MattyBRaps Matthew Morris

Matthew Morris, famously known as MattyB or MattyBRaps, is a Georgia native who rose to internet fame in 2010. He first became interested in music at 7, which led him to make music in his home basement studio. After making a song and video, Matthew decided to post them on YouTube. His post gained over 500,000 views and made the front page. Matthew kept the momentum going and became an internet sensation by remixing popular music. He’s covered hits by stars such as Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and more. In 2014, his channel surpassed 1 billion views. He currently has 14.7 million subscribers on YouTube and over 7 million followers across all other social media platforms. Matthew is now 20 years old, and while he may not be creating covers anymore, he is still making music and creating content for people to enjoy. Here is what Matthew wanted to share with our readers.

How did you get the name “MattyBRaps”?

Whenever I was little, I had the nickname “MattyB” with all my brothers. When we started my Youtube channel, we used my nickname “MattyB” and added raps because I wanted to be a rapper.

When did you become interested in music?

My big brother loved music and was actually on American Idol. I would always hang out in our basement studio making music, and that is when I really got interested in making my own music at seven years old.

Do you still create covers & remixes? If not, would you consider doing it in the future?

I do not create covers or remixes any longer. Making covers was really fun for me as a kid, but for the last 5+ years, I have been focusing on making original music. As far as doing some in the future, I think it would be cool to work with other artists and make remixes to their or my songs.

How did the idea to start making YouTube videos come about?

As I watched my big brother make music, I begged him more and more to let me make a song. He eventually gave in and let me make a song and video. That’s when we decided to post it on Youtube.

Were you always an entertainer, or did it evolve as your channel got more popular?

Looking back, I think it was definitely something I was born with, but at the same time, I was so young, and it just seemed like a fun thing to try. I believe I really grew as an entertainer when I started doing concerts and performing.

What made you want to go to college & what are you majoring in?

I wanted to go to college to learn more about business. I have learned so much about the creative side and continue learning in that, but I also want to be well-rounded and learn how to succeed in business as an entrepreneur.

What advice do you have for people trying to gain a following on social media?

Be original and genuine. I think people want to relate to someone they feel is real. Make content that shows who you are and what you think

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is funny or meaningful, and let the audience connect to that content.

What do you like to do outside of creating content and making music?

I love to weightlift and work out with my friends. I also enjoy skateboarding, and I recently started to learn to wakeboard. I don’t play team sports competitively as I did in high school, but I still enjoy it recreationally.

How would you say social media fame has impacted your life?

I don’t think it has affected me as much as some might think. While I have had to deal with certain things that other young kids may not, I was still able to go to school normally, play sports, and hang out with friends my whole childhood.

Where do you envision yourself/your channel in the coming years?

I want to continue making music and content that makes people laugh and feel emotion. I would love to be someone my generation can continue to trust and follow. I would hope I can create content that impacts their lives in a positive way and be a positive role model. I have expanded and launched a new Tiktok channel @iam_mattmorris and have uploaded my first podcast on Spotify entitled “The Matthew Morris Show.” http://thematthewmorrisshow.com

Please let me know if there is anything else that you would like to share with our readers!

I would like to thank Empower Atlanta Magazine for giving me the opportunity to share my story.