Nettspend
{{Short description|American rapper (born 2007)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{For|the debit card provider company known as Netspend|TSYS}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Nettspend
| image = Nettspend.webp
| caption = Nettspend in 2024
| birth_name = Gunner Shepardson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|3|18}}
| birth_place = Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
| origin =
| genre = {{flatlist|
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- songwriter}}
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 2022–present
| label = {{hlist|Grade A|Interscope|Virgin}}
| website = {{URL|nettspend.io/}}
| module = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
| signature = Nettspend sig.svg
}}
}}
Gunner Shepardson (born March 18, 2007{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/ourgenerationmusic/p/C4q5S6iP7K7/?hl=en-gb |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=www.instagram.com}}), professionally known as Nettspend, is an American rapper and songwriter. He gained popularity after a snippet of his song "Drankdrankdrank" went viral on Twitter in late 2023.
Growing up surrounded by music, Nettspend began rapping while in fifth grade. After releasing multiple singles, Nettspend released his debut mixtape, Bad Ass F*cking Kid, on December 6, 2024.
Nettspend's musical style stems from trap and jerk, which are subgenres of hip hop. He commonly employs "distorted 808s", "loose piano riffs", and "glimmering synths" in his music, according to The Fader. He is an affiliate of Xaviersobased's collective 1c34, which popularized the jerk subgenre.
Early life
Gunner Shepardson was born on March 18, 2007, in Richmond, Virginia.{{Cite web |last=Medithi |first=Vivian |date=December 6, 2024 |title=Who's afraid of Nettspend? He hasn't even peaked yet. |url=https://www.thefader.com/2024/12/06/nettspend-bad-ass-fucking-kid-album-review |access-date=December 7, 2024 |website=The FADER |language=en}} He has three siblings, and his father was a country singer.{{Cite web |last1=Press-Reynolds |first1=Kieran |last2=Maher |first2=Morgan |date=September 16, 2024 |title=An interview with Nettspend, the divisive 17-year-old rapper |url=https://i-d.co/article/nettspend-debut-album-profile-interview-2024/ |access-date=December 7, 2024 |website=i-D |language=en-GB}} Growing up, Shepardson listened to Michael Jackson, Katy Perry, and Justin Bieber, and was heavily interested in skateboarding. He first tried out rapping while in fifth grade. Shepardson felt isolated in school, and dropped out in ninth grade, citing the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Career
Nettspend began releasing music to SoundCloud in December 2022.{{Cite magazine |last1=Lindert |first1=Hattie |date=14 March 2024 |title=Xaviersobased, Nettspend, Yhapojj: The Future of Underground Rap Is Extremely Online |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/xaviersobased-nettspend-yhapojj-interview-1234982383 |access-date=14 March 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite web |last=Pete |first=Pistol |date=2024-10-03 |title=Budding Rapper Nettspend Drops Wild "F*CK SWAG" Video |url=https://hiphopcanada.com/nettspend-fck-swag-video/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=HipHopCanada.com |language=en-CA}} After steadily gaining popularity for a few months, a snippet of his song "Drankdrankdrank" went viral on Twitter, exposing him to a wider audience.{{Cite web |last1=Smalley |first1=Griffin |date=13 August 2024 |title=From the 804 to the World: Nettspend's Meteoric Rise |url=https://rvamag.com/music/hip-hop/from-the-804-to-the-world-nettspends-meteoric-rise.html |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=RVA Magazine}} His song "Shine N Peace" was listed among the best songs of 2023 by The Fader and The New York Times.{{Cite web |title=The 100 best songs of 2023 |url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/12/14/100-best-songs-2023 |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=The FADER |language=en}}
On January 11, 2024, Nettspend was featured alongside rapper Xaviersobased on producer Evilgiane's song titled "40". The song was listed as one of the best songs of 2024 by The New York Times{{Cite web |title=Best Songs of 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/arts/music/best-songs-2024.html |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=The New York Times |date=9 December 2024 |language=en |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |last2=Caramanica |first2=Jon |last3=Zoladz |first3=Lindsay }} and Pitchfork.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-12-02 |title=The 100 Best Songs of 2024 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-songs-2024/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} Nettspend performed at Rolling Loud on March 16, marking his first festival performance.{{Cite web |last1=Cruz |first1=Reanna |date=19 March 2024 |title=The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of Rolling Loud California 2024 |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/rolling-loud-2024-highs-lows-whoas.html |access-date=21 March 2024 |website=Vulture}}{{Cite web |last1=Okon |first1=Wongo |date=13 March 2024 |title=Here Are The Rolling Loud California Set Times For 2024 |url=https://uproxx.com/music/rolling-loud-california-set-times-2024/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |website=Uproxx}}
In June{{Nbsp}}2024, Nettspend collaborated with rapper OsamaSon on the single "Withdrawals".{{Cite web |last=Fisher |first=Caroline |date=2024-07-03 |title=OsamaSon & Nettspend Join Forces For Chaotic Single "Withdrawals" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/822223-osamason-nettspend-withdrawals-stream |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} That month, he also made a cameo in the music video for "Devil Is a Lie" by fellow Virginia rapper Tommy Richman. After teasing it at multiple shows, Nettspend released "That One Song", a song sampling "Entombed" by Deftones, in July.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2271035/nettspend-samples-deftones-on-new-single-that-one-song/music/|title=Nettspend Samples Deftones On New Single "That One Song"|date=10 July 2024|access-date=22 July 2024|last1=DeVille|first1=Chris|website=Stereogum}} In the weeks that followed, "That One Song", along with the majority of Nettspend's other popular songs, was removed from streaming platforms. Most of these songs have since been reuploaded.
On October 3, 2024, Nettspend released the track "F*ck Swag" alongside a music video directed by Cole Bennett.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-03 |title=Nettspend Lands Lyrical Lemonade Debut with "F*CK SWAG" |url=https://hypebeast.com/2024/10/nettspend-fck-swag-single-music-video-lyrical-lemonade-stream |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Hypebeast}}{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Alexander |date=2024-10-03 |title=Nettspend Teases His Debut Project With Fresh Single "F*ck Swag" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/847774-nettspend-fck-swag-stream |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} Two months later, on December 6, 2024, Nettspend released his debut mixtape, Bad Ass F*cking Kid.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/9-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-nettspend-smino-chvrches-lauren-mayberry/|title=9 Albums Out This Week You Should Listen to Now|first=Nina|last=Corcoran|date=December 6, 2024|website=Pitchfork}} He embarked on a promotional tour of the same name, bringing out English singer PinkPantheress at his Los Angeles show.{{Cite web |last=Mahadevan |first=Tara |date=December 20, 2024 |title=Nettspend's L.A. Tour Stop: PinkPantheress Surprises Fans |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/nettspend-brings-out-pinkpantheress-los-angeles-bafk-tour-stop |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=Complex |language=en}}
On February 21, 2025, Nettspend announced his upcoming "Invert" tour on social media. The tour is sponsored by Vans, and runs from March 14th to April 16th.
On March 11, 2025, Nettspend made his runway debut with Miu Miu on the last day of Paris Fashion Week alongside Cortisa Star.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Steffanee |title=Nettspend & Cortisa Star made runway debuts at Miu Miu's fall 2025 show |url=https://www.thefader.com/2025/03/11/miu-miu-pfw-fall-2025-runway-cortisa-star-nettspend |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=The Fader}}
Musical style and influences
Nettspend's musical style stems from trap, a subgenre of hip-hop. His music has also been characterized as jerk,{{Cite web |last=Press-Reynolds |first=Kieran |date=2024-04-30 |title=THE FACE's guide to the American rap underground |url=https://theface.com/music/underground-internet-rap-rage-carti-yeat-ambient-plugg-iokera-terror-jerk-krushclub-lumi-athena |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=The Face |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Allison |title=YhapoJJ: P.S. Fuck You |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/yhapojj-ps-fuck-you/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} a hip-hop subgenre which consists of "pitched-up, layered vocals and bass that will make your speakers sound broken," according to Pitchfork. Most of Nettspend's songs are under two minutes long.{{Cite web |last1=Wickes |first1=Jade |last2=Lai |first2=Tiffany |last3=Reed |first3=Davy |date=2024-09-17 |title=8 names to keep an eye on right now |url=https://theface.com/culture/8-names-to-keep-an-eye-fashion-film-tv-books-art-music |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=The Face |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Songs You Need In Your Life: July 2024 |url=https://www.thefader.com/2024/07/01/songs-you-need-in-your-life-july-2024 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The FADER |language=en}} According to The Fader, he commonly employs "distorted 808s", "loose piano riffs", and "glimmering synths" in his music. Nettspend's music has been described as "a symphony of stimuli" by i-D, and "post-post-rage" by The New York Times.{{Cite magazine |last1=Caramanica |first1=Jon |date=15 March 2024 |title=7 Artists Shaping the Sound of 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/arts/music/amplifier-newsletter-tanner-adell-that-mexican-ot.html |access-date=25 March 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times}}
In an interview with i-D, Nettspend named Chief Keef, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Michael Jackson as influences.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| Early Life Crisis
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=Mixtapes=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| Bad Ass F*cking Kid
|
|
|---|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| Kickdoor{{Cn|date=December 2024}}
|
|
|---|
=Singles=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/nettspend Nettspend] at Rate Your Music
{{Authority control}}
Category:American trap musicians
Category:Rappers from Richmond, Virginia
Category:21st-century American male musicians