Interview

YOVNGCHIMI, born on February 16, 1996, in Puerto Rico, is currently one of the leading figures in the Latin drill music scene. He’s gradually making a name for himself in the broader Latin urban music landscape. His exceptional talent has brought him opportunities to collaborate with internationally renowned artists like Bad Bunny, Ozuna, Arcángel, Ñengo Flow, French Montana, and more. 

What sets his music apart is his unmistakable style and his remarkable skill on the microphone. He has a unique way of infusing his street background into every song he creates. All the hard work he and his dedicated team have put in from the very beginning is paying off. This is evident in the success of his latest album, WLGS (Whole Lotta Gvng Shit), which is currently ranked at number 6 on the Top Album (Latin) chart and at number 38 on the Top Album (all genres) chart. 

You can also read the interview in Spanish at LOS40 Urban.

Could you tell us a bit more about your beginnings, especially for people who might not be familiar with you yet? How did your career start, which is doing really well and constantly rising? 

I was around the music scene with my friends and people I knew who were already recording in studios and making their moves. Dei V has a lot to do with that. He’s my brother and my colleague, and I used to go to the studios with him. Around 2017, 2018, 2019, I was already making music, preparing my sound, practicing, but I hadn’t released it because it wasn’t my plan 100% at the time to be an artist, but I liked it.

So, I gave it a try, as they say. And it went well. Progress has been fast because I feel that the music is good, people like it, and they listen to it every day. And well, the numbers don’t lie. Actually, if your songs hit hard every day, it shows, you know? I didn’t expect it, but at the same time, I was a bit confident that my music was good, and it could work. You just never know what’s going to happen until it happens. 

You’ve just released your new album, WLGS, which is currently at number 6 on the charts in the United States. How would you describe this work and what messages do you want to convey with it? 

It’s my first piece of art, my first album as such, and I gave it the touches I wanted to give it in terms of having my street essence. It has that American essence that I always like to incorporate into my songs, and it also has more commercial songs, you know, for the babys, which I would describe as my own line. The ‘YOVNGCHIMI’ style, that’s what I want to bring. In terms of the messages I want to convey in the album, it would definitely be about the progress we’ve made in such a short time. It’s already the second year that I’m fully into music, and we’ve achieved certain things that, in such a short time, I would say are quite significant. 

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You’ve talked about the importance of street music, being real, and reflecting your reality. Why do you think this is especially important for an artist in the urban genre? 

Well, it goes deeper when you talk about your reality and your personal life, the mix of entertainment, obviously. There’s a percentage that’s not real at some point, but almost always, I would say it’s real about 98 percent of the time, and it deepens your music, reaches further, and goes deeper into people’s hearts because they can identify with it. They know that you’re singing about things you’re living, or things that are happening around you, or what your friend is going through. It becomes a bit more believable and has a greater impact, in terms of music having a bigger effect and being heard more. 

Your album features several significant collaborations with artists like Ozuna, Arcángel, and Bad Bunny. Personally, which song or collaboration resonates with you the most, or which one is your favorite? 

Right now, I really like «TU$$I» with Dei V. 

Why is that? 

Because the song is fire, and he’s like a brother to me. We have a strong bond, like family. This goes way back, even before we got into music. So, I would say that’s my current favorite. But in terms of collaborations, it would be «MODELITOS» with Mora and «MERCEDES CAROTA» with Bad Bunny, «La Ruta» with Arcángel. These are songs that people have really embraced, and they’re big milestones in my career right now. 

Speaking of collaborations, we wanted to ask about your collaboration with Bad Bunny, one of the icons of the genre. Do you remember how this collaboration came about? How was the experience of working with him? 

Yes, actually, we didn’t record together in the studio. He was in New York at the time, and I couldn’t travel to where he was. So, he showed it to me over the phone. He played the song for me on FaceTime and sent me the chorus and the track. I recorded it in my studio here, and… it turned out great. For me, it was an honor to record with Bad Bunny, as you said, an icon. 

Do you have any fond memories after collaborating with him, even though it was at a distance? 

Actually… no, because it was at a distance, and we never met in person. But I did spend time with him at… the gas station. They were shooting the video for «La jumpa,» Arcangel and Bad Bunny, and that was the day I met him. I had met him before «MERCEDES CAROTA,» on that day at the gas station. It was near Lloren, which is where I’m from, my neighborhood. We shared that day. They called me to sing «La Ruta» with Arcangel, and Bad Bunny was there; we hung out for a while, talked, and had the kind of connection I have with him. 

How have your other collaborations been? You’ve worked with Arcángel, Ñengo Flow, Ozuna. 

Yes, there’s «Baby Father 2.0,» and it’s really good. Arcángel and Ñengo Flow are pillars of this genre. With Ozuna, it’s a different song, «Bandida Fina,» and they are artists from previous generations who have made their mark and are already pillars of the genre. It’s an honor to collaborate with them. These collaborations are historic, as I would say. 

Who would you like to collaborate with? 

I’d like to collaborate with Future, Young Thug, they are artists from the American genre who are really talented. Also, Lil Baby, among many others. 

Which male and female artists do you think have transformed the urban genre for you in recent years? 

In recent years, in the urban genre as a whole, Eladio Carrión, of course. Anuel has made significant contributions, especially in my style, which is street music. He transformed it with that street essence while incorporating commercial music and reggaeton for the fans. Ozuna, Bad Bunny, from my generation, I would say Dei V, me, and Young Miko. Mora too. 

Actually, there are many. Karol G, even though she’s not from Puerto Rico, has also made significant contributions to the urban genre. Feid as well, Feid has transformed it. These are big artists who have joined the wave, making the Latin urban genre much larger. Before, it might have been a bit smaller, but now we’re on par, or even bigger than the American and other genres. All these pillars of the new generation and the old, as well as the newest ones like us, are all important in this transformation. 

How would you describe your process, your journey, in the ascent to success in the music industry? What would you say has been the best and the worst? 

The best part has been that it’s been organic. My crew, my team, most of whom are people I have personal relationships with, like family, we started from scratch. The same people who were with me from the beginning are still working with me, and we’ve grown mentally, in terms of contacts, and in our careers. I would describe it as something fast, well, you know what I mean? 

And the worst part, well, it’s the little things that have held me back. Situations I’ve faced, the legal issues I have with probation, which was something I was dealing with before I broke into music, before my music career took off. And now, it’s been affecting me a bit with touring, traveling, and getting permissions and all that. But these were decisions and situations that were already there. We have to deal with them and do the best we can with what we have in our hands. And look how far we’ve come. Thank God, we’re achieving a lot, even though our hands are a bit tied. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your new album, your music, something you’d like to tell your fans, specifically in the United States and Spain, but not limited to these countries? 

I would like to tell them to go and listen to the album. It’s my first complete piece of art, and it embodies all the essence of YOVNGCHIMI. So, go and listen to it, share it, enjoy it. I’m also grateful for the reception the album has received. It’s on the top charts on Spotify, Apple, and that wouldn’t be possible without the fans.

Many thanks to the people in Spain who consume my music and also to the people in the United States. Numbers don’t lie, and when we look at the analytics on the platforms, I can see that the music is being played a lot in Spain, the United States, and other countries. So, go enjoy the album, and thank you for the support you’ve given.