F  L  A  U  N  T

![IMG_8239-01[2].jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56c346b607eaa09d9189a870/1609782555127-1L9M2C2P1AQWW5R0Y1PK/IMG_8239-01%5B2%5D.jpeg) Houston is the home to endless culture and talents, especially when it comes to hip-hop. Insert [Yung Pooda](https://www.instagram.com/iamyungpooda/?hl=en), who originally hails from Orange, Texas but moved to Houston early on to find more opportunity—and he did just that. As a kid from a small city, the rising star is extremely passionate about not only his music, but the visual arts inspired directly by Picasso and Leonardo Da Vinci.  Carrying the titles of a visionary, a prophet, a realist, and of course a recording artist, he states, “I’m very interested in evolving and taking my art as far as I can.” His moniker Yung Pooda derives from his childhood friend, with Pooda being his nickname for as long as he can remember. He jokes, “because I was a little fatass kid.” With his grandfather playing in Zydeco Bands back in the day, Pooda was engulfed in music since the age of 9, listening to the legends from Outkast and Master P to Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. With hip-hop being the first genre that got him moving, he fondly remembers visiting his pops who built a home studio at his crib to cook up beats.  Fast forward to 2020, Pooda unleashes his newest banger titled “Chicken N Grits,” featuring the beautiful DreamDoll. Read below as we discuss his upbringing in Texas, the grind getting him to where he is today, the making of “Repeat That,” linking with DreamDoll, his Southern influence, the impact of “Lies Told,” his forthcoming project _Vivid Pictures,_ and more! ![IMG_8243-01[2].jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56c346b607eaa09d9189a870/1609782584337-1YP2TWAQX3KK5RTUH94K/IMG_8243-01%5B2%5D.jpeg) **What was it like growing up in Orange, Texas?** Orange had no opportunity at all. It was either get in trouble or get a job, I was really doing both. Really in the streets more at the time though, running around with my family and homeboy. As my love for music grew, I started seeing if I wanted to grow, I’d have to get outside of my comfort zone. The next big city to my city was Houston. I ended up moving to Houston, trying to find my way. Build relationships, connecting with DJs, doing showcases, all that. When I first got to Houston, I steered away from the music. It was fast-paced but I can adapt real well, I got into the streets even more there. Being involved in the streets for such a long time and getting the same results from being in the streets, I decided to take my music way more serious than I ever took it. I'm real spiritual so I meditate. Coming back to myself and taking control of my mind, I’m having conversations with God telling him “if this music pops off for me, I'd get off the streets.” Because I can't do no 9 to 5. I’ve worked 10 jobs, I’m like “nah I’m not doing this.” Started taking music serious, doing everything it takes. Everything I can think of, I was doing. Started creating a fanbase, creating a contact list, everything started falling in together. **You were passing out CDs from the trunk of his car, what was a yung Pooda like then?** Man, I’d take the money I was getting from the streets and go get a couple thousand CDs pressed up, posters, flyers. I’d drive to different corner stores, different schools, anywhere. I’d try to target my people, take down all the stores in the neighborhood and surroundings areas. Really self-promo tour myself for real. \[laughs\] Going into the club, talking and chopping game with the DJs. I’d always pull up to the club and try to get close to the DJ: buy the DJ a drink, chop it up with him, shoot him some money. “Aye I got 50$ for you to play this song one time,” see what reaction it gets. Once you do that frequently, your name gets familiar. A lot of groundwork.  **“Repeat That” hit over 2 million views on Youtube, how’s that make you feel being your debut single?** It feels great. A sense of relief, finally somebody gets it. I'm glad 2 million people get to see you know what I've been trying to get the world to see. A very very blessed feeling. It motivates me and inspires me to work harder and double that, it’s very inspirational.  **Bring us back to when you recorded this record.** It was during when the Coronavirus was really spiking and poppin’ up. Shout out to A1, my engineer and childhood friend. We’re real close, we kept working. When I got the track it was real different to me. Something I wasn't used to when I heard it first. I had time with the beat, listening to it back to back. Put the headphones on and got into the mic, I told my engineer to record. Started freestyling. When I record, I insinuate real-life events and everything I’ve been through. I insinuate what I want for my future as well. “I get money on Monday, I get money on Tuesday,” because I been in the streets getting money on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. I had a job getting money on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. \[laughs\] When this song pops off, I’ma get paid on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday throughout the week. **Best memory from the video shoot?** Really being creative, wanting to put a visual behind it. We really had to pop it off, put some imagery behind it. I shot the video in Dallas a couple days right after I recorded the song. **New single “Chicken N Grits” featuring Dreamdoll, how excited are you?** I’m very excited! Can't wait to see how everybody takes to this. Produced by Cool & Dre, shout out to Cool & Dre who produced my whole project. We became real close friends, my label introduced me. They produced “Repeat Dat” as well. When I shot that back to them, they started sending me packs. I went out to Miami to meet them for the first time, we linked and it was magical. He played the track, he said “I got something for you to hear.” When he dropped it, it was the “Chicken & Grits” track. 15 to 20 minutes after listening to the song, I started writing a little hook to it. Got in the booth, got it done. I’m ecstatic, it's very fun.  [](https://www.instagram.com/p/CIjNPsCn5j0/) **How’d DreamDoll get on it?** Cool & Dre and my label, they know them real well so they reached out to them. We needed a female on it to really represent on that and do their thing. I felt a female presence on that shit would be great so Cool & Dre had the idea of “this sounds like something DreamDoll would be perfect on.” When she sent the first verse back, that's exactly what we’re looking for. Exactly what I wanted, it’s been perfect.  **Talk about the Southern influence behind the record.** When I heard the track and the 808s, the beat and rhythm in general took me back to my old trap days. When I heard that, I automatically went to my down South roots after hearing that track. Everything about the track really grabbed me from a grimy, ratchet environment. That was the perfect track to speak on. I insinuate all my situations in life, that was one of my fun times. “Chicken and grits, big booty bitch real Texas shit!” Real down South shit I grew up on.  **What does Southern hospitality mean to you?** Anything you could think about the South: good soul food, chicken and grits, gumbo, thick women, rodea, horses, swanger, candy paint, DJ Screw. Southern hospitality we give you that good down South love and feeling. Think country vibes, country rap tunes. \[laughs\] I got something to say.  **3 things you need in the studio?** I need good gas, some fire ass cannabis. A scented candle, and a bottle of champagne. Not too much.  **What did you learn from performing with  Boosie Badazz,  Slim Thug, and  Z-Ro?** I learned a lot. I learned stage presence, how to really move. When we go on tour, I seen how business works. I got to see how they actually interact with the crowd, I got to learn how to be a star, really. Shouts out to Boosie too. **"Lies Told” addresses our current social climate, talk about making such a meaningful record.** I did “Lies Told” around the same time as “Chicken & Grits.” It’s another track I dug down deep into me, into my mind. That track’s a real serious track, it wasn't nothing to play with. I had to really speak on it. As an artist, I do have a job to do and that’s being real with the people. I was really inspired by the sample, it reminded me of some throwback Yeezy type vibes. It felt like the perfect track to speak on straight facts.  **What can we expect from your forthcoming project, _Vivid Pictures_?** Everything I’ve been talking about in my interviews, you can expect that in another form of creativity. Expect crazy vibes and another type of genre. I like to call my music spiritual trap music. Expect to hear some emotions: happy, good, bad, trials and tribulations. Expect a real project, a body of art that you can really connect with and listen to at any time. Whether you’re feeling down or sad, whatever emotion you have, I'm speaking on that for sure.  **Inspiration behind the title _Vivid Pictures_?** I’m big on art, period. Not just music but painting. I’m a big fan of Pablo Picasso, I’m a visionary as well. When you hear my music, when you hear a song, you’re going to be able to visualize and imagine everything I’m saying. Once you connect with the emotions and intent behind everything I'm saying, it's going to bring you to a whole ‘nother world. You're going to tap into that sixth sense, it's going to bring you there. **Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?** To become a legend for sure. I am a legend and my goal’s to make sure that’s shown, to shine this little light. To become the best I can become.