Meet the 17-year-old rapper who graduated high school at 15 and has music with Davido on the way.
DMV-based artist Yung Manny has slowly but surely made a name for himself over the past 2 years and continues to grow in popularity. Yung Manny is nothing short of a genius, having finished high school at 15, he’s 17 now and currently finishing his 1st year of college. The Nigerian American artist considers Nigeria to be home and has already caught the attention of global superstar Davido and plans on dropping music together soon. Not only that his latest single “Clap For Em” features two of today’s hottest artists: Flo Milli and Sada Baby. In addition, he’s got music with Coi Leray, YK Osiris, Toosi, and Luh Kel on the way. Today Manny joins us to discuss what it was like to balance music and school and how he managed to graduate early. He also discusses his upcoming collaborations and what he’s currently been working on. Check out our full interview below:
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us a little bit about what you’re doing in L.A. and who you’re working with out there?
Yung Manny: I’m out here recording, I’m in the studio all week. I’m linking up with Coi Leray, Me and Coi already have a track coming out in probably two months. We’re shooting the video soon. I’m in the studio working all week.
The Knockturnal: When did you first start experimenting with music?
Yung Manny: Probably around 12 years old in middle school, just trying things out with my friends, it was a hobby. I started rapping for fun and it became my career.
The Knockturnal: What was it like to finish high school at the age of 15?
Manny: It was definitely rigorous, long nights. I definitely had some migraines going through that. I got the 2-3 years of credits done in about 8 months. I was always an honor roll student always had a GPA above 3.5.
The Knockturnal: What role did music play in your life when you were 15 about to finish high school?
Yung Manny: I like to do multiple things and know that if you want to do what you want to do you got to do what you have to do first. I’m recording in the morning and doing school work at night and then vice versa. Just balancing it out and staying focused.
The Knockturnal: You’re only 17 now, do you still plan on going to college?
Yung Manny: I’m finishing up my first year of college right now, I’m doing online classes right now quarantining.
The Knockturnal: What have been the biggest highlights in your career so far?
Yung Manny: Number 1 for sure is when I sold out the Fillmore, sold out 2000 people, I’d say number 2 is when I went back home to my home country of Nigeria and met up with Davido. They’re so humble and show so much love and treat me like a king out there. Davido showing me love and taking me to the MTV awards and then the studio. That was another great feeling.
The Knockturnal: How did it feel teaming up with two of today’s hottest rappers for “Clap For Em?”
Yung Manny: It was cool, me and Flo been friends for all long time, we used to be in the studio recording just talking about our dreams. I feel like I kinda got to watch her blow up in front of my eyes. Sada’s a real humble dude, he had some big records that are in my playlist so getting to work with him and meet him was cool.
The Knockturnal: Can you talk about the inspiration behind the video and using “Baby Got Back” as inspiration?
Yung Manny: That’s a hit right there, my Dawg Lito came up with that idea. He got me hip.
The Knockturnal: Where did the inspiration for the actual song come from?
Yung Manny: I heard the beat and new I had to make a club banger. It’s an LA-type vibe.
The Knockturnal: What are you currently working on?
Yung Manny: I got two singles on the way, one with YK Osiris and one with Toosi and Luh Kel coming soon. I got a project on the way.