3.24.2021

Video: YN Jay – “Kakashi”

The Rapper Known as “Coochie Man” is Rapidly Gaining Steam Online and IRL With “Kakashi” and “Triple S,” His Latest in a Long Line of Viral Hits

Critical Praise:

“There is Bruce Wayne and Batman. Clark Kent and Superman. And now, YN Jay and the Coochie Man” – Pitchfork

“Flint, Michigan wouldn’t be one of the hottest scenes in rap without ‘Coochie,’ ‘Coochie World,’ ‘Coochie Scout,’ a mixtape titled Coochie Land, and Coochie Man, the floor-humping alter ego of YN Jay.” – Pitchfork

“‘Coochie’ is one of the funniest hip-hop videos of the last five years” – XXL

“The Flint native is one of the more eccentric rappers in Michigan, rapping about coochie, using very distinct ‘hold onnnnnnnnnnnnn’ ad-ibs, and starting off songs by asking the producer: ‘Why you always do that mannnnnnnn?’ I’m honestly not sure what these producers are doing while YN Jay is recording in the booth, but whatever it is, it’s working. The music is always wildly entertaining.” – Complex

“He raps in different voices, draws out words like they’re self-contained riddles. You never know if he’s entirely serious, but that’s the point.” – SPIN

The Video:

With an effortless ability to craft viral songs, YN Jay–better known in some circles as “Coochie Man”–stands out as one of the most creative rappers to come out of a flourishing Michigan scene. Reminiscing about how far he’s come, YN Jay shares the video for “Kakashi,” his latest viral hit. Currently trending on TikTok with over 92k video creations, “Kakashi” mixes punchlines with poignancy, as Jay slides atop BeatsBySav’s beat with a stop-starting flow, wishing that his older brother could share in the success he’s experiencing: “Damn, I lost somebody that I loved too/Damn, I had to get it out the mud too.”

Directed by Dre Beas, the video starts with a moment of contemplation before proceeding to highlight the comedic charisma that helped Jay win a large and growing fanbase, as he mugs for the camera and demonstrates his impressive core strength with his dance moves. “Kakashi” is a highlight track from Ninja Warrior, the Flint native’s most recent project. Earning coverage from Pitchfork, Entertainment Weekly, Mic, and many others, Ninja Warrior showcases the viral sensation’s superior beat-riding ability and boundary-pushing bars. Featuring collaborations with Lil Yachty, Sada Baby, Louie Ray, and Rmc Mike, Ninja Warrior is out now

YN Jay is currently trending on TikTok with “Kakashi” and his recent single “Triple S,” a collaboration with Jay’s frequent collaborator and fellow Flint native Louie Ray. The latest in a long line of viral TikTok hits, “Triple S” has inspired over 450k video views on multiple sounds–one that taps into Jay’s unique mic presence and expressive ad-libs, and another that highlights his witty lyricism–has earned over 8 million Spotify streams, and made its way onto Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 chart.

Inspired to take rap seriously when his older brother died, the 22-year-old YN Jay quickly started to build a reputation as one of the most colorful characters in a hometown Flint scene populated almost exclusively by colorful characters. He started to get mainstream notice with his single “Coochie,” from his project Coochie Land, which introduced the world to Jay’s one-track mind and eventually racked up over 26 million YouTube views. Jay is a nearly mythic figure on TikTok, generating millions of video creations on viral hits like “Triple S,” “Coochie,” “Coochie Land,” and “Coochie Scout,” and inspiring TikTok comedian @Nuhchez to splice YN Jay’s voice into Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” and create one of the platform’s most successful running jokes. In recent months, YN Jay earned co-signs from Drake and Lil Uzi Vert, and performed in a prominent time slot during Rolling Loud‘s latest “Loud Stream” virtual festival.

Stay tuned for much more from the prolific YN Jay in the coming days and weeks.

Watch “Kakashi”: https://youtu.be/VRi1F94mbRc

The Background:

“It’s scary how easy it is for me to make music,” admits 21-year-old rapper YN Jay. This is true of his 2020 hit “Coochie” and the follow-up album Coochie Land. “It was made in three minutes, easily, and the video did 30 million views. I’ve been writing songs to go a certain way my whole life, but it never worked. Now, I’m not overthinking it, and it’s making me a star.” After over a decade at the mic, the Beecher, Michigan native has given rap fans an alternative to music about violence and drugs.

Amid his rise, Jay got cosigns from Drake and Lil Uzi Vert. While Drizzy and Jay are exploring music, he recorded extensively with Uzi. The same night the two discussed collaborating, Jay stopped everything to drive to Philly. “I pulled up; we did damn near eight songs.” One track, the “coochie”-inspired “HOLD ONNNNN,” promises to release during an exciting 2021. Fresh off of Ninja Warrior—an album featuring Lil Yachty and Sada Baby that he conceptualized and recorded in a single day, YN Jay recently signed a deal with Alamo Records and is focused on showcasing his versatility and staying power. “I’m working on a few albums and letting the world know how big this is. Anybody can be a rapper; I’m trying to catch the culture and update the game.”