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M.I.A.'s Prodigy: Rye Rye

3:11·By Gemma G
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About this video

M.I.A.'s new discovery, Rye Rye hangs with us backstage before her performance at Cinespace. She talks about how M.I.A. has influenced her as an artist, and we learn about her unique sound. We also talk about her single “Bang,” which has created a lot of buzz. Hosted by Michelle Marie.

Chapters (7)

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Key Moments (5)

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Full Transcript

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Young Hollywood

Welcome to younghollywood. com. What's up Young Hollywood? It's Michelle Marie. I am here backstage at Space with Ry Ry right over here, who is here from Baltimore, about to perform on stage. Huge night for you here in LA. What can we expect from you on stage?

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

A lot of dancing, a lot of energy. Hype, crazy beats. A lot of bang bang.

Young Hollywood

Yeah. I have to say I love that single bang. It's doing so well right now. They Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. What without him? How do you feel about it so far and the success and how it's just really, you know, getting up us?

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

I'm not like letting it get to my head and nothing but I'm very excited. Like I like performing like cuz I get to dance and that's what I love to do.

Young Hollywood

Your sound is so unique. Tell me about how you actually, you know, created the sound and where it came from.

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

Baltimore club music been around for years since I was a little girl and like music that I can dance to that got a lot of bass. Like that's what I look for in songs, a lot of bass and different sounds. One day I met Black Star. When it got put on the internet, it like created a story for itself.

Young Hollywood

So, how did you actually meet Black Star in the very beginning?

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

He knew my sister and he was like one of the hottest producers in Baltimore at the time. I had just started writing like I took that first verse and made a whole song out of it and then I called his phone and he answered and I like rapped the song on his answering machine.

Young Hollywood

Now, MIA is like your sister, big influence in your life. What is it like, you know, just having a relationship with her?

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

She's fun to work with.

Young Hollywood

Sometimes it's hard on you?

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

Yeah, but the majority of the time it's like we had fun. She's just hard in the studio. They like break it. They like it, they like it, they like it, they like it, they like it, they like it. I like to keep on pushing, I like to keep on strong and sick, cuz she got a lot of bang in the room. I follow in the picture from the music.

Young Hollywood

She's definitely making her name, you know, out here in the industry and right now it's her time. And to have you underneath her is huge. Where how did you guys actually meet in the very beginning and how did she hear of your music?

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

Black Star, he called me. He was like, I'm some of this video wanna meet you. And when I went to the studio, it was MIA and Dip and she just was like, oh my god, I've been looking for you for like the longest time. And I was looking at her like, who is this lady? Like, we recorded a song and then we like exchanged information and we talked. She called me to open up a show for and from then on like they asked me to do the whole entire tour.

Young Hollywood

I have to say something about your style. Can you show us your outfit? Tell me what you got going on here.

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

This is a jacket. This is not just any jacket. This is not any jacket, but it's like a padded jacket. It's so big. And it's like the shorts they match it or whatever. And it's just like a little color tie-dye shirt. And the biker shorts, I like that.

Young Hollywood

Friend. And the shorts. Not forget the shoes. I know that MIA also helped you with your style. She helped style you on the tour. So what kind of things did she tell you that are important?

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

It's cool to wear stuff that other people wouldn't wear and like put it all together. It's all about how you wear it. If you wear it with confidence, then nobody can tell you nothing.

M.I.A.'s Prodigy

What's up? This is girl Ry Ry straight from Baltimore. And I'm here with Young Hollywood.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Rye Rye

    Featured artist being interviewed

  • M.I.A.

    Rye Rye's mentor and influence

  • Michelle Marie

    Host of the interview

  • Black Star

    Producer who connected Rye Rye to M.I.A.

  • Dip

    Present when Rye Rye first met M.I.A.

FAQ

Who is Rye Rye?+
Rye Rye is an artist discovered by M.I.A. who creates unique music influenced by Baltimore club music.
What is Rye Rye's hit single?+
Rye Rye's hit single mentioned in the interview is "Bang."
How did Rye Rye meet M.I.A.?+
Rye Rye met M.I.A. through her producer, Black Star, who called her to meet M.I.A. and Dip in the studio.
How has M.I.A. influenced Rye Rye?+
M.I.A. has influenced Rye Rye in her music, pushing her in the studio, and also helped her with her style, teaching her to wear clothes with confidence.
What is Rye Rye's musical style influenced by?+
Rye Rye's musical style is influenced by Baltimore club music, which she has listened to since she was a little girl.

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