This weekend I had the pleasure of sitting down with Minnesota-born rapper gone country artist, Yung Gravy, at New York’s best and biggest party, GovBall, in Queens.. Known most famously for his sample-heavy and playful sound, catchy beats and down-to-earth charm, this five minute convo was the ultimate weekend highlight.
M: Who are you and what’s your story?
YG: I was born Matthew Raymond Hauri in 1996. My dad was born in Switzerland and came to America when he was 20. My mom is a psychiatrist. I grew up in a decent-sized city in Minnesota, and went to the University of Wisconsin. I was a rap fein, and started rapping and actually making it work. I graduated in three and a half years and went on to tour and I’ve been doing it ever since. I wanted a job where I can travel… and ended up with a job where I travel too much!
M: Congratulations on your new song with Shania Twain, it’s fantastic! What made you decide to shift into the country music scene?
YG: First I became close with HARDY, he’s a country rock artist, and he introduced me to Morgan Wallen. I think country artists want to be rappers, and rappers want to try something new as well. At first it was athletes, but now it’s the country artists. We would freestyle on FaceTime and all just get along really well. Turns out we became tight, and then I met Shania Twain. I stayed at her house a couple days and we made a bunch of bangers.
M: And here you are!
YG: And here I am.
MT: If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
YG: Do what you’re about to do. Do the same thing you’re planning. I didn’t want to shoot for the stars and I didn’t want to fall off, I hit a perfect level of comfortable fame and money. I am very blessed to be where I am.
MT: Quality or quantity as a new artist?
YG: Quality (laughs). If it’s not quality, no one is going to listen to it. But honestly, as an artist, you’ve got to have both. I’ve always been a quality over quantity guy, and I know there are a lot of rappers who make a bunch of songs and have them waiting. I never have any music that’s ready to drop. I have no demos. I’m not going to finish a song if I don’t think it’s awesome. In my opinion, quality is the most important. I doubt myself a lot. I’ll be half way through a song and spend months thinking about whether or not I’m going to finish it.
M: How often do you listen to your own music?
YG: Not very often… I listen to the mix a lot before I’m about to drop an album. Last night, I had to perform this country song, where I did a verse with Dylan Marlowe called Boys Back Home. I wrote a verse for him and then recorded it and it was so crazy that I never learned the words. I was in the bathroom listening to that song nonstop for thirty minutes because I was so nervous. I hadn’t been nervous for a show in YEARS. (Normally) I’m always prepared and I know my work.
MT: Gravy, that was so awesome! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me.
YG: It’s been real.
