Megan Yasuhiko Marie Smith, aka YASU, is no stranger to the Toledo, Ohio music scene. Her warm stage presence and angelic voice is a staple of the Glass City’s gospel circuit. for more than 15 years.

However, when YASU finally decided to put together her debut album, The Imitation of Life, she chose to forgo the traditional gospel music formula.

”This album was not meant to preach but to reach beyond traditional methods.” Yasu explains. ”Everything I have written was to help people. The album helped me first, to understand certain circumstances and to break through the wounds and misunderstandings of life.”

Read the Full Article at thetoledojournal.com. >>>

To purchase the album, click on the Shop tab.

ALBUM ALSO AVAILABLE IN TOLEDO, OHIO AT :

SOUND ASYLUM 2582 MONROE STREET
and
CULTURE CLASH 4020 SECOR ROAD

About 100 guests gathered Uptown at The Truth Art Gallery and Event Center to experience The Imitation of Life for the first time. Plenty of smiles, well wishers and music lovers greeted one another in celebration of a great accomplishment in the Toledo Community.DJ M.P.R.E.S.S, also representing Soulbeat, played the best in Neo Soul while Yusuf Lateef and UGE’s Adonis took photos. Imani “The Hype” Lateef hosted the event in his own unique way, giving accolades, moving the crowd and keeping them at the edge of their seats.Everyone waited patiently for the short live set as Yasu, singers Maurice Williams, Leonard Wilson and Chele Parker and musicians, J’Cole, Gavin Harvey, Akeem Coker and Jazmund Lyons handled the instruments.It was a great night for networking, supporting, showing love and experiencing Yasu’s debut album both on the turntable and in person.
In attendance were The Imitation of Life Producers, Mark Smaw, Jr., Chalie Numbas, Symonphoenix, J’Cole, Gavino, and Barry G. Yasu gave thanks for the gifts she received by meeting and working with these great producers, engineers, artists and writers. She looks forward to the next project already in progress.Video Production by Project360 Studios.

A ready crowd
Movers and Shakers

Eternal F.I.Y.A.H took the stage earlier that night

Humbly sharing the stage with local artists like Breeze, S.O.L, Brotha Al and Len Dow, Eternal Fiyah, and others, it was also a great honor was to be in the presence of Grammy Nominated Holy Hop Hop Recording Artist, Flame.

FLAME

Cross Movement Records has been a repeat supporter of The Jump Off, and the hundreds who filed into The University of Toledo’s Doermann Theatre, were well aware of the gift this man has. Emceed by Breeze and Pastor Calvin Sweeney, the red carpet was rolled out to a path that led to genuine hearts, celebrating Gods power and greatness.

The University of Toledo’s IMPACT and Toledo’s own Pinewood Tabernacle, together drew Holy Hip Hop Heads from Pittsburgh to Michigan to Missouri. Yasu was the 4th to take the stage with soulful renditions of Favor and Made it Through, from her upcoming Debut, The Imitation of Life.

Yasu

Cell phone faces illuminated the theatre as she sang about umerited Favor, the kind of blessings that come, just because, then she kicked it up with a joyful anthem, Made it through, both produced by JCole of Project360 Studios. Holding down the pre-show music and interludes was Toledo’s Best, Mark Smaw Jr. and Kiel “Styx” Newsom, together they kept the flow of things that also kept the crowd hype. “Su” loved being able to hear other local greats, like Eternal F.I.Y.A.H who came with a scroll! He spit poetry with conviction, and the crowd felt him. But the sweetness of Spirit was felt when the inaugural gift, Carlos took the stage with a combination of rap, spoken word, exhortation and strums from his acoustic guitar. From Pennsylvania, a youth group rocked the stage with a reggae beat then the vibrant young ladies from Pinewood Tabernacle danced to a Kirk Franklin joint, and everybody was feeling that!

In case you missed The Jump Off 2008, check the website to order the DVD from the event. The footage will prove what an awesome we had at UT.

If that wasn’t enough excitement for one night, Yasu mosied downtown to a quaint spot that was home to A New Cultural Art Gallery. Sponsored by The Sojourner’s Truth, the event was held from 6-11pm, and served as a gathering place for local artists and artist lovers. Located on Adams Street, The Truth’s headquarters and gallery is home to numerous creative gems, from sketches to paintings to sculptures to instruments, there was art for every eye to view and buy. Yasu had her 5 minutes of fame to celebrate the event and the opening of a venue that will be a long standing pillar in the downtown community. Because it celebrates the arts and promotes local talent, Yasu was happy to support; singing a sweet lullabye called Heartbeat, also on the album, she captivated the audience whom she stood among to bless with her light and airy tones. Host, “Mr. Woodberry”, when introducing her, told the audience “The name of the song is called ‘Heartbeat’, hopefully everyone in here has one!” With giggles and chuckles, they listened in wonder to this undiscovered talent, and admired art, from right in their own back yard.

With only moments left until her debut, Yasu, is still working hard to make certain listeners abroad can hear the message behind her music. Tune in!

From years of tumult, misconceptions, experience and writing about them, they either were little melodies or poems she kept in spiral bound notebooks. Just like a rapper, she has lyrics for days, but never had all of the components to “make music”, at least so she thought.

She never woke up and said, “I want to be a star”.

In fact, she dreamed of becoming a school teacher. Although she had been singing since she could remember, if it weren’t for the encouragement of parents and teachers, she wouldn’t have sung anywhere in public. She used to be a very shy person, and still is, for the most part. She considers music and singing an outlet and a release more than anything. And she acknowledges that singing is a gift from God.

Enter, Imani Lateef, the manager. He was able to take what Yasu had written and bring it to life. She had written a plan out as to how she wanted to record, if she were to record, and what she wanted to record. She even went so far as to write the songs and put them on cassette. She registered her work with the US Copyright office, too! So his approach was to carefully mold the foundation that she already laid and set her up with The Midwest’s Top Producers. Like an isthmus, he connected her lyrics to music and The Journey began. Imani had the AUDACITY to hook her laptop up with the program and he taught her how to use it to record her song ideas.

For about two months, she recorded something everyday, a nuance, random harmonies, and single verses that may become songs one day.

It didn’t take long for her to figure it out before she had tens of tunes that she recorded at home. Like a top student, she submitted tracks to Imani every time she had the chance. He’d listen, then pass it on to producers. One thing he let her know from the time he began managing Yasu, was that she already had all of the “components” to “make” music. He helped her realize that and encouraged her to hit the booth. So she did…and the orchestration became her album debut.

You will hear in her anthem, The Imitation of Life, the terror of her past, and the triumph in songs like, I’m Gonna Make It and Made It Thru. No tolerance sings in Don’t Try Now, and an important Conversation has been recorded on the album as well.

YASU offers you 14 opportunities to view various aspects of life through her eyes and heart. It’s more than tunnel vision she illustrates through her lyrics. It’s more vivid than 3D and gives X-Ray insight. Overall, it is a Complete Audio Experience!

Listen to YASU.

Check out where YASU will be this month, here.