crucial
10. One Time For Your Mind
11. Ain't No Way In The World
12. In Case
13. Without Doubt
14. Easier
15. Heatseeker (''The Feelin'' Remix)
16. Feel The Love (Latin Remix)


Album Released: August 6, 2002















Adrenaline Flow is the seventh album by Young MC.




Track Listing

01. Bring It
02. The Chase Is On
03. Nocturnal (Feat. Will Wheaton)
04. The Heart Will Know (Feat. Bridgette Bryant)
05. All On The Line
06. Used To Be (Feat. Bridgette Bryant)
07. Don't Get Twisted
08. Hit'em Hard
09. Do What You Do
10. Hot One
11. Adrenaline Flow (Feat. Cat Switzer)
12. Brotherly Love (Feat. Knoxx)


Album Released: 2007