Rags And Riches On ‘Yes We Will (Mob Squad)’: A Powerful Anthem Of Resilience & Unity

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Every band has its defining moment—a point where they choose to rise or let the weight of the world push them down. For Tanner and Peyton it was when a founding member gave them an ultimatum. They believed they were parting on good terms, but betrayal set in and as their success grew, so did the attacks. The misguided mockery resulted in an attempt to slander their fans, but Tanner and Peyton embraced the moment and what resulted is the now official name of their loyal family, friends and fans, “The Mob Squad.”

“Yes We Will (Mob Squad)” is off of an upcoming EP which marks a new chapter for RAGS AND RICHES. Unlike anything they’ve written before, their new sound blends hip-hop, pop and alternative into one. Covering themes of controversy, the duo reveal real-life, vulnerable stories, from breakups and affairs, to liars and backstabbers.

Picture this: 300+ shows in 45 states, directly supporting legends such as Smash Mouth, Judah & the Lion, Fitz & the Tantrums and Stop Light Observations, to name just a few. It’s not just about the music; it’s about connecting with audiences on a deeper level, leaving them energized and inspired. When the duo isn’t rocking stages—they’re smashing records too. Winning a Josie Music Award for Pop Artist of the Year, 4 Lexington Music Awards for Pop Artist of the Year (3X Winner) & Song of the Year, clocking in over 11.5MIL+ career streams, and racking up 5.5MIL+ video views all in just 6 years. And let’s talk about their playlist prowess—landing on Apple Music’s coveted ‘New In Alternative’, snagging placements on Spotify’s ‘Nu Disco’ and ‘it’s alt good’ playlists, they continue to push boundaries and redefine the alt-pop landscape. They truly are a force to be reckoned with.

RAGS AND RICHES aren’t just brothers making music — they’re dreamers, creators, and trailblazers. And as they continue to rise, one thing is certain: their journey is just beginning.

Alt-pop duo RAGS AND RICHES, consisting of brothers Tanner and Peyton Whitt, posing in front of a colorful wall of cassette tapes. — *RAGS AND RICHES | Photo Credit: Tate Chmielewski – @tatechmielewski*

I had the opportunity to chat with Tanner from RAGS AND RICHES about the inspiration behind their track “Yes We Will (Mob Squad)”, blending genres, and what’s on their bucket list.

Kat: “Yes We Will (Mob Squad)” is more than a song—it’s a rallying cry. Can you take us back to the moment that inspired this track and the birth of the Mob Squad?

Tanner: For Sure! There was a guy that was a really close friend of ours that we asked to join the band back in 2017. He tracked some guitar parts for us and spent a lot of time with us from 2017-2019 before our launch. After our debut single ‘Speed of Sound’ performed as well as it did, we landed a 68 day tour and the guy decided he couldn’t go with us. Once we were on the tour he had a bunch of his friends in other bands start trash talking us on our socials and our early fans, friends, and family started to clown emoji them back. He didn’t like that much and started to call them “The Mob Squad”. Peyton and I liked the name and decided to name our fanbase that! This song is an anthem for our fans that have been around from the start or have been with us for a long time!

Kat: You turned betrayal and mockery into fuel for a movement. How did you process that moment emotionally, and what made you decide to reclaim it so powerfully?

Tanner: At first Peyton and I were super frustrated and irritated with the chaos it was causing, but over time it became leverage for us! We didn’t talk about it for a long time until this past year. We decided to use the story as a win for us because we are still standing and going strong and most of those people that were involved don’t even do music themselves anymore!

Kat: The phrase “Yes We Will” is defiant, proud, and bold—what does it personally mean to each of you?

Tanner: Hearing everyone at these recent shows chant “Yes We Will” makes us feel empowered or overcomers of what we went through. There is something about that phrase that is simple, but soo bold! I would say for both of us we love sharing the story and letting people get behind the movement of “The Mob Squad”.

Kat: Your upcoming EP explores deeply personal themes like breakups, affairs, and betrayal—how did you find the courage to be so vulnerable in your lyrics?

Tanner: We both felt like after 5+ years of making music we had shared a lot of positive subjects and encouraged people to chase their dreams and desires, but we needed to share more about us and our story to really build our relationship between us and our fans stronger. We really spent a lot of time discussing what we wanted to share and how deep we wanted to get and that led to these new songs we are working on!

Kat: You’ve described this new chapter as unlike anything you’ve written before—how has your sound evolved, and what pushed you to blend hip-hop, pop, and alt together?

Tanner: Since day 1 of RAGS AND RICHES. We loved the idea of blending genres and almost being “genreless”. With these new songs we showcased that blend the best we have so far! We have never really released songs that blend it all in one. It would always be like this song blends 1-2 genres, but never all of it to this level! We love how they turned out!

Kat: You’ve played over 300 shows across 45 states—what’s one unforgettable moment from touring that shaped how you connect with your fans?

Tanner: We have always tried to be “available” to our fans. We both like to go above and beyond to express our gratitude. For example, there have been soo many times people come to the merch table or our meet and greets that just need to talk or let some of what they’re dealing with out…

What that looks like is long after the venue curfew if fans need to talk or just get something signed we are here. With mental health being something a lot of people struggle with, a smile and conversation is the least we can do to show love to our fans.

Kat: Your live shows are known for high energy and heart—how do you maintain that adrenaline-fueled spirit night after night?

Tanner: We both said from day 1 no matter if there is 1 person in the room or 1000’s we give 150%. We have lived by that and want to give anyone who takes their time to see us the best show we can possibly bring!

Kat: You’ve built a loyal fan base by staying authentic—how important is community to your identity as artists, and what does the Mob Squad mean to you today?

Tanner: We wouldn’t exist without the community we have built through the Mob Squad! The Mob Squad or the die hard fans that stream us everyday and comment on our socials bring us a ton of joy and a lot of days keep us going! We can’t express the gratitude we have for the people who even just stream our music! That means the world to us!

Kat: You’ve already hit huge milestones, from sharing stages with legends to landing major playlist spots. What’s been your proudest moment so far—and what’s still on your bucket list?

Tanner: Those things are awesome, but getting a DM or someone coming up to us at a show and letting us know how a song that we wrote impacted them is ten times more fulfilling. I think the current bucket list is a Grammy and our first arena show! Those are on the list right now!

Kat: For fans just discovering RAGS AND RICHES through “Yes We Will (Mob Squad),” what message do you want to leave them with?

Tanner: This is a song for you and for everyone who has ever had people stab you in the back!

RAGS AND RICHES music is for you to feel encouraged and we hope it brings positive vibes to you today!