Last week Derek Luh released his infectious first single, “Jerry Maguire,” under Vydia. The nostalgic lyric video for the song brings back memories of Microsoft Paint and a desktop game of Solitaire. “Jerry Maguire” is the first single leading up to a highly anticipated, untitled EP.
The song pairs clever, stream-of-consciousness lyrics and a flow that recalls early 2000s alternative rap like Shwayze‘s 2008 hit “Buzzin” (which peaked at number 46 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart) and Mat Kearney‘s “Undeniable” in 2007 which peaked at number 14 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 chart. It’s a new sound for Derek.
“From the production to how I sing and rap, everything is new and polished. I’m starting to become more polished, going from a mixtape rapper to an actual artist.”
The inspiration behind the track was completely spontaneous and organic. “Honestly that day in the studio I was like ‘I wanna make an anthem, something everyone can sing along to,” Derek shared. “I wanna be on stage and don’t even wanna sing the hook.’ I couldn’t think of anything to write about because I had so much going on in my head and in my life. My thoughts were all over the place and then it hit me, I’m just going to make a song about exactly that,” he said.
Derek Luh first broke onto the scene in 2013 with his debut mixtape, LA Confidential and created a noteworthy buzz as a savvy lyricist with a signature flow. Overcoming struggles in and out of the studio, Derek released five projects in five years. 2018’s For Your Consideration showcased his transformation into a more mature sound. Since his debut, he worked with Dizzy Wright, French Montana, and Wale. He toured both with Machine Gun Kelly and IAMSU, effectively creating a following that amassed more than 500,000 fans across multiple verified platforms.
