Making Moves: Young Mob’s Plan
Article By: Lissa Prudencio
Photographs Courtesy of: Luis Ramirez
YOUNG MOB IS MOVING, AND UP IS WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. In a dimly lit room lies a bed in one corner and intricate wires connecting a home music studio in another corner. Newly settled into the heart of Hollywood, off of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, is Young Mob’s producer J-Teq, (born Jose Heredia) making all original beats. According to rapper Jonathan Hernandez, better known as Jono, the group (composed of J-Teq, Jono, C-Los, and Young Duece), makes music ”that could help people get through their struggles” – which is what they are trying to accomplish themselves, plus more.
Judging by the amount of individuals involved with Young Mob’s music career, it shows that their feel good sound attracts a diverse audience. Within a year, the group has hooked up with numerous supporters working in-house, including a photographer, videographer, and guitarist. In less than a year and a half, Los Angeles has become the group’s second home, 400 miles south and on average 15 degrees warmer than their home in the Monterey Bay.
The group’s four individuals have made (literally) one of the biggest moves in their careers and lives thus far. The newly LA-based rap group’s members are currently adjusting to the big city, hoping that Los Angeles will prove to be “the land of opportunity” that they imagined it to be. Nowhere near stagnant, Young Mob is constantly on the grind byworking on music, getting educated, and making ends meet. While all but Jono were born in Northern California, all four were raised in the Salinas Valley, near the Monterey Bay, where they met and found common ground in music. Officially forming in 2004, Young Mob set out to do something groundbreaking – create a different sound. C-Los said, “Where we’re from doesn’t give us the opportunities.” While Salinas’ agriculturally rich land provided a beautiful place to call home, it could not offer Young Mob the music opportunities they would be more likely to find in a bigger city.
J-Teq is the group’s production mastermind who initiated the move towards the big city, by enrolling in the Los Angeles Recording School in July of 2008. When the rest of the tight-knit group realized they needed to be together to pursue their music careers, they followed J-Teq and relocated to Los Angeles. Jono, who was born in Southern California, was the next to leave home and return closer to his birthplace. He enrolled in Everest College to study business and started the label II Tuph Records. C-Los, born Carlos Morales, and Young Duece, born Arnold Arevalo, completed the Young Mob relocation to Los Angeles, bringing the “Twista” and “Too-$hort” styles of rhymesaying to the table. Together, Young Mob has a diverse sound that can deliver anything from club hits to dance to, catchy hooks to sing to, and street vibes to cruise to. Among their favorite works are “Drinkin’ My Liquor,” “2 In The Morning,” “My Soldiers,” and “Give You My Number.”
Only time will tell if they are making the right “moves,” but Young Mob is not going to settle for anything less than success. For them, forward movement is the key.
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Spec Sheets:
Name/Nickname: Jonathan J. Hernandez
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Height: 5′8”
Random/quirky facts: –
Favorite things to do: “Staying active, making music and chilling with my family.”
Most embarrassing life moment: “Forgot my lyrics to on e of my songs I was performing at a night club in Monterey, CA. Had to improv the rest of the show!”
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Name/Nickname: Arnold Arevalo/ Young Duece
Birthplace: Los Gatos, CA
Height: 5′9”
Random/quirky facts: “I’m a Father to my 3 year old son. All around athlete”
Favorite things to do: “Relax!! Spend time with my family and friends, enjoy life.”
Most embarrassing life moment: “I would say in high school, In P.E. we were playing Basketball and one of my buddies pants me.”
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Name/Nickname: Jose Heredia IV/ J-Teq
Birthplace: Salinas, CA
Height: 5′11″
Random/quirky facts: “I’ve been a diabetic for 11 years, I’m a certified recording engineer, and did judo, wrestling, and football throughout grades K-12.”
Favorite things to do: “Hanging out with my family and friends. Watching classic gangster movies and making good music.”
Most embarrassing life moment: “For my 21st Birthday, I went a lil too hard with the liquor and ended up in the ICU
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Name/Nickname: Carlos Morales/C-los
Birthplace: Soledad, CA
Height: 6′
Random/quirky facts: “I like to eat my fast-food meals in other fast-food restaurants.”
Favorite things to do: “Make music, go out to social events.
Most embarrassing life moment: “I was playing around with my ex-girlfriend and she pants’d me in school.”
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