“It’s exciting! I feel like the competition is healthy, and I think it is important to have it. [The female rap scene] is growing because of social media. We’ve proved that we don’t need to co-sign. We’ve proved that we don’t need gatekeepers to say if our music is hot or not because we’ve proved that we are able to curate our own fan bases who [remain] supportive on a good day or a bad day – without the gatekeepers’ approval. The Internet has definitely opened up that door.”
If you’d asked us five years ago who the queen of social media was, all eyes would have been fixated on the Kylie Jenners and Kim Kardashians of the world. But in a year where fan interaction has been limited, Saweetie – between episodes on ‘How To Bag an 8 Figure Man’ for her hit YouTube Series ‘Icy University,’ self-starring memes, and hypnotically glamorous selfies – has started to cement her place at the top.
Currently boasting 11.6 million followers on Instagram alone, the Bay Area-raised rapper – born Diamonté Harper – kick-started her career with short freestyles in the front of her car, quickly blowing up with the release of her 2017 single “ICY GIRL.” Now, with various singles dominating the airways, two party-ready EPs, and “Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1” teasing the Saweetie-dominating summer ahead, she’s back with her highly-anticipated debut album, Pretty Bitch Music.
Covering our summer issue, the breakout artist and savvy business mogul creating a legacy beyond her music speaks to friend and OG internet queen, Paris Hilton, on manifesting success, shutting out the gatekeepers and the inspiration behind her new album.