To be regarded as a mogul is a mark of excellence, consistent success, and a vast network, knowledge, and influence. However, contrary to popular opinion, a mogul can be anybody, not necessarily a corporate entrepreneur or business manager. Keith George II, known professionally as Youngin, is changing the narrative by joining the exclusive league of entertainment and music executives who have earned the right to be referred to as a mogul. 

Youngin is an American entertainment executive known internationally as an industry gatekeeper. With over 15 years of experience behind the scenes, Youngin works as an A&R, executive producer, brand ambassador, and DJ. He most recently entered the world of tech as the strategic advisor for the Kandiid App. As an executive, Youngin is credited with connecting the dots in many industry circles by placing both artists and executives in a position to close deals on many of the records dominating the airwaves today.

Despite his numerous successes and contributions to entertainment today, Youngin’s journey to the top is peculiar. The Oxfordshire-born music executive was raised in a military environment, which exposed him to different cultures and sounds. However, in San Antonio, Texas, he found his true passion for music. In 2006, as DJ Youngin Beat, he actively pursued his desire to be discovered. Following several mind-blowing performances networking, he began to build a contact list filled with artists, managers, and executives—contacts that are relevant to his brand today.

Youngin’s first taste of success came when he found himself climbing the ranks of the nation’s hottest mixtape DJs. He soon found himself working with the likes of Yung Berg (Hitmaka), Statik Selektah, Stack Bundles family, Swishahouse Records, Soso Def’s DJ Delz, DJ Decko, King Crooked, and more. As he made his name and brand one to be reckoned with, he prioritized building solid relationships with some of the biggest names in the recording industry, which led to an invitation to New York. Soon he landed an all-inclusive internship with a Def Jam executive, a role that saw him work directly with Sarah Alminawi, who managed the hit artist Maino under her management company MGMT Inc. From here on, he became unstoppable. 

In 2012, Youngin and a colleague formed Block Bleedaz, a production team that consisted mainly of producers and songwriters. By 2017, he slowly transitioned into talent management and promotions, which led to forming a local rock band in San Antonio, who later signed a major label contract. He followed this up in 2018 with collaboration and partnership with Glu Ent. to co-manage recording artists Chris King and Ponce Deleioun.  

Undoubtedly, the most impressive aspect of Youngin’s operation aside from his role as a label executive and talent manager is his influence outside the music business. For instance, in 2021, Youngin played an integral role in producing a first-of-its-kind free immersive experience combining cannabis in Denver, Colorado, with partners Johnathan “JP” Peterson and Samantha “Lil Fresh Sam” Aragón. The Winter Green Cannabis-Infused Light & Sound Experience brought various cannabis dispensary owners and other vendors under one roof for networking, collaboration, and raising money for children in need.

Sensational underground band White Boy and the Average Rat Band have announced the release of their new song and video “Holy Cow.” “Holy Cow” is the three-man rock band’s comeback single and video that was released on February 3rd, 2022. 

This is not the first time the band has tried to make their way back to the music scene. Due to the pandemic, the band has not been able to tour, but that is nothing compared to the over forty years of anonymity since the release of their self-titled debut in 1980. That 1980 debut has now become a high-valued collectible, with original copies fetching as much as $1,000 and more on the secondary market.

The band signed a deal with Heaven and Hell Records in 2017 to reissue their first album, re-introducing them to their old fans and getting them new fans. This also connected with an underground cult audience that had been waiting for their return to the rock world. In 2019, about four decades after their debut, the label released their sophomore project Love My Ride. They went on two national tours just before the pandemic struck and were unable to achieve their biggest live effort. 

Directly from Mike Matney, founder of the band:

“Being stuck on the farm and getting to spend time in my home studio was not necessarily a bad thing for me. However, I could not have anticipated the devastating personal loss of my mother. That loss, combined with the bombardment of images on the nightly news of the pandemic, riots in the streets, chaos and political unrest forced me to do some real soul searching. Raised a Southern Baptist in a small town, many a Sunday was spent listening to my mom playing the piano in church. It was comforting. Growing up a musician in the ’70s and ’80s I was greatly influenced by the hard rock music of the day. My Christian upbringing, the gospel music, my faith and my love of hard rock are all things I lean on during the lowest of times. These things were an inspiration to me and when I’m inspired I write. Writing and recording can be both catharsis and an obsession. Each song was painstakingly crafted over the course of the last two years. ‘Holy Cow’ represents 52 years of faith, musicianship and two years of total bs!!”

“While I am a Christian, my dad said it best, ‘Ya gotta live in this world.’ That philosophy impressed me greatly and shows upon my song-writing, from walking that fine line to fighting the demons we all face. I have always been one to hold my peace, so to speak, but ‘Holy Cow’ allows me to speak both artistically and spiritually, from my soul. And now, I’m praying for a louder voice.” 

“The title track ‘Holy Cow’ was recorded at my home studio in Southwest Virginia. I built it after I graduated from MTSU’s recording industry program in ’97. I was searching for a raw and bare-bones sound that is the band’s trademark. I also like that slight element of funk in it. I laid down the guitar riff first and the lyrics came over the next couple of weeks. After it all came together, I decided to try something new. Instead of mixing the songs myself or sending them off to one of my buddies in Nashville, I got on Fiverr and found a guy. After a lot of research, I landed on Oliver Wagner…in Taiwan of all places. I threw the stuff up on DropBox and Oliver worked his magic. I was impressed.”

“I brought Rambo (Darrell Gibson, Bass Player) and Hog (Jerry Hogeston, drummer) in on the video. Jerry was one of the original drummers for the band and Darrell has been with the band since 2017.” 

“For the video, I decided I would get on Fiverr again (I love Fiverr) and see what some of those guys could come up with. I would tell each one what I wanted and got video after video, then combined them. Afterwards, I brought in the guys and we did our parts. As for the main character (White Boy) well…I’d always toyed with the idea. It just seemed like the right time. I admit, having grown up in the shadow of Kiss and Alice Cooper, it was kind of fun doing the grease-paint thing. Lastly, I went looking for Cody Reid. This guy is a great filmmaker and editor. Cody and I became friends when Bluesdog, a harmonica player from the Canadian band Zed Head (which we both played in), introduced us. Bluesdog and Cody had worked on the set of the television show “Nashville” together. He and I had lost touch, so it was awesome that we were able to reconnect over this project. Cody was able to take what I had done and refine it even more. After some debate, this is the version we decided on.”

“Forty years building up to this point. Locked and loaded. Here we come!”