Saweetie: Hip-Hop's Girl Next Door
By: Prince Hakeem
As female rappers' visibility and profile within hip-hop continue to elevate, there seem to be growing discussions on who's-who and where each of them "fit" within the culture. Through the late 90s to 2010s, there was a drought in regards to female rapping talent. Outside of Nicki Minaj, fans were hard-pressed to see more than one female act on the forefront in mainstream hip-hop. However, thanks to streaming, social media, and defiant pushbacks against long-held industry sexism, the landscape has shifted, and there are more diverse acts in the game today than ever before. It's safe to say that we are experiencing a Female Rap Renaissance.
Despite this new boom of artists, much of the online conversation centers on stereotypes or lanes they're expected to operate in. These "labelings," in turn, shape audiences' perception of the artist, their legitimacy, and how serious they are to be taken. While male rappers have more freedom to label themselves, the same can't be said of female rappers. She's either the unappealing conscious lyricist or the vulgar sex pot.
While the ubiquitous "rapper who only talks about sex" label is primarily aimed at women rappers, it's a lazy one-dimensional take on these dynamic artists. A new classification, however, has emerged in this new era. It's The Girl Next Door. Known as a movie trope where her accessibility is tied to a male protagonist, hip-hop's version of the Girl Next Door sees the female rapper who establishes her presence and sets goals for herself, first, and other women. And there is no other female artist who exemplifies this than Bay Area rapper and social media influencer Saweetie. She's Hip-Hop's Girl Next Door.
Born in Hayward, California, Saweetie, whose real name is Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, was built for the spotlight. There've been assertions that she's being forced on audiences as her online presence seems inescapable. And while she may appear to have come out of nowhere, that is not the case.
Saweetie is a self-made woman, and her breakout was a long time coming. She began songwriting at 13. The California native held education in the same high regard as music. After high school, Saweetie first attended San Diego State University, studying communication and business. Her dream school, however, was the University of Southern California (USC). Even though it was a struggle, including doubting family members and a letter to the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Saweetie soon transferred to USC.
"But I promised myself if I got into USC, it was a sign I needed to finish college," she recalls during an interview with the Daily Trojan.
Saweetie's work ethic has been a constant fixture in her journey. While at USC, she held down four jobs. It speaks to the hustling attitude that has garnered her the visibility and attention she's enjoying today. Creating her own t-shirt brand, the 'My Type' singer also worked at a sports bar and Marshalls. On top of all that, Saweetie worked as a research assistant for a professor named Ann Majchrzak. The professor spoke on Saweetie's tremendous work ethic, recalling how she put in "several hundred hours" coding for a research project over a few months.
Despite the hectic school and work schedule, Saweetie still honed her musical skills. She would write rhymes every day on her nearly 2-hour commute to USC from Northridge. For an individual who most audiences write off as just being "pretty," she's not afraid of hard work.
The two most remarkable catalysts of Saweetie's rise are her relatability and consistency. She leaned into social media very early, showcasing not only her skills but her personality as well. She only had $40 to her name in 2017 when a freestyle posted on Instagram would change everything for her.
My Neck My Back- Saweeti Freestyle
Rapping over Khia's "My Neck, My Back" beat, Saweetie launched herself into viral superstardom. The song would eventually become "Icy Grl," giving her the first big song and break into the music industry. She then met her manager Max Gousse and signed to his label Artistry Worldwide, in partnership with Warner Records. The Freestyle gave an authentic birth to her ICY calling card and brand.
The Icy Girl branding is the crux of Saweetie's persona and artistry. After her break out hit with 'Icy Grl,' Saweetie caught another viral moment with her "High Maintenance" freestyle. She rode that moment into the debut of her first EP of the same name. She hit significant adversity with her infamous Hot97 Freestyle, creating the "she's pretty, but can't rap" narrative, which she still deals with today. However, that did not stop her.
She moved on to release her second EP, Icy, in 2019. It featured her biggest hit thus far, 'My Type'. Next was 'Tap In' in 2020, earning Saweetie her second Top 10 placement on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. She's continued her streak of hot catchy singles with 'Back to the Streets' alongside Jhene Aiko and the girl power anthem 'Best Friend' record featuring Doja Cat.
Saweetie - Best Friend (feat. Doja Cat) [Official Music Video]
Saweetie's perseverance with music best represents her Icy Girl moniker. Even with harsh critics dismissing her rap skills and online threads continuously dragging her, she "bosses up," accepts responsibility, and works through the problem.
"I'm really grateful for my start," Saweetie says in Cosmopolitan's March cover story. "Because the mistakes, the struggle, the grind—it allows me to appreciate the rewards that come now because I know what it feels like to sleep in motels, to drive and do promo, to be stressed out."
Being an Icy Girl aims to be the best version of yourself and want better things in life.
"It's not always about being iced up or stuntin' on hoes. Icy to me is hustling and having the mentality of getting what you said you was gon' get. Everything I was gon' get, I got. It's very important to believe in yourself — and that's what an icy girl and an icy boy is."
More than just defining what the Icy brand is, Saweetie cements her influence by making it relatable and accessible for other women. It's what makes her hip-hop's Girl Next Door. She's the girly-girls best friend. Motivated and aggressive, yet warm and inviting. She will interact with her fans and hype up the dance videos made to her records. She doesn't base her career or validation on the success of a boyfriend or male suitor.
Saweetie upholds this self-assured independence as a standard. It, in turn, sets an example for the women, who admire her beauty and confidence, to follow. That is the secret behind Saweetie. The music speaks it, the online personality reinforces it, and her boss moves manifest it. Her overall likability and branding have already gone past her music. It's the fuel behind her consistent digital presence.
When you see her, she's always having fun, looks fantastic, and aspires to bigger and better. Who wouldn't want to get next to that?
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