Young Adz
Artist
Adam Nathaniel Williams (b. July 29 1995), professionally known as Young Adz, is a British rapper from Lewisham, South London. He is the frontrunner of British Hip-Hop collective D-Block Europe, alongside Dirtbike LB. He is often credited as one of the pioneers of the UK’s trapwave genre.
Making his way in the rap game at just 13 years old, previously under the moniker A.D.A.M, he dropped songs like “Ya' Feel Me” and “3style” which boosted his underground acclaim. At the age of 15, he landed a major deal with Universal Records which later fell apart due to his inability to focus on music and stop selling drugs.
In an interview with Complex in 2019, Young Adz said:
The whole state of music was different back then. This deal happened nine years ago. There wasn’t even a rap game nine years ago in the UK! Nowadays, if they don’t sign you and you’ve got a buzz, you’re gonna make money regardless. The state of the game back then, people were signing five-album deals and getting £10k for one album; you’re not even gonna take ten grand for one single now, in 2019. Even if you’re just a one-hit-wonder, you’re still gonna get, like, £50k, £70k for your single. So that’s why it’s different now. Way different.
After a life-changing co-sign from legendary New York rapper Jadakiss who saw potential in Young Adz, he flew over to the UK in 2013 to announce D-Block Europe – the European staple of his record label D-Block Records. Though it first started with just Adz and fellow South London artist Aero Sinc – LB was still an integral part of Adz’s journey – joining shortly after as he and Adz made a promise to get off the streets together.
With D-Block Europe, he dropped the 2018 collaboration mixtape with Custom House, East London artist Yxng Bane titled Any Minute Now, as well as acclaimed mixtapes Home Alone, PTSD and Street Trauma, all dropping in 2019. Their debut studio album The Blue Print: Us vs. Them dropping in 2020.
As a solo artist, Young Adz linked up with Tottenham, North London legends Chip and Skepta to drop their collaborative album Insomnia in 2020. He has also featured on tracks with the likes of Fredo, Not3s, Headie One and more.
