The Real Reason Saweetie Got Famous
Saweetie has come a long way since her breakout single ICY GRL. She recently hosted MTV’s EMAs and performed on Saturday Night Live in the same month. She was also nominated in two categories in the 2022 Grammy Awards — her first-ever Grammy nomination three years after her first hit came out. Of course, these triumphs are not without controversies, especially when it comes to her personal life. An example would be her tumultuous relationship with her ex-boyfriend Quavo.
But despite being linked to Lil Baby these days, the young rapper seems to have her career as top priority. In the last year, she's also acquired partnerships with McDonald’s, Mac Cosmetics, and Crocs — Get It Girl, right? It's truly amazing how much she's accomplished under five years in the mainstream biz. But how did she actually start? Here's everything we know about Saweetie's journey to stardom.
First Things First: What Is Saweetie's Real Name?
Born Diamonte Quiava Valentin Harper to a Filipino Chinese mother and African American father, Saweetie's stage name is actually a nickname given to her by her grandmother who witnessed her promising musical talent at an early age. She reportedly began writing music and poems at the age of 14. She did open mics, joined talent shows, and pursued rap while studying and working three jobs.
Determined to make it in the industry, she started recording songs using her phone when she was 15. She even filmed music videos. After graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in communication and business, Saweetie decided to focus on her music aspirations. She moved to Los Angeles to build a reputation as a freestyle rapper. In 2016, she began gaining traction on her Instagram where she would post short clips of her rapping.
How Did Saweetie Get Famous?
An Instagram video of Saweetie rapping over Khia's My Neck, My Back (Lick It) went viral in 2016. Soon it became a single called ICY GRL and was released on Soundcloud in the same year. Its official music video currently has over 120 million views on YouTube. Because of such good reception, the overnight sensation released an EP in early 2018 called High Maintenance. For three good years, Saweetie would experience tons of success from that single. At the height of her song's popularity, she earned Tidal's Artist of the Week and Pigeons & Planes' Best New Artist of the Month.
She eventually landed a record deal with Warner Records and Artistry Worldwide which is owned by her manager, Max Gousse — the producer and A&R executive who discovered her through her viral track. In June 2018, ICY GRL received a Gold Certificate for making more than half a million sales in the US. The following year, it received an RIAA multi-platinum certificate and reached #1 on Billboard's rhythmic songs airplay chart. Saweetie released her second EP in the same year. Its first track My Type peaked at #21 on Billboard's Hot 100. It was her first entry on the list's Top 40.
What Saweetie Has Said About Her Recent Successes
In a recent interview with Billboard, Saweetie shared what it felt to be nominated in two major Grammy categories. She said she was "caught off guard" but feels like "everything is falling into place as it should be." The rapper revealed that she woke up to the good news. "I think we’ve been working really hard," she added. "[2021] is the year I think I’ve worked the hardest and not just out of my career but in my years of being on the Earth. So to be acknowledged is very gratifying after a year of hard work."
When asked about her business ventures, Saweetie said that she's particularly proud of her collaboration with Mcdonald's. "I’ve loved McDonald's ever since I was a little kid," she gushed. "They’re a top 10 food chain franchise that’s known globally, and the fact that I was an ambassador just opened so many doors for me. So I was grateful for the experience. You don’t see a lot of people doing it — and I was the first woman, at that." Indeed, Saweetie has been making history in almost every move.
Her Grammy nomination is part of a big win for the Filipino community. Other Filipino-American artists like Olivia Rodrigo, H.E.R., and Bruno Mars have all received multiple nominations as well. "It was such a major win, because you don’t see a lot of Filipino artists in hip-hop or R&B," Saweetie said of the achievement. "I think that it’s great that we celebrate our culture so that people who are of our blood, look like us and come from where we come from as far as origin goes know that they can do it too. Representation is really important — and I’m glad that was actually highlighted because I saw a couple of articles [about it]. I was pleased with that."
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