INTERVIEW: Tay Money’s Journey from Selling Cows to Working with Saweetie

(Originally Published in THE KNOWN)

“Talented and gifted,I guess the tables shifted,” boasts rapper Tay Money on her hit track “Bussin’,” which is about to cross the 35 million streams mark on Spotify. Tay Money is no one-hit-wonder, with bundles of other trap hits and collaborations with DaBaby, YNW Melly, Saweetie, and many more.

All of these accolades set the stage for a diva, flexing these impressive numbers and features with all the stylish flair that comes with being a signed artist. But Tay’s journey to stardom proved that you have to be able to shine in front of your bedroom mirror before you can sparkle at a sold-out show.

I got to sit down in an interview press conference with the rap star, getting to peel back the layers of stardom to uncover the innate swagger that proves Tay Money was meant to be a star.

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TAY MONEY:

I've always been a star; somehow and someway. I remember playing Destiny's Child in sixth grade, performing in front of my closet. I look back now and see things and it makes sense and adds up.

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She was born and raised on a farm in Texas, with any rural upbringing standing in contrast to the bombastic flair that comes with being a rapper, even just wanting to be one. Her family’s ideal life for Tay seemed to be that of fiscal responsibility: going to college and getting a job. She was an incredibly talented hairdresser, something she never thought she would abandon, until the prospect of a career as a musical artist changed things forever.

It’s apparent that Tay adores the finer things that come with fame (who wouldn’t?), yet she remains keenly aware of all the pitfalls that start to emerge as things like social media become irreplaceable in the world of a musical artist.

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TAY MONEY:

I don't even know if I should be saying this, but I'm gonna' be honest with you. I hate that I'm supposed to share every minute of my life on social media. Like, I have to do that. I don't think that social media is that healthy.

But, that's my job, so that's what I gotta' do. It's like a popularity contest, but it is really working out in my favor and I'm blessed.

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Loving the finer things and hating social media are common place for many famous artists, but Tay found a way to bridge these two in a way that is as enjoyable for her as it is for her fans.

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TAY MONEY:

One thing about me is that I shop consignment, thrift stores, retail stores...I'm a penny pincher. I had all these things that I didn't wear but I was so attached to. I decided to have a garage sale where people could come and get it.

It was between 300-400 items: it was essentially a meet and greet garage sale. It was so awesome that I'm gonna' take it to another city and do Tay Money's Garage Sale Mini-Tour!

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Knowing which songs to drop, which to keep in the vault, and which to throw away is a challenging process for any artist. Tay said she was adamant on wanting to release so many of her songs, but had to balance that urge with releasing music properly and effectively through a label. If it was her way, music would be consistently coming out of the gates. But not just any glitter trap beat can make it through Tay Money’s A&R ear.

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TAY MONEY:

That's part of making it: selecting the right music. Even the rollout plan is the reason that things blow up. I have this ear and I know when something is worthy or not.

It stems from being in the studio so much creating music; you gain that ear.

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This ear lifted her off the farm and onto the stage, along with the style and expression that makes Tay Money a star for the eyes and ears of her hundreds upon thousands of fans.

Tay released her EP, “Blocked” on Dec. 14. It has accumulated millions of streams since and that seems to be just the beginning.