For those who keep an eye on the state’s music scene, this may not come as news, but it’s worth noting: This past summer, two artists from Woodbridge, Virginia performed:Shabby And Tommy Richman—made serious waves on the national scene, with both landing on the Billboard “Hot 100” chart.

It’s relevant to Richmond, as both artists have ties to our city, whether through collaborations or performances, and have found success outside the confines of their local music scene. Here’s a recap for anyone who may have missed it.

Shaboozey’s genre-mixing success

Shaboozey, born Collins Chibeuze, is a 29-year-old artist who rose to prominence by fusing country and rap, a blend that reflects his diverse upbringing in Virginia. A graduate of Gar-Field High School, Shaboozey adopted his stage name from a nickname given by his classmates. He grew up in a Nigerian-American family, and his music is heavily influenced by his father.

In a Interview with NPR in May 2024Shaboozey spoke about how his father’s hard work and eclectic taste in music shaped his own journey. “He washed dishes at Roy Rogers, fixed cars, and did odd jobs to put himself through college in Texas. Those morals and teachings have stayed with me my whole life,” Shaboozey explained. “He listened to traditional Nigerian music, but he also played Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson for me. That mix of influences has definitely shaped who I am.”

Shaboozey’s single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, has topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts, making him the first black man to achieve this milestone. His album Where I’ve been is not where I’m goingreleased on May 31, 2024, builds on its success.

Shaboozey reflected on Virginia’s influence, saying: COLORS X EDITORIAL Earlier this year, “In Virginia, I always felt the freedom to be myself and explore my creativity. The diversity here meant that I was never limited to one style or genre. Virginia’s cultural icons, like Pharrell, Missy Elliott and Timbaland, have been huge inspirations – they’re all incredibly innovative and creative.”

Shaboozey also sees a parallel between his own journey and that of Nelly, who was a pioneer in blending hip-hop with country music. He explained, “Nelly is from St. Louis and was exposed to country music early on, which led him to incorporate it into his hip-hop in a way that hadn’t been done before. Our stories are similar: I’m from Virginia, where hip-hop is part of our scene, but in our rural areas, we’re known for country music. Experimenting with country music came easy to me.”

Shaboozey continues to draw inspiration from Virginia’s rich musical heritage. “No two Virginia artists are the same,” he said. “We champion individuality here. Virginia is a breeding ground for world builders.”

Here’s his latest.

Shaboozey also performed at the now-defunct Create Space in Richmond, Virginia in 2015.

Tommy Richman’s Rise in the Rap Scene

Tommy Richman, a 24-year-old rapper, has been in the news with his mega hit “Million Dollar Baby”. Richman grew up with a drum teacher as a father and his musical journey started early. His career started gaining momentum after he released his EP Salary and moved to Los Angeles in 2022.

Looking back on his journey in an interview with BillboardRichman said he grew up in Woodbridge, Virginia, listening to artists like 50 Cent and Lil Wayne. Despite the city’s lack of a vibrant music scene, he inherited his musical sensibilities from his father. While many around him pursued traditional careers, Richman was determined to follow his passion for music. He self-released the single “Pleasantville” during his freshman year of college, promoting it by sharing links on various YouTube pages and asking for honest feedback. The positive response fueled his decision to pursue music full-time.

In 2022, Richman reached out to Darren Xu, COO of ISO supremacywho quickly recognized Richman’s potential and introduced him to Brent Faiyaz. In August, Richman signed a record deal with ISO Supremacy in partnership with PULSE Music Group. He also joined Faiyaz on his “F*ck the World, It’s a Wasteland” tour that summer and collaborated on the song “Upset” for Faiyaz’s album Bigger than life itselfwhich reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.

In the aforementioned interview, Richman spoke about the importance of having a supportive team: “(My team) values ​​me as a person. A lot of people see you as an object: ‘We have to stick with this guy because he makes good songs.’ But none of that would have really happened if we didn’t get along as people.” He also mentioned that “Drake reached out to me really early on when I put out (2023 single) ‘Last Nite,'” and as more A-list endorsements came in, Richman’s confidence grew. He released two singles in 2024, “Soulcrusher” and “Selfish,” before releasing his breakthrough hit, “Million Dollar Baby.”

The success of “Million Dollar Baby” was driven by a viral teaser posted to social media. Shot in a grainy VHS style, the clip featured Richman and his friends dancing in the studio, quickly amassing over 12.5 million views on TikTok. Richman credits the video’s success to its raw, in-your-face audio and nostalgic vibe. The song’s popularity led to a rushed release, with Richman handing over the final master recording just days before its official April 26 release.

Despite stiff competition from hip-hop giants Drake and Kendrick Lamar, “Million Dollar Baby” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped several other charts, including Streaming Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B Songs. Reflecting on the timing of its release, Richman said, “It was a blessing, understatedly. People said it was the worst time to drop, but it became funny. We were seen as the palate cleanser.”

Richman is also a strong supporter of local artists in Virginia, often calling for more collaboration and unity within the state’s music scene. In a 2022 interview with Lyrical lemonadehe expressed his frustration with gatekeeping in Virginia, saying, “There’s so much talent in Virginia, but it feels like people are gatekeeping, which doesn’t make sense because we’re all emerging artists. It feels divisive instead of unifying. We have legends like Pharrell and Timbaland, but for the new generation, we need to come together more.”

Yesterday, Richman previewed his latest album COYOTE.

Impact on the charts and beyond

Both Shaboozey and Richman have had significant success on streaming platforms. Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby” reached No. 1 on Apple Music’s Top 100 chart in the US and No. 3 globally, while Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” reached top 10 spots both nationally and globally on Spotify.

As these artists continue to rise, the hope is that their achievements inspire local musicians in Richmond to realize that success is possible, even if their surroundings seem limiting. Who knows, maybe we’ll even see these two team up for a show in Richmond, something we’d definitely want to experience.