Yung Gravy’s music possesses an undeniable allure that transcends trends, establishing a timeless quality that resonates with a broad audience. This captivating appeal stems from a unique blend of nostalgic samples, hard-hitting 808s, and lyrics that playfully navigate the line between humor and lyrical genius. This masterful combination has solidified his position in the music scene, particularly highlighted by his recent hit song, “Betty”. There’s a distinct and indefinable magic in Yung Gravy’s songs that keeps listeners coming back for more.
As a music school graduate deeply immersed in various genres, it might surprise some to learn that Yung Gravy consistently ranks as a top artist. Despite a music taste primarily rooted in rock and pop-punk, Yung Gravy’s songs have topped my personal Spotify charts for two consecutive years. While appreciating artists like Tiny Meat Gang, Yung Gravy remains a prominent and frequently streamed artist, standing out within my diverse musical preferences.
My introduction to Yung Gravy’s music, like many others, came through TikTok. Back in 2018, before TikTok’s text-on-video feature, the platform buzzed with a dance trend set to Yung Gravy’s song “Cheryl.” The playful rhymes, like pairing “dressing” with “flexing,” were instantly captivating. Over the following years, my appreciation for Yung Gravy Songs only grew. From introducing his music to friends, experiencing his energetic 2019 Lollapalooza set, to eagerly following his social media, his music became a constant soundtrack. Tracks like “1 Thot 2 Thot” became daily staples, offering fun, upbeat vibes crafted by an equally vibrant personality. In times that often feel relentlessly challenging, the lighthearted nature of Yung Gravy songs provides a welcome and much-needed escape.
Currently, Yung Gravy is experiencing a career surge. His song “Betty” is climbing the Billboard charts, anticipation builds for his upcoming album, and he’s embarking on a tour with longtime collaborator bbno$. Amidst this whirlwind, he shared insights into his current projects and musical journey. Introducing himself warmly as Matt, Yung Gravy delved into a conversation about his music and career.
Interviewer: Before diving into specific questions, it’s essential to mention that you were my top artist on Spotify for both 2019 and 2020!
Yung Gravy: Really?! Wow, thank you. I’m honored.
Interviewer: Absolutely, and I’ve attended two of your shows!
Yung Gravy: Which shows were those?
Interviewer: Lollapalooza in 2019 and Spring Jam at the University of Illinois, my alma mater.
Yung Gravy: Oh, sick, sick. Well, congrats on graduating! Both of those were great shows, that’s awesome. It’s a nice snapshot in time, showcasing early and more recent versions of me. I’ve evolved quite a bit, so it’s cool you experienced both eras.
Interviewer: Definitely! Let’s talk about “Betty.” It’s become a phenomenon, especially as your first single to chart on Billboard. How does it feel to have a song achieving such chart success?
Yung Gravy: It’s pretty surreal! Some of my albums have charted before, though the metrics differ. Both Gasanova and Sensational debuted at number 52 on Billboard, which was interesting – a consistent number. But having a single on the Hot 100 is a different level. It feels like a bigger accomplishment. It’s updated weekly, and “Betty” has been around 68 and 63, I believe. It’s incredible to see it chart, maintain its position, and even climb. After five years of rapping, I never anticipated a song reaching this scale. It’s truly exciting to witness.
Yung Gravy performing live, captivating audiences with his energetic stage presence and popular songs.
Interviewer: It’s incredibly exciting. Did you anticipate “Betty” becoming this big? It felt destined for success from the initial snippets on TikTok, but did you foresee it charting as a single?
Yung Gravy: I thought it would be successful, yes. As an artist, you often recognize a good song, but predicting viral success is impossible. Besides “1 Thot 2 Thot,” most of my big songs surprised me with their explosive popularity. While I always release music I believe in, I never specifically predicted the massive reach of songs like “Mr. Clean” or “Oops!”. With “Betty,” I sensed its potential from the beat’s inception, but its current magnitude has exceeded expectations, which is fantastic.
Interviewer: Can you elaborate on the creative process behind “Betty”? Clearing the sample must have been a journey.
Yung Gravy: It was nearly a year-long process from initial sample exploration. We collaborated with Nick Seeley, who handles many samples for my albums. We often recreate original music that evokes older songs, essentially creating a sample to achieve that vintage sound without extensive legal clearances. For “Betty,” we meticulously recreated the original song to a very close degree. This recreation then went to the publishing owners. Since we handled the recreation, we navigated fewer legal layers, needing approvals from a smaller group. They gave their consent after some lyric adjustments for cleanliness, making “Betty” my first clean, non-explicit release.
Interviewer: That’s fascinating! It will be interesting to see how far “Betty” goes, especially with its continued chart momentum.
Yung Gravy: Yes, its continued growth is exciting!
Interviewer: Shifting to touring, you just finished a tour with Dillon Francis and are about to tour with bbno$. Is constant touring draining, or is it something you genuinely enjoy?
Yung Gravy: It’s definitely tiring, but the allure of touring is strong. Performing and traveling are passions of mine. I even considered becoming a pilot to travel more. Now, my career merges travel with my passion. It’s relentless, but I’ve adapted to minimal sleep and operating in unfamiliar environments. It’s incredibly fun. In the last eight months, I’ve performed more shows than ever – around a hundred since last summer, including my solo tour, the Dillon Francis tour, and numerous college shows. I thrive on it. Fortunately, I can manage work on the road. It demands time and energy, but I love it and don’t plan to slow down. We have college shows in September, festivals in August, and the Baby Gravy tour in November. It’s going to be incredible.
Interviewer: Great! I’ll be at one of your Florida dates.
Yung Gravy: One of the Tampa area shows?
Interviewer: Yes, St. Petersburg!
Yung Gravy: Right near Tampa. That venue is amazing. I played there a few years ago, and it was fantastic.
Interviewer: It’ll be my first show there, looking forward to it. Tell me about the upcoming tour with bbno$. Was a co-headlining tour always a goal?
Yung Gravy: We’ve known and collaborated for about six years. When we met, I had around 100 SoundCloud followers, and he had 200. I wasn’t eager to collaborate until I met him. Our musical styles meshed instantly. Over time, our collaborations have strengthened. He used to open for me on several tours. You saw him at Lolla – he joined my set then.
Interviewer: Yes, that was awesome!
Yung Gravy: He often joined my tours as an opener, and we’d perform songs together. His career has exploded recently with “lalala” and “edamame.” He’s finally getting deserved recognition. Co-headlining now feels perfect. We’re still planning the show’s structure, but it will be more theatrical than my usual shows. A planned sequence: solo sets, joint performances, skits, and coordinated visuals. It’s going to be a massive Baby Gravy spectacle, and I’m really excited.
Interviewer: Sounds amazing, can’t wait! How different is the experience between your solo tours and co-headlining tours?
Yung Gravy: Past co-headlining tours weren’t drastically different because they largely drew my core fans. Whether solo or with Dillon Francis, the audience is typically deeply familiar with my music, knowing lyrics and deep cuts. However, opening for Limp Bizkit for six shows was a different experience. Opening wasn’t something I’d considered, but the opportunity was too significant to pass up.
Interviewer: Definitely, a must-do!
Yung Gravy: Same with Suicideboys – I opened a few shows for them as I admire their music. Opening sets are different; I focus on bigger hits to engage a possibly less familiar audience. Many are initially skeptical – “Who is this Gravy kid?”. But those shows, with Suicideboys and Limp Bizkit, were amazing, and the fans were great. It took a few songs, maybe 5-10 minutes, for them to warm up. After headlining for four years, opening again was interesting. I honestly enjoyed it and would do it again for artists I respect as much.
Interviewer: It’s great to have diverse live performance experiences. Switching gears again, let’s discuss the upcoming album. I caught snippets on your TikTok live – it sounds fantastic. What was the writing and creative process like for this record?
Yung Gravy: My first album, Sensational, was created during constant touring, a period of rapid change and growth. I was recording on the go, piecing songs together for an album. It worked for that time. Gasanova, released about 18 months later, was different. Written and recorded entirely in Minnesota during COVID, either at my mom’s or my condo. Being stationary allowed more focused work, but daily life was less varied, impacting inspiration. Both albums are distinctly “Gravy,” but this upcoming September release is a blend. It’s more professionally produced with greater control. My music production skills have evolved beyond just rapping, and I collaborated with producers who have extensive resources. I was more involved in every aspect of production. It’s more authentically “me,” with my direct influence throughout. It’s my best and longest album yet. I think fans, both longtime and new from “Betty,” will find something to love.
Interviewer: That sounds really exciting. I believe you mentioned fewer features on this album compared to Gasanova?
Yung Gravy: Correct, fewer features, more solo tracks. My solo songs tend to perform best, suggesting fans primarily want “pure Gravy.” I wanted to explore that. If a song needed something different, I tried new styles myself. For example, the chant in “Betty” was initially a space for a feature, but I decided to write and record the chant myself with female vocalists. Instead of filling space with features, I explored new creative avenues. The features included are perfectly placed and impactful. I’m selective about collaborations and very happy with the outcome. Everything is cohesive and strong.
Interviewer: Totally. I have to ask about a snippet from your live – the one with the “c’est la vie” chorus. bbno$ was on it, was there another feature?
Yung Gravy: Yes, Rich Brian. I can reveal that now.
Interviewer: That’s what I thought! So exciting, I’ve been waiting for that collab. I love Rich Brian, super hyped for that track.
Yung Gravy: Really! We had a studio session where we created a lot in one day – “edamame,” “C’est La Vie,” and another track all came from that session. It was great to finally work with him, as I’ve long admired him and Joji. Meeting him and creating that song was fantastic.
Interviewer: That’s awesome. You’ve collaborated with many great rappers. Anyone still on your dream collab list?
Yung Gravy: Good question. I had a dream collab list, and I’ve checked off most: Ski Mask, Lil Wayne, and Juicy J. Thinking beyond that, I’d like to branch out genre-wise. Tyler, the Creator would be cool, and Mac Demarco could be interesting if he’s interested. Having worked with many of my favorite rappers, I’m now drawn to collaborations across genres. Imagine Michael Bublé on a hook.
Interviewer: I can see that!
Yung Gravy: Yeah, that’s the direction I’m leaning towards now.
Interviewer: To wrap up, what’s next for fans to anticipate? Another single soon, or just gearing up for the tour?
Yung Gravy: The album is coming in September, with at least one or two singles beforehand. Tour in the fall, and Baby Gravy 3 with bbno$ will follow, ideally soon after our solo projects, hopefully within the year, giving you two albums from me. More international touring is planned for early next year, and I have some exciting features on other artists’ tracks coming out. Lots of Gravy content in the coming months.
Interviewer: That’s all the questions I have for today. Thank you so much for your time!
Yung Gravy: Absolutely, thank you for your time and for being a fan! I appreciate it. It was great talking with you.
Interviewer: I’ll see you in St. Petersburg in a few months, take care!
Yung Gravy: Thank you, pleasure talking to you too.
Listen to “Betty” here!
