2BYG DIVE INTO NOSTALGIA, THEIR OWN SOUND, AND THE FOUNDATION OF R&B IN Q&A
Photo via Def Jam
2BYG is a four-person R&B group hailing from Fort Worth, Texas. With their name being an acronym for “To be young and gifted,” which is a call-back to a famous Aretha Franklin line, you can already get a sense that this group dives headfirst into the R&B sound of smooth lyrics, synth beats, and gospel undertones. Matt, Nixx, Toure, and KD know their R&B history, and aren’t afraid to sing it.
In conversation for their EP The Yearbook, the group discussed the gospel and traditional choir sounds that influence their music, skipping class to sing harmonies in the bathroom during high school, and how and why R&B is alive and well today. The Yearbook showcases what 2BYG is capable of to the world, beyond their TikTok and phone screens.
Here were some of my favorite questions/responses from the group about The Yearbook and their sound.
Josh - URBNVIEW
From the New Jack Swing energy of “Karma” to the modern R&B feel of “Wassup,” how important is versatility to 2BYG as you continue defining your sound without being boxed into one lane?
Matt: We study the greats. Michael says, “Study the greats and you will become great.” We want to do it all from Country, Jazz, Classical, R&B, Rock, Pop, Soul music.
Nixx: You have to have a strategy and take your time.
Marcel & Amber - The Panther Newspaper
Male R&B groups made a lot of strides for the R&B genre as a whole. Today, when there aren’t a lot of active R&B groups today, how does it feel to be in an upcoming boy band?
Matt: We feel the pressure to live up to the legacy of past R&B groups.
KD: We already have to be great and take this somewhere and that’s where the pressure is.
The one thing that stood out to me when listening to your music is the synergy and harmony between your voices. Can you talk about the process that took or if it came naturally?
Matt: We’ve been singing together since Sophomores in high school. When we first got together, we were in the bathroom throwing the harmony together during the passing period. The more you do it, the better you get. We’ve been doing this for about five years now.
Photo via Def Jam
Isabelle - Setlist Media
How does working on solo projects help you become better as a group?
Nixx: If you are working on a solo project you are working on finding your inner self so when you come back to the group, the group is the home, you’re feeding the baby with what you’ve learned.
Touré: We are a basketball team. He’s just bringing something to the team. When you work on yourself, you’re bringing something to the team.
KD: When you realize the things you have in common in makes you wonder what are your differences?
Ria - Bell Music Magazine
Concerning genre, do you feel that RnB gets lost in the genre conversation and what are you doing to make it stand out?
Touré: Do we feel like R&B is getting lost in the conversation? The answer I have is no, but, in our generation our people compare today’s R&B to the past R&B, when R&B was the most consistent. If you look at the charts, you probably get 300 Rap albums per year versus R&B, there aren’t as many who are consistent every year. I think it’s a level of consistency, which is a big gap that we will fill.
KD: When it comes to those artists that continue to succeed it’s because of quality. There might be other things that are dropped but it doesn’t amount to the quality and consistency of others.
Jordyn - Waffle Magazine
How do you take those traditional choir sounds and make them feel fresh and modern into today’s R&B?
Matt: We all grew up in the church and the church backgrounds. All of the 80’s and 90’s groups all came from a church background, so it’s not as hard as it seems, but we’re trying to keep it more modern. We have been singing in gospel choir since we were infants.
It was such a great experience to hear more behind this rising groups inspiration for their soul-catching music!
