Mr. Clean

Released in late 2016, Mr. Clean is the debut EP that catapulted Yung Gravy from a SoundCloud curiosity to a mainstream pop-rap fixture. The project is a foundational text in the 'meme rap' subgenre, though it distinguishes itself through high-quality sample selection and a genuine appreciation for 1950s and 60s aesthetics. Recorded during his time as a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the EP carries a distinct 'bedroom production' energy that feels intimate yet polished enough for club play. The title track, which famously samples The Chordettes' 'Mr. Sandman,' became a viral sensation, defining the artist's strategy of pairing vintage nostalgia with contemporary trap rhythms. Critically, the EP is viewed as a snapshot of the mid-2010s internet rap culture, where irony and sincerity blurred. It remains the most concentrated example of his 'smooth-baritone-meets-soul-flip' formula before his later transition into more polished, disco-influenced major label sounds.