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Sean Kingston's Prodigy, Iyaz

Sean Kingston's Prodigy, Iyaz

3:55·By Gemma G
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About this video

We caught up with Iyaz who's still coming off a year-long whirlwind of success with the release of his hit single, "Replay." We talk to him about his journey, being personally plucked out of the Virgin Islands by Sean Kingston and all he's accomplished in such a short time. Hosted by Michelle Marie.

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Young Hollywood

Welcome to Younghollywood. com. What's up, Young Hollywood? It's Michelle Marie. I am here with Iyaz right here all the way from the Virgin Islands. But you guys don't know him, right? He was the one in our Sean Kingston video. We met you back in the day before you blew up.

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

I got a surprise guest in the studio. I want to bring. He's my artist from the Virgin Islands, you know what I'm saying? He's gonna be huge. Ah yes, let's go. Uh oh, here it comes. Yo, what's good your boy Iyaz to the AZ. You guys were one of the ones that said, yo He's gonna be something someday, you know, and here I am one year later.

Young Hollywood

I know, right? It's crazy. I mean, like back then you and Sean, he was telling us about you and we knew that you had something and you taught me the Willy Bop.

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

Yeah, I did. I did. I did. I did.

Young Hollywood

How did I do?

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

You did, you got a 85.

Young Hollywood

85.

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

For your first time. She got a 85.

Young Hollywood

85. Not bad. I've heard your song twice on the way here. On the radio. So that's three times.

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

That's three times. In like the span of like 20 minutes to get here. That's good. That's that's crazy though, man. Like out here everybody's loving the single replay. And she's running through my mind all day. is like a melody in my head that I can't keep out me singing like every day is like my play.

Young Hollywood

Now, the song is obviously about a woman and just being obsessed with women and you co-wrote it with Jason Derulo. Tell us how it all came about.

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

I did my part first, but Jason had a version too. Okay. So, I was like, they played me Jason's version. I'm like, oh, I like that. I like that little I like that little part right there. So that's how he got in on the whole project.

Young Hollywood

Since I've seen you, I mean, you your life has completely changed. What are few moments you can tell us about that or your most memorable, like anyone you've been starstruck by?

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

Starstruck by was the first time I met Green Day. Yeah, I like I don't really get starstruck but I always wanted to meet him and then I finally did at the um VMA.

Young Hollywood

There's a back story with you on how you got discovered. It's a very interesting one because it's one of those things where so many people out there actually dream to get discovered the way you did. Tell us how that all came about.

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

Um, I was in college studying video and radio production cuz you know, I I engineer and replay myself. So I was going to school doing engineering and then I'm checking my MySpace daily. I see a message from Sean Kingston. I'm like, nah, delete. Go to school next day, come home, Sean Kingston, delete. So I'm just deleting it over and over again. By the end of the week, I finally open one of them and it says, he's he's going off right now. He's like, yo, yo, you're not taking this serious. I love your crab and then you're not showing appreciation blah blah blah. I was like, let me see what this guy's really about. So I gave him my number and he called me. I met him and then he was like, I want you to be part of Time Is Money and I have faith you're gonna be the next big thing. That's exactly what he said. Just like that. And then for you, look at me now, like you said, like everything. I'm blessed. I'm blessed.

Young Hollywood

When he actually sent you a message, did you know who he was or were you just did you not think it was really him sending you a message?

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

I didn't think it was really him. That's why I ignored it. Like that could MySpace is any any any online place is very dangerous. You never know who it is. It could be some weird guy, some weirdo.

Young Hollywood

Now, what is it like being with Sean? I mean, you guys seem like you have a lot of chemistry when I saw you last. You guys get along very well. What do you love about Sean? I mean, you guys seem to have similar minds.

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

He reminds me, that's all it is. He's like, he reminds me of people from the islands. His mom is exactly like my mom, like you you cross us around way. We we might not even get a chance to retaliate. Mom's already there. What's good? Mom's getting it in. Young Hollywood Millionaires, man, we the hottest around. It's the hottest network like that.

Young Hollywood

Young Hollywood Millionaires. You're part of the club, right?

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

That's how we do it. Young Hollywood Millionaires, baby.

Young Hollywood

Yeah, you really are now.

Sean Kingston's Prodigy

Yes, I am, definitely. You already know Time Is Money is the game. Warner Brothers better warn your mother we coming through. Let's go, Young Hollywood Millionaires. You dig.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Iyaz

    The interviewed artist

  • Michelle Marie

    The host of the interview

  • Sean Kingston

    Discovered Iyaz and signed him to Time Is Money

  • Jason Derulo

    Co-wrote Iyaz's hit single 'Replay'

  • Green Day

    Band Iyaz was starstruck by meeting

FAQ

Who discovered Iyaz?+
Iyaz was discovered by Sean Kingston, who contacted him via MySpace.
What is Iyaz's hit song mentioned in the interview?+
Iyaz's hit song mentioned in the interview is "Replay."
Who did Iyaz co-write "Replay" with?+
Iyaz co-wrote "Replay" with Jason Derulo.
What was Iyaz studying before he was discovered?+
Iyaz was studying video and radio production in college.
Which musical artist was Iyaz starstruck by?+
Iyaz was starstruck by the band Green Day when he met them at the VMAs.

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