Too early to call 'Million Dollar Baby' the song of the summer? Tommy Richman fans say 'no'

Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY
·4 min read

The internet is abuzz over “Million Dollar Baby,” a song so catchy that it's getting "song of the summer" predictions with the unofficial start of the season still weeks away.

The tune, officially released April 26, has spent the last week on top, knocking Taylor Swift to No. 2 on Apple Music’s Top 100 songs in the U.S. It's also charting at No. 9 on Apple’s iTunes charts.

“Million Dollar Baby” has the potential to debut in the top 10 on Billboard Hot 100, if current trends are any indication, according to Complex.

It all started when Tommy Richman, the voice behind the funky track posted a snippet of the song on TikTok a couple weeks ago. Richman is seen jamming out to the song with his buddies, with people in the comments calling it a certified hit.

Here's what we know about the man behind "Million Dollar Baby."

Who is Tommy Richman?

Tommy Richman attends the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 1, 2024.
Tommy Richman attends the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 1, 2024.

Richman might seem like a newcomer on the music scene, given the overnight success of “Million Dollar Baby.” But he's been making music since at least 2016. “Ballin’ Stalin” is the first song on his Spotify page, dropping singles and EPs since then.

He was signed to ISO Supremacy, an independent record label created by Brent Faiyaz in 2023.

Richman also opened for Faiyaz on tour and collaborated on a song from Faiyaz’s last album, “Larger Than Life,” according to reporting by Complex. 

“Million Dollar Baby” and “Million Dollar Baby (VHS)” were distributed in partnership with PULSE Records, another independent record label, Complex reported.

Richman told the Miami New Times last year that he was “grateful” for all that he’s managed to accomplish, but acknowledged that it took a lot of hard work to get there.

“When I would work in my mother's basement for hours on tracks, and she'd be telling me to get a real job like most moms, I'd be like, 'No, no, no, it's gonna work out.' And now, to be recognized by other hardworking people, I'm just very grateful, and it definitely inspires me to keep going,” Richman shared with New Times.

Where is Tommy Richman from?

Richman grew up in Woodbridge, Virginia but has lived in Los Angeles since 2023.  

People are hype over 'Million Dollar Baby,' compare sound to Brent Fiyaz

Many listeners expressed excitement for the track, begging Richman to release the track “before they forgot about it" in the comments under the TikTok.

“Aye nah what is this… DROP ASAP,” Braxton Wilson wrote.

Russell McCone wrote, “I’m on dis tik tok replaying it. I need.”

“man drop this right now!!! summer anthem,” another user wrote.

Fans did make on request, though, and it was to keep “the bass.”

“Anyone else back here after listening to the released version that didn’t have this kinda bass?”

“That bass hittin,” said another.

Others said that “Million Dollar Baby” sounded a lot like “Upset,” a song released in October 2023 by Fiyaz, his mentor.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tommy Richman's song 'Million Dollar Baby' has Brent Fiyaz vibes