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Having racked up more than 350 million global streams across a diverse and expansive catalogue, YNG Martyr continues his onslaught of dominance in the underground rap scene with “MILKSHAKES”, a reimagined take on Kelis’ early-2000s anthem – available now.
YNG fuses his authentic, unadulterated flow with the raw, raunchy energy of the original, giving MILKSHAKES a unique and modern twist while still paying homage to the groundwork Kelis laid.
“Me and my producer Tate had been in the studio for hours trying to flip a nostalgic childhood hit into something gritty with Detroit drums,” YNG Martyr explains. “We were cycling through Gorillaz, all these old classics, nothing was hitting. We took a break, went for a walk to 7-Eleven in LA, and as soon as the doors slid open, Milkshake by Kelis starts playing. We just looked at each other like, ‘Yeah, that’s the one.’ The whole song from there was basically a freestyle, just me locking in and letting it all spill out. That’s what makes Milkshakes feel so raw.”
Growing up in Townsville, Queensland, where there was never a strong music scene, YNG Martyr learned early to look beyond his local surroundings. “I learnt very early on that I wouldn’t be able to make a dent locally, so I built most of my fanbase overseas in the US and Europe,” he says. This led him to discover niche artists on SoundCloud and Bandcamp, helping him create something truly unique that has informed his entire style.
His sound, a blend of jerk, rage, and new wave experimental rap mixed with old school boom-bap lyricism, draws influence from Mac Miller and Earl Sweatshirt, artists he’s been listening to heavily for the last decade. “They really set the bar for me lyrically, and those are some big shoes to fill. Issa good thing I’m a size 14.”
Having toured internationally alongside Iann Dior and DC the Don, with performances at Split Milk, Falls Festival, and SXSW, and shows across the UK, EU, and US, YNG Martyr has established himself as one of Australia’s most respected rappers. He’s also been expanding his creative footprint with high-profile collaborations, recently writing “Still Humble” for WWE wrestler Logan Paul, now one of wrestling’s most recognisable entrance themes, proving his ability to mould his sound to fit any situation. “I love WWE. I watched it as a kid, I grew up on D-Generation-X and Triple H,” YNG says of the collaboration that brought his childhood dreams full circle.
“MILKSHAKES” is available on all streaming platforms now.