Born in Richmond, Va., Young Genius got his start in music through writing, first putting pen to paper as a creative outlet at the age of 13. Wanting to learn more about production and to put beats behind his rhymes, he began taking classes at the DJ Scratch Academy in New York. There he learned to mix, DJ and produce and continued to build on his talents when he took up drumming. The music he creates comes from the realities of his world. While most see music as an escape, Young Genius has said, “For me, music is what helps things make sense in my world, whether I’m writing or making beats, it’s what grounds me.”