Lil Mabu, a rapper with six million monthly listeners and hundreds of millions of streams, has achieved remarkable success in the music industry despite an unconventional background.

With two songs charting on Billboard, his rise in the competitive and gritty drill rap scene is nothing short of extraordinary.

Drill rap is known for its raw, aggressive, and often violent themes, which makes Lil Mabu’s position as a rich white kid from the Upper East Side of Manhattan particularly surprising.

Born Matthew Duca, he grew up in a luxurious environment, living in a five-bedroom, five-bath condo and spending summers in his family’s Hamptons estate.

The combined value of these properties is approximately $12 million. His father, Peter Duca, is a Manhattan funeral director who amassed wealth through his trade and a contentious divorce settlement. This privileged background starkly contrasts with the street origins of drill music.

Mabu attended the Collegiate School, a prestigious Manhattan prep institution that charges $60,000 annually and has educated generations of wealthy and influential families like the Vanderbilts and Kennedys.

Despite this, his rap career began humbly with a leaked video from his freshman year showcasing a different side of him. In this video, a young Matthew introduces himself as a ninth-grader participating in a charity walk.

Around this time, he released his first song, “Winnie the Pooh,” a far cry from the drill music that would later define his career.

Initially dabbling in poppy SoundCloud-style emo rap, Mabu slowly built a following of 30,000 by the end of 2020. This early success was aided by entertaining TikTok videos and potentially paid blog posts, although his reach remained modest compared to his current fame.

The turning point came in 2021 when Mabu pivoted to drill music. He released tracks like “Move It,” “Demon Time,” and a full album titled Double M’s.

To bolster his credibility in the drill scene, he collaborated with established artists such as Dusty Locane, Sha EK, and Dougie B. These partnerships likely involved financial arrangements, given Mabu’s then-unknown status and affluent background.

Sha EK, one of his collaborators, described Mabu as a good kid with talent but lacking street credibility. Instead of engaging in drill activities, Mabu leveraged his associations with these artists to gain respect within the genre.

This approach, however, sparked criticism, as it highlighted a recurring pattern of privileged individuals benefiting from cultural movements born of hardship and struggle.

What sets Lil Mabu apart is his ability to embrace and even mock the contradictions in his persona. Rather than deny or defend his wealthy upbringing, he leaned into it, using self-deprecating humor to disarm critics.

His album cover for Double M’s encapsulates this duality, featuring one side representing his affluent academic background and the other his drill persona.

This approach extended to his TikTok content, where he created viral videos poking fun at himself as a “rich white kid” attempting drill rap.

His comedic and ironic style drew comparisons to artists like Lil Dicky, though Mabu’s music resonated more broadly with audiences.

Mabu’s humor and self-awareness also permeate his music. Tracks like “No Snitching” and “Trip to the Hood” showcase his ability to balance tough-sounding lyrics with satirical visuals that highlight his privileged background.

In “No Snitching,” he raps about street codes while appearing as a scrawny white teenager in the video.

The song’s top comment, “We making it out the gated community with this one,” exemplifies the blend of humor and talent that defines his appeal. Similarly, “Trip to the Hood” features a chorus where Mabu cheekily claims he visited the hood to prove his authenticity.

The accompanying music video juxtaposes his posh lifestyle with the gritty imagery associated with drill culture, drawing both criticism and admiration.

Beyond his image, Lil Mabu’s connections within the industry have been pivotal to his success. Over the years, he has worked with high-profile artists like Lil Durk, PnB Rock, and Fivio Foreign.

His friendship with PnB Rock in 2021 raised eyebrows, as it seemed improbable for a privileged teenager to gain the approval of such established figures.

While some speculate that Mabu paid for features early in his career, others believe his rising popularity and viral presence attracted collaborators.

The reality likely lies somewhere in between, with a mix of financial investment and organic networking contributing to his growing influence.

A major breakthrough came in May 2023 with the release of “Mathematical Disrespect,” a self-released single that amassed 70 million combined views on YouTube and entered Billboard’s Hot 100.

The track’s success was particularly notable because Mabu owned 100% of the rights, a rarity in an industry dominated by record labels.

This achievement fueled rumors that he was an industry plant or had connections through his father, whom some falsely claimed was a record label executive. Mabu denied these allegations, emphasizing his independence and self-made success.

Nonetheless, his financial resources likely played a role in jumpstarting his career, allowing him to invest in marketing and collaborations.

Interestingly, Mabu’s marketing acumen predates his rap career. In 2020, at just 15 years old, he allegedly ran a promotional company that provided services to artists like Lil Keed and 42 Dugg.

While details about this business remain scarce, a DM from Mabu to content creator Patrick CC revealed his early involvement in artist promotion.

This entrepreneurial spirit, combined with his natural talent for self-promotion, positioned Mabu as a savvy and resourceful figure in the music industry.

Despite his unorthodox entry into drill rap, Lil Mabu has carved out a unique niche by embracing his contradictions, leveraging humor, and capitalizing on viral trends. His ability to navigate criticism and turn it into an asset reflects a deep understanding of the modern music landscape.

Whether through his independent releases, clever marketing, or strategic collaborations, Mabu has built a career that balances authenticity with irony, earning him a loyal fanbase and industry respect.

As he continues to grow, his story serves as a testament to the power of adaptability, creativity, and self-awareness in the pursuit of success.