• March 21, 2000
• Tommy Richman blends elements of alternative, indie pop and hip-hop, with a focus on alternative hip-hop and rap. Throw in a dash of house and bounce for good measure, and you've got a sound that defies easy categorization.
• Hailing from Woodbridge, Virginia, just outside the D.C. area (the DMV), Richman's musical journey began in his mom's basement. "I was always singing, and took voice lessons at a young age, but nobody taught me anything. I just did it," he told Lyrical Lemonade. "My dad was a drum teacher and my mom is actually legally deaf, so she never played anything, so I just kinda did it myself. Felt a connection to it and went for it."
• Richman started gaining national attention while in college. After receiving positive feedback from a song he made titled "Pleasantville," he traded textbooks for a microphone, launching a full-time music career. He released his four-song debut EP titled Paycheck in 2022.
• 2023 proved to be a pivotal year. That August, he was the first signee to a joint venture between PULSE Records and fellow DMV artist Brent Faiyaz's Iso Supremacy label. Additionally, Richman opened for Faiyaz on tour and featured on "Upset," a track from Faiyaz's album Larger Than Life.
• A big break came in April 2024 with the release of "Million Dollar Baby." The single brought Richman to the attention of a worldwide audience.
• There's more to Richman than just the music. His YouTube bio, website, and even his underground concert series all share a name: "everything is punk." This quirky moniker started as an inside joke with friends.
  
  "It was a thing that I just put in my bio as a joke," Richman told That Good S--t's Annabelle Kline. "Then my friend Donnie Killjoy, we were in a group chat, and he was like 'Everything is punk!' as a joke, and everybody started saying it. So it became a thing in our friend group, and we wanted to do a show in LA, so we just called it that."

Comments

More Songfacts:

Livin' On A PrayerBon Jovi

Gina in Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" is based on a singer named Maria Vidal, who was working as a singing waitress using the name Gina Velvet.

Somebody Like YouKeith Urban

When Keith Urban played "Somebody Like You" for his girlfriend, she called him a hypocrite because he "sucked at relationships."

You Are A TouristDeath Cab for Cutie

The music video for "You Are A Tourist" by Death Cab For Cutie was done live on the internet, becoming the first live, scripted, single-take music video recorded that way.

What's Up4 Non Blondes

"What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes has endured as one of the most popular songs of the '90s, but it wasn't a huge hit at the time and the band split after one album. Frontwoman Linda Perry went on to write hits for Pink and Christina Aguilera.

Pump Up The JamTechnotronic

The woman "singing" in the video for Technotronic's "Pump Up The Jam" didn't speak English. She was used just for her look, and also appeared on the album cover.

How Dry I AmIrving Berlin

Irving Berlin wrote "How Dry I Am" in anticipation of Prohibition, envisioning a bleak future without alcohol.

Editor's Picks

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.