Young Shoddy

Young Shoddy is a recording artist and entrepreneur born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. Her mother, who was given the nickname “Shoddy,” was a rapper as well. Because of this, Hip Hop culture was omnipresent in Young Shoddy home, and by the age of 8-years-old, she began writing raps; recording music by age 13. As an 8th grader in 2014, Young Shoddy dropped her very first song titled “Keep Dreaming.”

Practicing flows, and trading rhymes with her mother in the kitchen, rapping became an escape from the hardships her family endured. Aside from witnessing her mother’s craft firsthand, Young Shoddy was always intrigued by the women in music that appeared on television and hoped that she could one day be as iconic as Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, and Lil Kim.

During her teenage years, Young Shoddy’s Aunt, Michele, allowed her to come perform from her porch during block parties, and develop a name for herself. From parties to cyphers, Young Shoddy noticed her music was reeling people in, and her journey was much more inspiring than she realized.

When Young Shoddy was 3-years-old her parents decided to separate, but with her mom being in and out of jail most of her life, Young Shoddy like many inner-city youth was forced to grow up much faster than anticipated. “But it’s hard to love me when I was raised by a busta /Yeah I’m one of them girls whose daddy really ain’t love her/Kicked me out for his wife/ Yeah my pops a sucka,” Young Shoddy raps in an Instagram freestyle. As a child there were many times where Young Shoddy had to fend for herself, sleeping on floors or couches to get by. In the streets, but also trying to prioritize school, mostly because of the safety that it offered, Young Shoddy did her best to navigate through countless struggles life presented.

Recording music for close to a decade, Young Shoddy has expertly crafted her #BarbieTrap lifestyle. With a sultry, aggressive tone, Young Shoddy raps confidently, gaining popularity for her authentic and raunchy lyricism. “I want my music to make women feel confident and be a boss bitch on every level. It’s for them bitches who was told they weren’t gonna be shit and you made it anyway..you really the shit now,” Young Shoddy stated.

Quickly becoming one of the hottest women emerging from the Eastcoast, Young Shoddy has already performed some of the biggest names in the game Pnb Rock, Roddy Rich, A boogie, Lil Dicky, and Lil Baby, who has been one of her major influences as a business owner.

Hoping to take her #BarbieTrap sound worldwide, the “A Trapnaire Mindset (ATM)” CEO is currently working on her third studio project while pushing her buzzing “Back Again” single. Fans can expect a handful of new tracks to drop this Fall, so stay up-to-date with Young Shoddy’s moves by following her on Instagram here.

Vocal readers, please enjoy our interview!

What is it about the music industry that keeps you a part of it?

Young Shoddy: Music to me is a playground, where you can run free and wild to be yourself. You can be as creative as you want with no limitations! It gives you the vulnerability and freedom to just “be”. The music industry also reflects a chance at freedom to tell the world who I always wanted to be or how I would want to identify myself instead of falling victim to the identity of "being a product of my environment”. Seeing others be so bold and courageous about their creativity and they form their pain into art inspired me to practice and do that same thing whenever my turn came around to step into the industry.

What have been some memorable moments in your career so far?

Young Shoddy: Some of the memorable moments in my career so far were being an opening act for some household artists such as “Lil Baby, Pnb Rock, Lil Dicky, and A Boogie. Another highlight is when I got invited to youtube headquarters in New York for an interview that I did on “GrungeCake” channel it was so dope to drive out there to New York & get that experience. Finding myself through my love and exploration in music since the pandemic I finally know who I was destined to be & I'm excited to tell the world.

How has your creative journey been during the pandemic?

Young Shoddy: My creative process has been actually a life-changing journey during this pandemic. My perspective and love for music have deepened since being under lockdown. I finally got the opportunity to focus on finding my soul purpose and attachment to music. Honestly, before the pandemic I was disconnected from the music, so that intrigued me to explore other areas of the music & I like helping so I branched off and extended to help other artists with their art, and that sparked inspiration. Also along with prayer and researching. My creative journey showed me that my music is a gift from a higher power and I’ve been blessed to share my soothing and healing voice with those who are on their “ self-exploration” journey or going through an identity crisis.

Do you have any upcoming performances lined up? If so, when and where?

Young Shoddy: Currently in the middle of transitioning the status of me as an artist so I do, but the details are ( TBA). Some of the dates range from now until the end of the year. But I can keep you guys posted on the dates I have.

What is your own favorite song and why?

Young Shoddy: My favorite song is “ Opp Bitch”. The song reflects the story of my life and how when you are different adversity rises up against in all different forms and stages of our lives. Throughout my life, I've been mocked, ridiculed, broken down, beaten by the opinion of others, and judged harshly because I continuously rebel against what the world wants to Identify me as.

So Opp Bitch is a “ Story Statement” I know other people have experienced people trying to break their spirit or shame them for being themselves so this is to show the commonalities of what we all go through and how you get through them.

What do you bring to the music industry that sets you apart from other artists?

Young Shoddy: My energy and light is different from a lot of artists. Also, I am a self-made boss with her own company called “ A Trapnaire Mindset’ an artist development/label whose primary focus is to help emerging artists embrace their identity or help them find their Identity. Also, my story is my story so that is what also sets me apart. I've been working hard to perfect my craft/ career as a musician and business mogul as well. I'm a well-rounded artist with a sharp business mind.

Also, I have no limitations to my knowledge of music. It’s rare to find an artist such as myself who gets into the details of their career/ applying the life experiences and knowledge to push themselves. Everything I’m doing is from the muscle and through my company “ A Trapnaire Mindset”. I'm an independent artist with no cosign/ no label supporting me.

I'm my own everything. The CEO/ label / manager/ creative director/ artist developer/ booking agent/ marketing/ advertising/ graphic designer/ songwriter / and everything else. My love for music is different from most artists. I have a deeper love for getting into the details of everything than my first love outside of God.

Please tell us about your upcoming projects?

Young Shoddy: I'm in the process of rebranding myself as an artist and elevating my brand/ growth as I continue to grow in my journey. I have a new approach to how I see the world and speaking my truth so I'm aligning my morals and beliefs to present to the world in a “pretty package”. My latest project is “ Opp Bitch” which is a sneak peek into the direction of where the elevation of my artistry and identity is being divinely guided to imprint on the world.

What do you want your music legacy to look like?

Young Shoddy: I want my music legacy to show how even from the ashes you can rise up or rise again”. I want my legacy to show how “authenticity” holds more value than fitting into the ideology of what everybody else wants you to be. My story is rare and it will forever be my story that I tell and continue to write out.

My Music Legacy is to reflect those kids who come from broken homes where everything is not “picture perfect” and they are feeling unloved and having a hard time finding who they are, what’s their worth, what’s their purpose, and suffering mental trauma. I want my music legacy to reflect my truth and my spiritual journey with a higher power.

The musical legacy I will imprint on the world is to be “true” in my music legacy and in this lifetime so that it inspires other people to do the same thing no matter what they decide to do. Everything starts with “You” so I want that to be echoed for lifetimes to young kids from the hood that feel unloved that it’s there. It starts with “ You”.

Any advice for upcoming music artists?

Young Shoddy: To understand that it is a continuous up and down roller coaster of growth and expansion. You have to have courage and bravery to dig deep into who you are and who the world sees you as. It’s important to do the work for yourself before someone comes along and does everything for you.

Get into the details of how you would want someone to treat you, represent you, and it’s important to know and have some sense of who you wanna be and the rest will follow.

Also, don’t limit yourself on your creativity in your music, be who you want to be, try everything you're curious about. If music is like a home you should feel safe for “self-exploration” and being open about that is okay.

Keep up to date by connecting on social media

IG: Young _Shoddy

Twitter: Young_Shoddy