Saweetie

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Saweetie
Saweetie SinfulColors photoshoot.jpg
Saweetie in 2021
Born
Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper

(1993-07-02) July 2, 1993 (age 28)
Santa Clara, California, U.S.
EducationMonterey Trail High School
Alma materSan Diego State University
University of Southern California (BA)
Occupation
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • actress
Years active2016–present
RelativesWillie Harper (grandfather)
MC Hammer (uncle)
Gabrielle Union (cousin)
Zaytoven (cousin)
AwardsFull list
Musical career
GenresHip hop
Labels
Associated acts
Websitesaweetieofficial.com

Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper[1] (born July 2, 1993),[2] known professionally as Saweetie (/səˈwiːti/),[3] is an American rapper. After the release of her RIAA platinum certified debut single "Icy Grl" in 2018, she was signed to her then-manager Max Gousse's record label Artistry Worldwide, a subsidiary of Warner Records.

Saweetie released her debut extended play, High Maintenance, in 2018. Her second EP, Icy, was released in March 2019 and spawned the top-40 single "My Type". Her debut album, Pretty Bitch Music, is scheduled to be released in late December 2021 and was preceded by the singles "Tap In" and "Best Friend" (featuring Doja Cat), both of which reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2021, she received two nominations for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards including one for Best New Artist.

Early life and education[]

Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper was born on July 2, 1993, in Santa Clara, California, to Trinidad Valentin, who is Filipina Chinese, and Johnny Harper, who is African American.[4][5] She grew up in Sacramento, California area, attending Merrill F. West High School in Tracy and graduating from Monterey Trail High School in Elk Grove.[6][7][8][9] She began writing music at age 13. After high school, she attended San Diego State University, where she studied communications and business before transferring to the University of Southern California, where she completed her degree and received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in communications.[10] After graduating, she began to focus on her rap career.[11][12][8]

Career[]

2016–2018: High Maintenance[]

Saweetie began posting short raps on her Instagram account in 2012. One video featured her rapping over the beat from African-American rapper Khia's "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)", which eventually became "Icy Grl".[6][8] The song was released on her SoundCloud in the summer of 2017 and brought her to the attention of Max Gousse, a well-known producer and A&R executive, who became her manager.[13][14][8] The video went viral online, accruing 100 million views on YouTube as of June 2020.[11][8]

That same month, Saweetie released a freestyle rap, "High Maintenance", accompanied by a short clip of herself rapping a verse to the song, all while chilling in her kitchen. It too went viral, on Instagram and Twitter.[14][8] In October 2017, she released a video for her song "Focus", which samples DRAM's "Gilligan".[15]

Saweetie performing in 2018

In January 2018, Saweetie was named Tidal's Artist of the Week and one of Pigeons & Planes's Best New Artists of the Month.[16] During Super Bowl LII in February 2018, she was featured in an ad for Rihanna's cosmetic company, Fenty Beauty.[17] That month, she signed to Warner Bros. Records (since May 2019 Warner Records) and Gousse's record label, Artistry Worldwide.[11][18][19]

I do a lot of covers but this is the first time I'm actually doing original content. I leave the studio and I come home wanting to listen to really myself.

— Saweetie for XXL in October 2017.[8]

In February 2018, Saweetie launched her own record label, Icy Records.[20][21][22]

Saweetie released her major label debut EP, High Maintenance, on March 16, 2018. It has nine tracks and was produced by CashMoneyAP, Nyrell and Saweetie's cousin, Zaytoven.[23][24][25] The single "Icy Girl" was certified Gold in June 2018, for sales of 500,000 in the U.S.[26] In September 2019, the single was certified RIAA multi-platinum and reached No. 1 on Billboard's rhythmic songs airplay chart.[27][28]

2019–2020: Icy and Other Ventures[]

Saweetie released her second major label EP, Icy, on March 29, 2019. Its first single, "My Type", written by Saweetie and produced by London on da Track, samples "Freek-a-Leek" by Petey Pablo. Debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 81, It was Saweetie's first song to enter the Hot 100.[29] "My Type" peaked at number 21, becoming Saweetie's first top-40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.[30] A remix of the song featuring Jhené Aiko and City Girls was released on August 23, 2019.[31] "My Type" hit number 1 on the Rhythmic Radio charts in September 2019 and was later certified double platinum in the U.S.[27][32]

In September 2019, Saweetie collaborated with PrettyLittleThing to launch a 59-piece clothing collection, PrettyLittleThing x Saweetie. She said the theme of the capsule was "a boujie rich girl enjoying the finer things in life. I want to show the boys and girls that if you hustle hard your work will pay off."[33] It debuted during New York Fashion Week.[34] Saweetie appeared on VH1's Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out on January 28, 2020, as a guest performer, performing "My Type".

2020–present: Pretty Bitch Music[]

Saweetie released the lead single, "Tap In", from her upcoming debut album, Pretty Bitch Music, on June 20, 2020.[35] The single peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first top-20 single and her first song to enter the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 38. In September 2020, the single reached number one on Mediabase's Urban Radio Chart as well as the Billboard x Triller US and Global charts.[36] The track was Saweetie's second single to reach Billboard's Hot 100.[37] In August 2020, Saweetie released a remix of the single, "Tap In Remix", that featured rappers Post Malone, DaBaby and Jack Harlow.[38] This was followed by the promotional single "Pretty Bitch Freestyle" on July 2, 2020.[39]

On July 31, 2020, Saweetie appeared alongside American rapper Tay Money on the song "Bussin 2.0", with a music video premiering the same day.[40] On August 6, 2020, she was featured on Ava Max's song, "Kings & Queens, Pt. 2", alongside Lauv. On October 23, 2020, she released "Back to the Streets", featuring Jhené Aiko, which serves as the second single from Pretty Bitch Music.[41] The album's third single, "Best Friend", featuring Doja Cat, was released on January 7, 2021.[42] The full album is expected to be released in 2022.[43]

In 2020, Saweetie was added to Forbes' 30 Under 30 Music list and Variety's Hitmakers Impact list.[44] In March 2020, she embarked on her first beauty collaboration by becoming the face of the KISS Colors edge fixer glue in the Edge Fixer Glued x Saweetie collection.[45][46][47] In October 2020, she launched her own virtual educational content series, Icy University.[48]

As of March 2021, Saweetie has also launched a jewelry line, a capsule clothing collection (partnering with retailer PrettyLittleThing), and a co-branded makeup collection with cosmetics retailer Morphe.[49] Her other brand partnerships include her February 2021 Essenchills collection with Sinful Colors,[50][51][52][53] and the Saweetie Meal at McDonald's in August 2021.[54][55] Saweetie also expanded her appearances by hosting Culture Con 2021 for creatives of color[56][57][58] and making her television acting debut as the character Indigo in 3 episodes of Grown-ish.

In April 2021, Saweetie released the extended play Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1. It was supported by the singles "Risky", featuring Drakeo the Ruler, and "Talkin' Bout" by Loui, featuring Saweetie. On April 30, 2021, Saweetie collaborated with British girlgroup Little Mix to be featured on the remix version of its song "Confetti" with a video released the same day. The song peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart . On May 7, 2021, Saweetie released "Fast (Motion)" as the fourth single from Pretty Bitch Music.

In November 2021, Netflix released a sex-positive comedy special titled Sex: Unzipped in which Saweetie was the host.[59][60][61] On November 19, she released the single "Icy Chain" which she performed on Saturday Night Live the following day.[62] During her SNL debut, she also performed "Tap In" and "Best Friend".[63] "Icy Chain" will be included on Saweetie's upcoming EP titled Icy Season, which will be released on January 7, 2022. The project serves as a precursor to Pretty Bitch Music, which is expected to be released later in 2022.[64][65]

Personal life[]

Saweetie began dating American rapper Quavo of Migos in September 2018. They were first seen together during New York Fashion Week.[66] On March 19, 2021, Saweetie confirmed via social media that she and Quavo are no longer together. She also mentioned on social media that Quavo had been unfaithful, writing, "Presents don't band aid scars and the love isn't real when the intimacy is given to other women."[67][68] In late March, video footage surfaced showing the pair in a physical altercation that allegedly happened in 2020.[69]

Saweetie is a cousin-twice-removed of African-American actor Gabrielle Union.[70] Her grandfather, Willie Harper, played football for the San Francisco 49ers.[71]

Discography[]

Main article: Saweetie discography

Awards and nominations[]

Year Organization Work Award Results Ref.
2020 MTV Video Music Awards "Tap In" Song of Summer Nominated [72]
People's Choice Awards Herself The New Artist of 2020 Nominated [73]
BET Awards Best Female Hip Hop Artist Nominated [74]
2021 Nominated [75]
Billboard Music Awards Top Rap Female Artist Nominated [76]
MTV Video Music Awards Best New Artist Nominated [77]
"Best Friend" (featuring Doja Cat) Best Art Direction Won
UK Music Video Awards "Fast (Motion)" Best Pop Video – International Nominated [78]
BET Hip Hop Awards Herself Hustler of the Year Won [79]
"Best Friend" (featuring Doja Cat) Best Hip-Hop Video Nominated [80]
MTV Europe Music Awards Herself Best New Won [81]
American Music Awards Favourite Female Hip-Hop Artist Nominated [82]
People's Choice Awards Female Artist of the Year Nominated [83]
"Best Friend" (featuring Doja Cat) Collaboration Song of the Year Nominated [84]
2022 Grammy Awards Best Rap Song Pending [85]
Herself Best New Artist Pending

Filmography[]

Year Title Role Notes
2020 Wild 'n Out Herself Season 14, Episode 9
Guest Performer
2021–present Grown-ish Indigo 3 episodes
Credited as Diamonté Harper[86]
2021 Cooking With Paris Herself Season 1, Episode 2
Guest
2021 Saturday Night Live Herself Musical guest; Episode: "Simu Liu/Saweetie"[87]
2021 Sex: Unzipped Herself Host

References[]

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  2. ^ Ibile, Fagbo (November 3, 2021). "Diamonté Harper". CaliforniaBirthIndex.Org. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "GirlWithNoJob, Saweetie, & Cipha Sounds | You Don't Deserve to Be Verified! | #podSessions 1". YouTube. January 23, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  4. ^ "TUNESDAY: Icy Cool Facts About Saweetie, Femme MC On the Rise". Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "19 Facts You Need To Know About 'ICY GRL' Rapper Saweetie". Capital XTRA. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
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  7. ^ Williams, Marcel (November 13, 2017). "Bay Area MC Saweetie Talks "Icy Grl" & Social Media Fame". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
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  9. ^ Harper, Diamonte. "Monterey Trail High School Varsity Volleyball".
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  26. ^ [1][dead link]
  27. ^ a b "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
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  29. ^ "How Saweetie Is Keeping Up Momentum In Hip-Hop's 'Sink Or Swim' World". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  30. ^ "Saweetie Makes Hot 100 Debut, Is 7th Female Rap Act to Hit Chart in 2019 – The Most This Decade". Billboard. October 7, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  31. ^ My Type (feat. City Girls & Jhené Aiko) [Remix], August 23, 2019, retrieved August 5, 2020
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  33. ^ "Saweetie Just Launched A PrettyLittleThing Collection & It's Almost Sold Out". Bustle. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  34. ^ "This Runway Show Showed What Models with Different Body Types Look Like In the Same Outfits". InStyle.com. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  35. ^ Tap In, June 17, 2020, retrieved August 5, 2020
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  38. ^ "surpriiiiiiiiseeee