The geometric khemist (one who manipulates mensural frequencies via hertz, ohms and decibels), and self-proclaimed U.S. Secretary of the Arts, Kerwin Young is an Indigenous American composer. Having begun his professional music career as a member of Public Enemy's production team known as the Bomb Squad, Kerwin has expanded far beyond the realms of hip-hop. From producing known rap and r&b artists as Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy, Mobb Deep, Yung Joc, Bobby Brown, and Angie Stone, Kerwin has become an eminent composer of serious music for symphony orchestra, jazz big-band, chamber ensembles, film/television, video games, and other interactive media.
Central to his body of work, Kerwin Young has composed a distinct series of orchestral works which reflect his individual compositional concepts and personal ideas. Among these works are:
• Symphony No. 1 "Ancient Empire"
• Symphony No. 3 "Sudan"
• The Abominations of Dr. Phibes • Amplitudes and Attitudes in Hertz, Ohms and Decibels
• In a Kingdom Made of Glass
• Betrayal at Sand Creek
• The Man with the Un-tied Shoes
A partial listing of Film and Television Credits for which Kerwin has composed and produced original music includes:
• Green Card (1990) • Sister Act 2 (1992) • Street fighter (1994) • New York Undercover (1994) • He Got Game (1998) • Girlfriends (2000) • Flavor of Love (2006) • Let Freedom Sing (2009)
A partial listing of recording artists that Kerwin has either produced and/or collaborated with includes:
The James Brown Band (Jerry Poindexter & Bobby Byrd), Eddie Kendricks, Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, Reginald Robinson, Angie Stone, Bobby Brown, Tevin Campbell,
Eric B. & Rakim, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff, Busta Rhymes, Ice Cube, Mobb Deep, Luke Skywalker and the 2 Live Crew, Yung Joc and the list continues.
As the recording artist known as Kasuf and the Mazz Muvement, Kerwin Young has released seven (7) albums:
• Blackopolis (1999)
• Miles Away (1999)
• Badder Than Evil (2000)
• Black Godz in Space (2001)
• My Soul Has Been Exposed (2002)
• Music Speaks Louder Than Words (2009)
• Return of the Monk (2010)
Born, Kerwin E. Young, this multi-talented and renowned music producer, composer, musician, music publisher, later renamed Kasuf; began studying alto saxophone at the age of nine in his native New York. At age fourteen he put down the saxophone and started to DJ local parties, eventually becoming a night club favorite at age eighteen. By then a college freshman, Kasuf was already hanging around the recording studio of Public Enemy by summer of 1987, eventually becoming a permanent member of the famed production team known as the Bomb Squad.
Over the years, Kasuf has teamed up with numerous artists and producers such as Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff, Bobby Brown, Tevin Campbell, Angie Stone, the James Brown band, Roy Haynes, Eddie Kendricks, Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes, and Spike Lee. Through his experience at film and television scoring, he began studying composition more intently, as it pertained to symphonic writer for the large orchestra. Kasuf's first teacher was his father, Donald E. Young, a Julliard student and master trombonist, who played with Count Basie, Charles Mingus, B.B. King, and members of the Ray Charles band.
With some later, firm mentoring advise from Quincy Jones and Dr. Adolphus Hailstork on composing, (as well as a workshop taught by Atlanta-based resident composer, Alvin Singleton) Kasuf was encouraged to submit his first two symphonic works to the librarians of the Atlanta Symphony (Bob OBrien and Steve Sherrill) for proof reading. After receiving their approval to proceed, Kasuf immediately began to compose more extensive works, placing him among a rare breed comprised of composer, Hip Hop producer, lyricist and ultimate musician.
