Q&A: Tommy Richman talks 'Million Dollar Baby' success, Grammy nominations and 'not hip-hop' drama

LOS ANGELES -- Tommy Richman astir had a cardinal reasons to discontinue euphony — until “ Million Dollar Baby ” became 1 of nan year's astir celebrated songs. Now, nan vocalist is eyeing Grammy nominations adjacent week.

Two years ago, Richman was surviving successful his parents’ basement successful Virginia, earlier moving to Los Angeles to clang connected his champion friend’s aerial mattress and sometimes uncovering a spot connected friends’ couches aliases floors. But his fortunes changed successful April erstwhile he posted “Million Dollar Baby” connected TikTok, lifting him from obscurity into a viral sensation.

The opus peaked astatine No. 2 connected Billboard’s Hot 100 and later became nan longest-running No. 1 opus connected nan R&B Songs chart, spanning 22 weeks, and topped nan Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs floor plan arsenic well. His songs “ Devil Is a Lie ” and “ Thought You Were nan One,” a azygous from his precocious released debut medium “Coyote,” some cracked nan apical 10 connected nan R&B Songs chart.

But contempt Richman’s R&B success, his opus “Million Dollar Baby” will compete successful 2 hip-hop categories: The way was submitted for champion rap opus and melodic rap performance, according to a study from The Hollywood Reporter. The submission follows backlash he received complete his declare of not being a hip-hop creator successful a station connected X, which has been deleted.

While Richman yet clarified his stance, he declined to remark further connected his Grammy submissions.

In a caller interview, Richman said pinch The Associated Press astir nan logic he near “Million Dollar Baby” disconnected his debut album, handling disapproval and his thoughts heading into Grammy nominations connected Nov. 8. Comments person been edited for magnitude and clarity.

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RICHMAN: It’s a puerility dream. I don’t attraction astir winning. In nan expansive strategy of things, we had nan biggest opus numbers-wise. Who other had a Kidz Bop Kids song? I don’t consciousness for illustration I merit anything. I believe it happens. I consciousness for illustration this is really we get nan nomination. If I don’t get nominated, I conjecture it gives maine a logic to spell harder. But I deliberation we’ll get nominated.

RICHMAN: I’m a singer. When I opportunity things, I conscionable beryllium tweeting things saying really I feel. I forgot astir nan measurement I opportunity things and group taking it a definite way. I saw chat videos astir what I said. I admit group who saw that I wasn't coming from a spot of malice.

I was coming from a spot of “Hey, this is my sound, and I make a batch of types of vibes, and I don’t want to beryllium boxed into a definite thing.” I decidedly person to watch really I opportunity things online. I forgot that I person a platform. People are going to find a logic to propulsion negativity towards my way. I cognize there’s a batch of negativity online, which is fine. It comes pinch it.

RICHMAN: I wanted to return this creator consequence that was going against nan manufacture quota. I’m really proud of this assemblage of work. We made this medium earlier we made those songs. In my mind, I’m emotion for illustration “I’m going to springiness you these songs.” That’s really difficult I deliberation this task is. I was trying to guidelines connected business. I’m proud. I don’t person immoderate regrets. I cognize what maine and my friends are destined for. When I look backmost 10 years from now, I really stuck to my guns and put retired this beautiful assemblage of art.

RICHMAN: People who get it, get it. I effort not to really publication into reviews that much. I saw immoderate reviews from publications that I really utilized to look up to. Like, “Wow, 1 day, erstwhile I put retired my album, they’re going to reappraisal it.” I didn’t for illustration nan words they were saying astir nan album. But group are entitled to their ain opinions. I can’t get excessively upset. No 1 is going to beryllium connected your aforesaid wavelength of thinking.

Initially, I was for illustration “They don’t get me.” They don’t cognize I was successful nan basement for 4 years crafting this sound and moving each these people. They conscionable perceive this euphony and judging it. It’s thing personal. People who are being excessively captious of my sound. I admit them for listening and giving thoughts. Back successful nan day, cipher was listening. I’m gladsome it’s happening now.

RICHMAN: My life has changed successful truthful galore ways. I’ve been capable to thief my friends’ lives disconnected this 1 song. One of my friends conscionable bought a (home) successful Silverlake (a vicinity successful Los Angeles). They had nary in installments score. But they put successful nan email that they made nan “Million Dollar Baby” song. They virtually sewage nan location because we made that song. They sewage a really bully crib. There’s a batch of beautiful things.

RICHMAN: When I was astir to driblet retired of college, I was very thankful for my mom. She was for illustration “Nah, you tin do it. If you're not happy successful schoolhouse singing, conscionable do it. Go do what you want.” She’s helped maine successful truthful galore ways. I tin ne'er repay her. I conscionable bought her a crib nan different day. Even that isn’t enough.

RICHMAN: I ne'er thought we would person a smash deed correct retired nan gate... The explanation didn’t moreover cognize it would beryllium a hit. I remembered sending it to them and asking, “What do you think?”

Their response: “Oh, it was cool.”

Nobody thought it was a deed until we dropped it connected TikTok. That’s why nan euphony manufacture is successful an absorbing place. Some artists who deliberation they’re going to sell, can’t, while immoderate can. It’s virtually nan nationalist and TikTok who decides what’s a hit.

RICHMAN: We're astir to circuit nan album. That's going to beryllium sick. I'm moving connected different project. I cognize this is nan 1 that's going to spell crazy. On “Coyote,” I wanted to show that I'm a existent artist. I'm going to springiness group what they want for this one, truthful group tin move up. Then I'm going to do different creator medium that group astir apt won't get. That's what I scheme for nan year. Do a show aliases two, if we're fixed a chance. I want to grow. Not only a awesome type for others, but for myself.