Dave Blunts is unbelievable.
Literally.
Everything about the Iowa rapper is extreme, and if you spend enough time around him, you’ll find yourself constantly asking questions like, “Are you for real? You’re f*cking with me, right?”
Take his song “Hospital Bed,” for example. For two minutes straight, he raps about trying to seduce a nurse from his hospital bed, reciting outlandish bars like, "She gon' suck it through the catheter." Just when you think his tales might be pure fiction, though, he’ll hit you with proof. After enough people sent him messages like, “This did NOT happen,” he shared a video of himself recording "Hospital Bed" while literally laying in a hospital bed.
“People still think I’m bullsh*tting, but this sh*t is real,” he says. “I keep all the receipts.”
This year, the 23-year-old artist has been going viral for his outrageous lyrics and larger-than-life personality. Rapping over synthy rage beats in a high-pitched voice, he tells very specific stories about the small-town drama in Davenport, Iowa, making sure to mention every little detail from his life, including the real names of his exes and enemies. His June 2024 album Well Dude Here’s My Thing revolves around the chaotic saga of his former romantic flings Madison and Abigail, and he even made a ruthless diss song about a local Iowa man named Chase Wilson. (Unsurprisingly, Blunts says none of them are pleased with the name-drops.)
Photo by Colin Defenbau
“My favorite things to rap about are women, my friends, traumatic experiences, and controversial topics,” Dave Blunts says. Ah yes, the controversial topics. His songs, full of out-of-pocket one-liners, are often reminiscent of a teenager yelling the most shocking things they can think of through an Xbox headset, and that’s because Blunts was inspired to started rapping unhinged lyrics after playing online video games. With a smirk, he admits, “Anytime I play my music for anybody, I'm just like, ‘Hey man, I just want to let you know, I be saying some crazy sh*t. I don't know what's wrong with me. And I'm sorry.’"
Thanks to his undeniable charisma and musical gifts (he isn't being called “the underground Sean Kingston” for no reason), Dave Blunts has managed to win over a lot of fans lately. After all, he’s been charming people on the internet for years. Since he was 15 years old, Dave Blunts has been going viral on Facebook for simply posting photos of himself. That’s where he built his initial internet following, which turned into his first group of fans when he started recording and releasing music in 2018.
The come-up wasn’t instantaneous, though. For six years, Blunts aggressively pursued music while living off of social security checks after quitting his job at a call center, but his songs never gained much traction outside of his Facebook following. Less than a year ago, he got so depressed about his stalling career that he deleted his entire discography, before giving himself one more chance to “make sh*t shake” or he’d quit forever. That’s when he finally started posted on TikTok and everything changed. Less than a week after his first post, he'd gone viral multiple times, and within months, his songs had hundreds of thousands of plays, major stars like Lil Yachty and SZA showed love, and every major record label came calling (he’s still entertaining offers from each).
Dave Blunts has spent his entire life beating the odds. According to him, he had a turbulent upbringing, losing his father when he was a child and living in shelters with his mother. But he’s made something out of his life and he's now chasing even bigger dreams in Los Angeles, where he moved earlier this year. While putting the finishing touches on his next album, Dave Blunts stopped by Complex's office in LA for a conversation about his come-up, why he hates clubs, and what’s next. The interview, lightly edited for clarity, is below.
Photo by Colin Defenbau
How's life? What's your headspace like right now?
Life is good, man. Being out here in LA and maneuvering my way through the music industry is overwhelming, though. I just started smoking cigarettes because of all the stress of being out here. But sh*t, man, we're taking this sh*t day by day. That's what comes with this sh*t. It is what it is.
Are you fully consumed by music? Or do you still have time for hobbies outside of music?
Music has always been my only hobby. Well, music and playing bitch-ass Fortnite. I hate that f*cking game, man, but I can't stop playing it. It's like an abusive relationship, bro. I keep getting my ass beat, but for whatever reason, I can't leave.
What's a typical day in your life like right now?
I wake up, cook me and [my friend] Jesse some breakfast, and figure out which A&R from a label I'm going to block because they keep blowing my f*cking phone up. Then I go to the studio and stay there from probably 2:00 PM to 8:00 AM the next day. I'm locked the f*ck in. I'm working on this next album I've got coming out.
Have you done anything fun in LA since moving here from Iowa a couple of months ago?
I've been to the Santa Monica Pier, a bunch of parties, and the club. The club isn't really my thing, though. I can't be anywhere that I can't sit down. If there's no guaranteed seating, I can't be there. On a good day, I've got maybe five or 10 minutes of standing max, and I've got to sit down. If I would've come here and there were no chairs, I would've left.
I heard you do Bible study, too?
Yeah, I used to. Me and Jesse would do Bible study over FaceTime. We had a name for our Bible study group: The Rebukers of Evil. So we rebuked all things evil. But I'm sad to say that ever since all this sh*t's been going on, I haven't really made the time for Bible study.
How'd you get into that?
I was raised in the church. I've been going since I was a kid, but over time I realized I wasn't as close to God as I once was as a child, so I started trying to get closer. I used to be in another Bible study group where I wasn't the leader, and then I started my own group with Jesse and a couple other people in there.
Did you used to sing in church? Is that how you got started in music?
No, I didn't sing in church. I really got it from my mom, because she would be singing around the house. And when I was in elementary school, I used to sing to the girls on the playground, trying to woo them and sh*t. They'd be like, "Oh yeah, that's a nice song," but they never liked me because of it.
How would you describe yourself as a kid?
I was the class clown. When I was in class, I would just see that as a place to perform, bro. I was cracking jokes constantly, always getting kicked out for being disruptive and all that sh*t. I was getting suspended, expelled, all because I was just a class clown, bro.
I know you didn't have the easiest childhood, living in shelters and losing your father. Some kids would have shut down and been quiet, but you went the other direction and cracked jokes. Why do you think that is?
The tragic sh*t that I went through isn't the reason why I was the class clown. That came from my mom. She was working a lot, and when she wasn't working, she would be resting. She didn't have a lot of time to spend with us. Since I wasn't getting a lot of attention at home, I would seek it when I was at school, trying to make people laugh.
Outside of school, what was it like to grow up in Iowa? What did you do for fun?
There's nothing there, bro. sh*t, bro, there will be businesses that come there for kids to hang out at, but then somebody will either start a big ass fight there or shoot that bitch up. Grand opening, grand closing. So there's nothing there except for drugs and bitches f*cking. That's it, bro.
You had access to the internet, though, and I heard you used to go viral on Facebook before you even started making music?
Yeah, but I never really tried to go viral. I would just post pictures of myself and I guess people found that sh*t funny. I started going viral around the time I was 15.
Most of your Facebook followers were randomly from Mexico, right?
Yeah. Still to this day, I can't pinpoint how exactly that happened. But my pictures started going viral and then I started making music, so that was my audience for a long ass time.
Were your Facebook followers thrown off when you started sharing music? Like, "Wait, I followed this guy for funny photos and now he's trying to be a rapper"?
No, they really loved me, so they supported anything that I did. When I started making music, they were like, "This sh*t's good." And they still love me to this day.
What made you want to be a rapper in the first place? What attracted you to this lifestyle?
I've always wanted to make music, but I never had the resources to do so. There are studios in my town, but they're expensive and not even legit. So one day I was hanging out with my friend and we went to his friend's house who had a studio in his basem*nt. I'm like, "Well sh*t, let me f*ck around and make a song," and that sh*t was good. After that, I would make music on my f*cking Android phone with Dollar Store headphones and sh*t.
Is that when you came up with the name Dave Blunts?
Yeah, my Facebook kept getting deleted, so I needed to make different names, and one day when I was smoking a blunt, I was like, "sh*t, Dave Blunts."
So your real name's Dave?
Yeah.
How long did it take until you started getting traction with your music?
I started making music on my phone in 2018. Then my friend hit me up and he was like, "Yo, your music's fire, but it needs a better mix." So I started recording with him, but he got busy, so I stopped making music for six months and I was heavily depressed. Then I watched one five-minute YouTube video about how to mix your sh*t, and I'm like, "That sh*t seems easy as f*ck." So I went and bought all the equipment the next day and I've been recording myself ever since.
Everything finally started clicking for you this year after you deleted all of your old music and finally started posting on TikTok. How did all of that happen?
I always had a TikTok account, but I never posted on there because I thought that sh*t was cringe. And around November 2023, I got really discouraged, like, "Damn, it's coming up on six years of doing this music sh*t and I'm f*cking unemployed, getting social security. There's nothing really going on in my life. I got to quit this music sh*t and get a job and start making some sh*t shake in life." So I deleted all of my music and for weeks, everybody kept hitting me, like, "Bro, why'd you delete your sh*t?" So I'm like, "Alright, I'm going to come back to music and I'm going to give myself the whole 2024. If I don't make some sh*t shake by then, I've got to move on with my life." And sh*t, man, some sh*t shook.
What made you finally start posting on TikTok?
I didn't want to do no cringe sh*t, f*cking shaking it out west. No sh*t like that. [Laughs.] Before that, I would just post videos of me listening to my song, sipping drink, and post that sh*t on Snapchat. So I just did that and posted the videos on TikTok.
How long did it take for everything to blow up after you started posting on TikTok?
A week of consistently posting. Actually not even a full seven-day week. Probably just five days, from Monday to Friday.
That's so fast. So it was six years of pursuing music and then everything blew up after posting on TikTok?
Yeah. Bitch-ass TikTok...
Why was Facebook your social app of choice for so long?
I live in a small town and everybody in that town uses Facebook. I know a lot of people don't really use that sh*t, but Facebook is the most used social media app still. So I would use it because everybody in my town used it.
Why do you think people are drawn to you? What makes you stand out?
Well, I didn't expect to blow up or anything, so I started just saying real life sh*t in my music. I'm saying people's names, I'm saying locations of places in my town and sh*t, and I think people are drawn to the authenticity of this sh*t. I treat my music like it's a f*cking diary entry. Each of my albums that I release are about what's going on in my life at that moment.
A lot of people be saying that I don't sound how I look, too. They see me and when they hear my music, they expect to hear me f*cking eating a burger on the track or some sh*t. But no, I'm actually singing my heart out. So I guess that's what drives me.
I was definitely surprised to hear you naming the exact names of your exes and sh*t...
I mean, this sh*t was really just for me and my friend group, but I'm releasing it because the songs sound good. My friends know who these people are, so they know that this sh*t is real, but there are still people who think I'm bullsh*tting. This sh*t is all real and I'm facing real-life repercussions because of this sh*t. Madison and Abigail be calling me all the time, bro. I have to block their number, but they still change their number to call me from a free calling app or some sh*t. f*ck it.
Do you think you're going to keep using real-life names now that you have a bigger audience?
I'm going to keep using names, but not theirs, because I was only saying their names because they were a part of my life. But now them bitches is back in Iowa. I don't think they have enough money to come to LA so they're not a part of my life anymore, and I can't say anything else about them. I've closed the chapter on Madison, Abigail, Julian... I don't give a f*ck what they're doing now.
But you're still going to tell real stories in your music from life in LA?
Yeah. I'm still going to say people's names and real stories.
Do you know what Chase Wilson thinks of his song?
I don't think he's too happy about it. Probably not. But I mean, who's going to feel sympathetic for a pedophile?
How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard it?
Crazy. I be saying some crazy sh*t. Anytime I play my music for anybody, I'm just like, "Hey man, I just want to let you know... I be saying some crazy sh*t. I don't know what's wrong with me. And I'm sorry."
Why do you say such crazy sh*t in your music?
After I quit and came back, I had this attitude where I was like, "I'm making these songs and I'm really stressing about them, but I'm not having fun. So I'm going to at least have fun with this sh*t if I'm putting my all into it." So I found a balance of saying crazy sh*t and also putting my real life into it, and a lot of my real life is the crazy sh*t.
I keep seeing people describe you as "the underground Sean Kingston." What are your thoughts on that?
sh*t, he's locked up right now, man. I don't want nothing to do with that sh*t, bro. I'm not thinking about that. I mean, sh*t, bro, I have to ask them, "What WAY do you compare me to Sean Kingston?" [Laughs.]
OK, what do you think about the "underground" part of that description?
I don't know. I think the underground is going to be a small pit stop for me.
Stylistically, your music fits into the whole post-SoundCloud underground movement that's happening right now, though. And people compare your sound to artists like Juice WRLD. Did you listen to those guys?
Of course. Who didn't? They made good music and I was drawn to that sound.
It's high-energy music that's great for mosh pits. Have you ever been in a mosh pit?
No. I've never even been to a concert before. Man, I told you, I can't stand for too long. Damn.
That means you've probably never had a show of your own, either?
No, I haven't done a show yet. I'm probably going to do some sh*t soon, though.
What are your favorite things to rap about?
Women, my friends, traumatic experiences, and controversial topics.
A lot of your lyrics are really funny. Why is it important to incorporate humor?
That's just my personality. That's just who I am. A lot of it is just in the moment, and I'm not even trying to be funny. It's just me.
When rappers have funny lyrics, they often struggle to be taken seriously as artists. Have you faced that struggle? Do you care about being taken seriously? Do you care when someone's like, "Oh, this guy's a meme rapper?"
I feel like that's just bitch-ass people on Twitter saying that sh*t. Most people take my music seriously because I'm not making songs about "f*ck LeBron" or anything like that, on some Lil Boom sh*t. I'm making music about real life situations with Madison, Abigail, Julian... People are buying into the lore, so I don't think that that's a problem.
Obviously I do want to be taken seriously, but at the same time, I'm never going to do this sh*t if I'm not having fun. I'm not going to do things that are a detriment to my sanity just to please people. Like, "Oh bro, you should take music more seriously." OK, so you want me to make music like the artists you listen to? Just go listen to that n***a, because I'm not that n***a. I don't worry about that sh*t. I know that this sh*t will be taken seriously.
What's your favorite lyric you're ever rapped?
[Sings] "I know that Jayce is broke as f*ck, he getting no bread for real." That's my favorite one.
Why is that?
Because f*ck Jayce.
What's the lore behind Jayce?
Jayce is a dude that tried to f*cking dox me on Xbox.
You're wearing your iconic sweatsuit right now, which has had a hell of a run. When do you think you'll finally retire?
sh*t, man, when I get enough money. LA is expensive, man. I paid f*cking $50 for a bottle of water the other day. This sh*t is ridiculous.
One of my favorite songs of yours is "The Cup." What's the story behind that song?
I made that sh*t right after I got out of the hospital in August of last year. I was sipping drank every day after I got out the hospital, making songs in my room, and I just recorded that sh*t one day. I really couldn't put down the cup.
I have a feeling that's how you would answer if I asked you about any of your songs... "That's just what I was really doing that day."
Yeah, that's what I was doing that day, man. That was a period of time when I was heavily sipping drank.
So you've cut back on it since then?
I've cut back, but I still be sipping.
What would you say is the biggest moment of your career so far?
That sh*t has yet to come.
What about something that's already happened?
There's a lot of behind the scenes sh*t that I can't speak on yet, but as far as things that the public has seen... Probably Lil Yachty making the video to the song. But I've got a lot of sh*t coming. I'm telling you.
Who is the biggest artist who has reached out to you with support so far?
Nothing that I can share, but there's some crazy sh*t. You'll see it very soon.
What can we expect to hear on the new project you're working on?
This project is about my life currently, moving to LA and being in the music industry. It's about the expectations that you have before you get in the music industry, and then the reality of what's really in the music industry. This album is beautiful music. There's good melodies, but there's also depth to it. This sh*t is real n***a music. There's real sh*t in there that people will really cling onto and respect. I'm talking about some real sh*t on this album.
Is it dropping soon?
Very soon. It's going to drop in August.
Who is your dream collab?
Justin Bieber. He's got the voice of an angel. You ever see that video of him singing that Chris Brown song when he was a kid? That sh*t is insane. That motherf*cker can sing. That sh*t fire, bro.
What kind of song would you want to make with him?
I wouldn't say any of the sh*t I be saying now. I wouldn't be saying all the slurs and all that. I'd be like, "Hey man, whatever you want me to say on this song, I'll say it."
What do you think of the current state of rap music?
I love all of it. My favorite thing to do is listen to music. But even more, I like listening to bad music. I like listening to sh*t that sucks, because it's funny. If I hear a song that's ass, it's funny and it encourages me. As an artist, you're always in your own head. You're thinking, "This song is good, but it could be better." And I'm like, "Damn, even my worst song is better than this bullsh*t."
But yeah, I think all rap music is pretty good right now. For a moment, everybody was trying to be mysterious and sh*t, but I feel like personalities are coming back in the forefront.
I've done hundreds of interviews and no one has ever told me that they like terrible music. Where do you find terrible music?
sh*t, bro. There's a lot of it that's released. It is not that hard to find, at least for me. Rappers have thousands of people DMing them a day, like, "Listen to this song, listen to this song." So all I've got to do is check my DMs, bro. That sh*t sucks.
What's the biggest misconception about you? What do people get wrong?
I would say the biggest Twitter misconception about me—bitch-ass Twitter—is they don't think that I take music seriously. But I do. I work very f*cking hard on this sh*t. I haven't got a full night's rest in weeks. I'm up all night, all day in the studio, working, working. I take this sh*t very seriously.
What's the smartest thing you've ever done?
Click upload on TikTok.
What's the dumbest thing you've ever done?
Took so long to post on TikTok.
What's your purpose as an artist?
My purpose as an artist is to show people that you don't have to conform to what society's image is to be successful or to make it. You can be yourself and people will cling to that. People will be drawn to that. You don't have to try to be your favorite rapper. You don't have to try to dress like them. You don't have to try to be a gangster or become something that you're not. You can be yourself and people will like that. That's what I feel like my purpose is, and that's really my whole message behind this sh*t. You don't have to be like these n****s to be liked by these n****s.
You've made it through a lot of difficult circ*mstances in life and persevered to reach your dreams. Do you have any words of advice to people who might be in sh*tty situations right now?
My advice is just to understand that whatever situation you're in, it's not permanent. sh*t, man, get up off your ass and get to the bag. A lot of people think that sh*t is supposed to be handed to them, but that's not the case. Prayer without works is useless. You pray for something, now you got to put in the work to actually get it done. So yeah, get up off your ass.
