Yung Pinch gained fame by releasing music on his Youtube channel which has over 800,000 subscribers. (Photo courtesy of Fashionably-Early).
Kelly Skelton
Connector Editor
Blake Sandoval is a 20-year-old from Huntington Beach, California. However, the rising hip-hop star has been making his presence known by his stage name, Yung Pinch. After the success of his debut studio album, “714Ever,” the artist has been attracting attention from fellow artists and media companies.
Things were not always easy for Yung Pinch. After being separated from his parents’ care at an early age, he was raised by his grandmother. Huntington Beach is often thought of as an affluent area, yet Pinch’s experience was different. In a 2017 podcast with No Jumper, the artist said that he came from a “working class” neighborhood.
In an area not known for its music, Yung Pinch has proven successful, working with artists such as Blackbear and Lil Skies. He also has opened up shows for Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti. “I’m the first [Huntington Beach rapper] on the radio,” said Yung Pinch.
Pinch’s pride for his hometown is easy to see. “Huntington is like paradise to me. You’re always less than four miles from the beach,” said Yung Pinch. In addition, the meaning of the 714 in his album title refers to the area of Huntington Beach that Pinch resided.
Despite some family troubles, the artist’s music portrays a highly positive vibe. Distinct from the usual themes of rap, Pinch’s music focuses on mainly parties and girls, contributing to the image of a worry-free lifestyle. With violence as a rarity in his music, younger audiences have been welcoming. As he is typically seen in a flower button-up tee shirt with his long, wavy hair, Yung Pinch gives off the feeling of Hawaii.
In a time where drugs are as controversial as ever in the hip hop community, Pinch takes a hard stance against them. Although the musician indulges in the use of marijuana, he says that harder drugs are not for him. “I just didn’t feel the need for it. I want to be successful. I feel like that’s not the way to go. That’s the road downhill for a lot of people,” said Pinch.
Beginning last year, Pinch began experimenting with a new concept for his music. Titled “Forever Fridays,” he promised to release a piece of content every Friday. This marketing strategy has proved to be massively popular as his fans can both rely on him and look forward to his work. Often in hip-hop, surprise releases or periods of silence can disengage artists’ fan base. Yung Pinch has continued to grow in both following and music popularity. With over 200,000 followers on Instagram and three songs charting over 1 million views each, the hip-hop icon shows no signs of peaking.
Yung Pinch just announced he will be headlining his first nation-wide venture. The “All 4 The Love” tour is set to run from Feb. 15 to March 30 beginning in Austin, Texas. Tour dates are still being announced, but 29 dates have already been posted. A Massachusetts concert has yet to be added.
Pinch will also be performing at the “Rolling Loud” festival this May in Miami, Florida. The latest track from Pinch is “Big Checks,” released on Feb. 2, featuring YG.
