Featured Artist of The Week, Young Richmond OutKasts

Published: April 27, 2011, 1 a.m.

Young Richmond Outkasts hails from Richmond Va., and compromises of members ChiChi the Kid, Jay Dash, Heirborne, Jwrek, Jaesen K, and the departed Mikezie. Since their formation in 2009, the super group has won several awards and gained media attention from hip-hop outlets such as World Star Hip-Hop and local Richmond radio station 106.5 The Beat. Part of the Richmond independent record label, Hollywood Cemetery, Young Richmond Outkasts has opened for national acts such as Lil Wayne and D12 and established themselves locally with their popular “Clash” parties. Jay Dash and Heirborne were childhood friends and started making music as part of a different hip-hop group before Young Richmond Outkasts.  After ChiChi the Kid won Protégé Magazine’s 1st annual showcase, he decided that he wanted to share his local publicity with his close friends and artists he collaborated with frequently and jump started the Young Richmond Outkasts. When Mikezie was killed in his recording studio on Christmas Eve shortly after the formation of the rap collective, the group grieved and found new focus which reinforced their determination to make it as successful hip-hop artists.