From SoundCloud sensation to meme-rap icon, Yung Gravy’s mix of playful rhymes and nostalgic style has won over generations of fans.
Born Matthew Raymon Hauri in Rochester, Minn., Yung Gravy has become famous for his retro-sampling beats, clever lyrics, and viral hits like the platinum-certified “Mr. Clean.”
One of the most innovative and colorful rappers in the country, he has racked up millions of streams by blending classic soul, vintage samples, and modern trap.
But before all his success, he earned a marketing degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison back in 2017.
“Going to Madison was dope,” Hauri told Revue. “I really loved the people that I was around, and those times are really what encouraged me to make an attempt at music, so in a way I have Midwest colleges to thank for my career.”
Earlier this fall, Yung Gravy toured several Midwest colleges, including performing before the home opening football game at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo back in September.
Yung Gravy began creating music as a hobby while in college and started releasing tracks on SoundCloud. His breakout hit “Mr. Clean” went viral in 2017, quickly leading to a record deal with Republic Records.
“It feels smooth because it’s all been the same type of thing to me,” Hauri said about his surprising path to stardom. “I’m busier now, and things are on a larger scale now, but my fans have been really there from the beginning supporting and representing, so I’ve always had a sense of support, so the growth was clean I’d say.”
His rise from meme-rap notoriety to mainstream artist is marked by platinum singles, world tours, and a growing fanbase.
In 2022, his hit “Betty (Get Money)” became his first song to break onto the Billboard Hot 100. He later performed the song, which features a prominent interpolation of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up,” on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show.
Many of Yung Gravy’s songs pair samples from oldies, soul, and disco, with modern trap beats and heavy bass.
“A lot of the songs I sample have been in my life as long as I can remember,” he said about what tracks he selects. “It could be that, or if something really matches a vibe I’m going for and I want to Gravify it, there’s no rhyme or reason to it.”
He added that his unique sound drew early inspiration from Lil Ugly Mane, Yung Lean, and Three 6 Mafia.
As for his own songwriting, Yung Gravy has kept things spontaneous and flexible.
“It’s really a case-by-case basis, usually though I’ll have a collection of beats or music that my producers send to me, and whichever one is speaking to me most in that moment, I’ll start the cooking process from there,” he said. “There are also instances where I’ll think of a loose concept or song idea, a few lines or so, that I try to find a beat for, then flesh it out over time. No rules or set structure though.”
As Yung Gravy, he has become known for his humorous lyrics and playful persona, something that he carefully balances with self-awareness and credibility.
“I just do what I think is fire and whatever people take from it, it is what it is,” he said. “It really became serious when I started getting more popular, but I started doing this because I love it, and people around me encouraged me, so I wasn’t really thinking about that.”
Even though his onstage Gravy character has become larger-than-life, off-stage Hauri said he remains grounded in his everyday life, but that both sides are just as much a part of him.
“Honestly not that much,” he said about the difference between the two. “I’m involved in every aspect of my career, which puts me more into business mode (offstage), I guess, but overall it’s not too far off.”
He added that his background in marketing has helped him navigate the complex business side of the music industry as he’s gotten bigger.
“I went to college for business, so it’s natural for me to take the approach that I do,” Hauri said. “I’ve met people through music and being a public figure that I never would have otherwise, and I’ve been able to make a lot of cool shit happen, and make lifelong connections. It’s beautiful. I like to keep a good balance between creative and business, that’s important too.”
He's expanded the Yung Gravy brand, which now includes collaborations with bbno$, commercial campaigns with Martha Stewart, and other national TV appearances.
His concerts are known for high energy, humor, and unforgettable moments. But he said there’s one moment that sticks out most in his mind as the craziest one.
“I’d say probably when I threw the rotisserie chicken up to the second floor balcony and someone actually caught it,” he said, referring to an onstage gag that’s become something of a staple at his shows.
On record he continues to push boundaries as well. He said that after his 2024 album “Serving Country,” where he tweaked his “country gravy” recipe to include county music elements and collaborations with country stars like Shania Twain and Zac Brown, he is really not afraid to experiment or try something new moving forward.
“That was exhilarating to me and showed me I can really just do whatever I want and I’m not bound to a sound,” he said. “I want to stick to the foundation of what I started, but keep letting my influences and swag seep in. Progression with intention.”
As he looks ahead, Yung Gravy said his intent is to just keep the gravy train going and continue building on his legacy.
“My music taste is really all over the place and I feel finding new ways to love what I’m doing, so I just hope that I stay satisfied and I can satisfy my people,” he said. “I want people to say I made rap more fun, more inclusive. If I brought a few generations together and made folks smile, that’s a legacy I can be proud of.”
Yung Gravy: Voluptuous Voyage Tour
Wsg. Pertinence
The Intersection, 133 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
Nov. 29, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, $47.65+, All Ages
Sectionlive.com, yunggravy.com
