[David S. Gray](https://www.instagram.com/davidsgraymusic/) is here to uplift the masses during these uncertain times. As the world continues to suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic, with new cases rising every day, the singer, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur releases his debut single titled “Found Love,” stressing the importance that universal love is essential.
Hailing from "Money Earnin’ Mt. Vernon,” but raised in a small town in Mississippi, with a population of roughly 5,000 people, David jokes that he’s the only one who made it out. Describing himself as a “man of many talents” as well as a “very nice guy,” the rising star sees himself in the vein of Jason Derulo and Justin Bieber type pop music—although he can do R&B too.
Following the impact of “Found Love,” David returns with his newest single titled “Leave The Trap”—a record about leaving the place you’re stuck in and putting in the work to achieve success. _Flaunt_ caught up with David to discuss his roots in Mississippi, musical background, the inspiration behind his music, goals, giving motivation, and more!
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**Growing up in Mississippi, how does that play into your life and career?**
Growing up in Mississippi definitely taught me a lot. It taught me how to not take anything for granted, I’ll tell you that much. I didn’t really spend no time in Mt. Vernon, I was 3 years old when we moved. We moved to Mississippi, all the way down into the country. It made me appreciate life way better, way more for sure. \[laughs\]
**At what point did you realize this music thing was forreal?**
I always knew I could do music. My dad used to play the trumpet, he’d make me play the pots and pans. He used to make me get the pots out and play them to the music, I knew right then and there definitely doing music. Going along with him on those pots and pans, right keys, tone, and beat, I knew I was going to be something.
**You released “Leave The Trap,” bring us back to when you recorded this one.**
That’s my urban side. I wanted to put out “Found Love” first so I could sit my mark on that, but I didn’t want to forget about my other community because that’s where I came from. The song isn’t really about the trap, I just say trap. The Trap song is really about what you do, your job. That’s your trap, then you get to the next level. I’m not only talking about where you came from, what’re you doing now to get yourself out of that situation? I said “I’ll be right back. Once I get myself out of the situation, then I’ma come back and save some people.” It’s really a big message to that song.
**Can you describe your trap?**
The Trap is a place a lot of people really don’t want to be, but a lot of people have no choice to be there. At the same time, there’s really no excuse for staying in one spot. I done seen the poorest person elevate from the trap so if that person can do it, anybody can do it. The Trap is a trap. It traps your mind and keeps you at a certain mindset to stay wherever you’re at, to stay with what you’re doing.
**How many cars do you have now?**
\[laughs\] Everybody asks that question. A lot of people don’t understand that I don’t care about the flick, I just happen to love cars. I love, love, love cars, so I have a lot of cars. I work so hard. Now I’m able to get the cars I always dreamed about and always played with as a kid, so it’s reality now.
**What’s the reality of putting in the work?**
The work is the work. A lot of people don’t want to do work. I motivate and I uplift artists every single day. I’ve got 15K to 20K inboxes of nothing but young artists every single day. I don’t want to expose them but they send me all types of crazy stuff. “Man, you saved my life today. I don’t want to be here no more but I went to your page, you said this sentence and it saved my life.” That’s all I want to do, I don’t care about nothing else. I don’t care about the money, the cars. If I could save one young artist or one person everyday, I’m happy. I’m straight, I’m alright.
**“Found Love” speaks volumes to the current times. What is universal love?**
In this world right now, we can use a lot of love. I wrote that song on a close family member. She always complained how she never could find love. I wrote that whole song about her love life. She finally found it. I remember she told me “yup, I finally found somebody!” Thank God, Jesus. Because she always used to complain about it: “guys are this, guys are that.” It went along with what’s going on in the world right now. We need love, I don’t want nobody to give up on it.
**How do you remain positive during hard times?**
This COVID didn’t even a quarter of an inch affect me, because I don’t do nothing. I’ve never been drunk before. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t club, I don’t go nowhere. I don’t go out. Everything I have: I’ve got a full NBA gym at my home, I’ve got a full indoor pool. I’m on 20 acres of land: golf, 4-wheelers. It’s always something fun to do around the house. This quarantine was perfect. When they shut everything down, me, my family, my friends, we’re happy. Okay, I guess we’re in the house! \[laughs\]
**Your fashion sense is crazy, how would you describe your style?**
I was a very horrible dresser before I met this special person in my life. I have to give her all the credit for getting me all the way right, all the way together. She’s somebody very special. She’s the one who got me into fashion. I can’t even sit here and lie, take any type of credit. She got me into even what I’m wearing now. She got me all into this fashion. I like Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, things that’s European fit. I love European fit things because I’m a slim guy.
**3 things you need in the studio?**
Tea, some cookies, and a cover. I bring a certain cover with me a lot when I go to the studio, in case I fall asleep. This cover makes me feel very comfortable.
**What are your main source of income?**
Real estate, properties. I still own some land down in Mississippi. Grinding really, I make smart business moves. I tell people all the time, get your credit together. If you can get your credit together, even if you have 2, 3, 4, 5 million dollars, you’d never have to touch it if you get your credit together. I got my credit together, I’m at an 823 now.
**What do we have to look forward to next music-wise?**
This was a curveball single. It wasn’t anticipated, I wanted to throw it out there to see what was going on. The third song is more Spanish, a Spanish, Carribean type of vibe. We’re talking to Pitbull and his people, he loved the record so we’re going to throw him on there. We wrapped up the video in Miami, so that’s going to be the next song.
**Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?**
Definitely the Grammys. To inspire and uplift as many young people as possible. I do it for the younger people up under me. There’s a lot of older people above me too who follow me that I give inspiration to. All I want to do is help young people one day at a time, because our youth is very, very, very misled. All this killing, all these guns, Instagram… 100% misled. It’s never been this high. Grammys and getting trophies, I’ve been getting that stuff all my life. Helping them and leading them into the right direction, that’s all I want.
If I could show them how to be like me, show them how to get their credit together, how to get their life together, don’t rob, kill, and steal, that’d really make me happy. I don’t care about nothing else. That really makes me happy right there. Money and all that, I don’t care. I’ve been having money, been doing good for myself. We just gave away 300 turkeys. I loaded them up in the back of the car, the other car, we gave 300 turkeys to the people who can’t have Thanksgiving. That’s the type of things we do. Make other lives better, that’s my goal.
**Anything else you’d like to let us know?**
Keep on watching me. If you need any help, any motivational skills or motivational pointers, hit me up. I hit people back in my DMs all the time. I’m not Hollywood, I’m not boujee. I give people game all the time.
