Q&A: Tommy Richman talks 'Million Dollar Baby' success, Grammy nominations and 'not hip-hop' drama

LOS ANGELES — Tommy Richman nearly had a million reasons to quit music — until “ Million Dollar Baby ” became one of the year's most popular songs. Now, the singer is eyeing Grammy nominations next week.

Two years ago, Richman was living in his parents’ basement in Virginia, before moving to Los Angeles to crash on his best friend’s air mattress and sometimes finding a spot on friends’ couches or floors. But his fortunes changed in April when he posted “Million Dollar Baby” on TikTok, lifting him from obscurity into a viral sensation.

The song peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and later became the longest-running No. 1 song on the R&B Songs chart, spanning 22 weeks, and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as well. His songs “ Devil Is a Lie ” and “ Thought You Were the One,” a single from his recently released debut album “Coyote,” both cracked the top 10 on the R&B Songs chart.

But despite Richman’s R&B success, his song “Million Dollar Baby” will compete in two hip-hop categories: The track was submitted for best rap song and melodic rap performance, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. The submission follows backlash he received over his claim of not being a hip-hop artist in a post on X, which has been deleted.

While Richman ultimately clarified his stance, he declined to comment further on his Grammy submissions.

In a recent interview, Richman spoke with The Associated Press about the reason he left “Million Dollar Baby” off his debut album, handling criticism and his thoughts heading into Grammy nominations on Nov. 8. Comments have been edited for length and clarity.