Quest Tha Youngn on the rise By George P. Hassett Somerville hip hop artist Quest Tha Youngn would rather build a reputation on solid music than gangster affiliations. The 22-year-old Quest, real name Anthony Brogna, has the kind of underworld roots valued in rap circles – his uncle is infamous Winter Hill Gang boss Howard T. Winter. "[Being Winter's nephew] doesn't define me and who I am," he said. "But I can't avoid it either. It gives me an advantage – in my music, I can bring an inside look at what mob life is really like." Quest, who attended the Winter Hill Community School and Somerville High, is building momentum in underground hip hop circles today as he works with industry heavyweights such as producer Statik Selektah and Lil' Fame of the renowned Brooklyn group, M.O.P.

"Not too many people in Boston hip hop get to work with major acts like that," he said.

Last August, Quest performed at a music festival in the Czech Republic and on Saturday he'll be on stage at the Middle East in Cambridge.

"I'm definitely trying to cross over and make music for millions of people but right now the underground [music scene] is still my bread and butter," he said.

"I'm taking over the atlas," he raps in the video for his single, "Show Me Love," in which he spits lyrics in front of local spots, the Paddock Restaurant and Winter Hill Liquors, surrounded by supporters and wearing a bulletproof vest.

Quest grew up on Marshall Street, surrounded by landmarks of the city's criminal past – the Winter Hill Gang headquarters, Marshall Motors, was on the block – and hearing tales of his uncle's control of the neighborhood.

He started writing poetry at age 12 to cope with his grandfather's death. At the funeral, he finally met Winter, recently released from federal prison for fixing horse races. Winter is married to Quest's aunt.

"I heard about him my whole life," Quest said. "So it was good to meet him and speak with him and learn what really happened in Somerville. I don't condone anything he did, but from what I heard Somerville was safer in the streets back then."

By 14, Quest was putting his poetry to music and three years later he began recording his intricate, multi-syllabic raps. "My strength is my versatility," he said. "I make music about people aspiring to be better and live better lives," he said.

Now, Quest is looking to put Somerville on the hip hop map and make Winter Hill known for rhymes instead of organized crime. His album, "Quest for Greatness" will be released in Newbury Comics and iTunes next month.

"My uncle Howie is 79 years old now, keeping his head up and enjoying his time on Earth," he said. "I don't have to drop too many names in my music, the neighborhood is in my blood. I'm the real definition of Winter Hill."

Quest Tha Youngn's first video. Warning: profanity, drug and violence references