Saweetie Knows Exactly What She Wants

Saweetie is no stranger to pressure. She has set the bar high for herself her whole life and, since the release of her multi-platinum debut single “Icy Grl” in 2017, the music industry and the internet have done the same. Eight years later, the self-proclaimed Icy Girl is using the pressure to usher in what she calls her Diamond Era.

“That’s what a diamond is,” she says, video-calling from a hotel room between two flights. “Something that shines under pressure. It’s not easy, but once you get through it, you’re like, ‘Damn, bitch, I’m shining and I'm shining bright.’”

After taking a step back from the public eye, Saweetie returned full throttle in 2024. Over the last twelve months, she released the self-funded, venomous “IMMORTAL FREESTYLE,” the flirty radio hit “NANi,” the Jill Scott-sampling “Is It the Way,” and a pair of Christmas singles (“As the Icy Girl, it was only right,” she says of her foray into holiday music). She collaborated with Shygirl, LL Cool J, and Muni Long. She partnered with fashion giant Forever 21 to design a capsule collection inspired by her signature persona. She was honored with awards from both Billboard and Live Nation’s Femme It Forward. The list goes on, and she has no plan to slow down.

Between 2019 and 2021, Saweetie followed up “Icy Grl” with a string of platinum singles, including the top-twenty hits “Tap In” and “Best Friend,” featuring Doja Cat, which were intended to launch her first full-length album. As she raked up followers, she also became a magnet for brands, landing high-profile collaborations with McDonald’s, MAC Cosmetics, Calvin Klein, and Crocs, among others.

Success was sweet but double-edged. “The industry and the internet were hard on me in the beginning of my career. I trended every other week for something negative,” she says of the intense and often vitriolic scrutiny she faced over everything from her sound and career choices to her looks and relationships. “It was hurtful at times, but it’s made me a lot tougher. The trials and tribulations, the wins and losses, they molded me into the artist I am today.”

Her rise was fast, and she wanted to seize every opportunity. “I’m a Sagittarius moon, which means I want to learn everything, I want to do everything, I want to conquer everything. You can’t do that,” she reflects, clear-eyed. “You need to put your focus and attention on one thing that can eventually become a platform for other things.”

As her projects multiplied, music was forced to take a backseat. “There just wasn’t enough time in my schedule to properly record because I had so many brand deals, so many shoots, so many shows. There was no time for me to figure out where I was going with my music.” As a result, her debut album, originally titled Pretty Bitch Music and due for release in 2021, has yet to drop.

So she pressed pause. After years of nonstop action, she halted her own momentum in order to resume, later, with more intention. “My brand became so big that it began to overshadow my music. I became more known for my content, and that’s not the reason why I'm here,” she explains. “Yes, I’m the content queen. Yes, I love creating æsthetics, photos, and videos that inspire people. But the reason why I’m here is music.”

Many questioned her retreat from always-on visibility. “People thought I was hiding. They thought I wasn’t interested in music anymore,” she shrugs, referencing the response to her album delays. “But sometimes you have to get yourself together to pop out stronger.” As she is quick to point out: “In today’s world, if you’re not posting, you’re not working. And it’s like, ‘No, bitch, I’m at the studio. I’m working more than ever.’”

The time she reclaimed, she dedicated to her craft: developing her vision, reflecting on her message, and challenging herself. “I learned that I hated being vulnerable. I noticed that when I would get to certain points of my stories, it was hard for me to express myself. As an artist, that was an issue,” she observes. “I really had to ask myself why I felt that way. The process of becoming more vulnerable and addressing certain traumas head-on instead of sweeping them under the rug helped me get more in touch with my feelings. It made me realize I’ve had my guard up so high, for so long.”

Being able to protect that period of time when even those closest to her—those helping her succeed—wanted something else from her is not something she takes lightly. “I did put myself first,” she remarks. “That’s why I’m so proud of myself now.”

Cut to “IMMORTAL FREESTYLE,” the London on da Track-produced loosie she dropped at the top of 2024. In stark contrast to the hooky earworms she is best known for, the track reintroduced Saweetie with take-no-prisoners bravado and more than a few clapbacks. “It was a response to those that said, ‘Saweetie’s not here anymore.’ I’m here. I’m going to live forever, baby,” she says of what the release symbolized to her. “That was one for everyone who goes through it and always rises above their circumstances, always rises to the occasion, no matter what.”

It carried extra weight for her fans, who know that, nine times out of ten, Saweetie takes the high road, not the bait. On her inclination to ignore the noise, she reasons: “There are two ways to look at it. Spiritually, I never want to bring myself down from the higher frequency that I’ve worked so hard to get to only to address something so low-vibrational. That’s one way to look at it.” Then, smiling: “Another way is—the money’s watching. These brands are legacy brands. They’ve been here for decades, and they’re going to be here in decades. They want to work with somebody they can trust, who’s responsible, who understands the value of public image,” she continues. “That’s why I keep it cute and I keep it classy. Either way you look at it, it keeps me grounded.”

That kind of business savvy is not surprising from Saweetie, who holds a communications degree from USC and is often called hip-hop’s brand queen. “I’m happy to be recognized that way, because it lets me know that I’m doing something right,” she says, before adding, deferentially: “I do want to give a thank you to Rihanna for paving the road for women of color to have a brand based off of personality. She kicked down a lot of doors. I’m happy that I’m able to be myself and still be recognized, supported, and in partnership with a lot of brands. Before Rihanna, I feel like we had to play by the rules a lot more—but she’s a rule-breaker.”

Her next orders of business: first, music; then, acting.

The year’s priority is finishing and releasing her long-awaited full-length debut. As a prelude, her 2024 output gave fans a taste of the fresh eclecticism inspiring her lately. Asked if she views any of those releases—from her collaboration with club-pop innovator Shygirl to the softer aura of “NANi”—as a step outside of her comfort zone, she demurs. “I’m just showing the world different pieces of who I am. To those who know me, nothing I do is out of the ordinary because I've been spontaneous since I was a kid,” she notes. “So, no, I don’t really see it as going into worlds that I wouldn’t have gone into before. I see it as going into worlds that I’ve been wanting to go into.”

She credits her collaborators for the chance to do so. “By the grace of other artists, I’ve been able to try it. That’s why I love doing features. Like, if I ever do a feature—well,” she interrupts herself, biting her tongue. “Let me correct myself. From this year on,” she clarifies, “I’ll only do a feature if I see a piece of myself living in that energy and in that frequency. If I don’t, I’m not going to force it. I have before and I gave myself the ick.”

She also has a writing credit on Muni Long’s Grammy-nominated Revenge, which she attempted to keep under the radar until eagle-eyed fans took notice. “When it’s time for me to shine, it’s time for me to shine. But when it’s time for me to support the person that’s shining, I can play that role,” she says of her choice to lay low. “She put out such a great project, and I’m so happy to be a part of it. When we worked on the song, we really created a bond and got vulnerable. I love that song, and it’s so nice to see her get her flowers.”

Another surprise on her résumé is the growing list of acting credits, including guest spots on Grown-ish, Bel Air, and Starz’s BMF—a fact she beams about when given the opportunity to discuss. “I’ve always wanted to be an actress,” she explains. “But I knew I couldn’t conquer both at the same time, so I picked music.” She traces her interest back to childhood: “My mother was an aspiring actress, and I remember helping her run lines before auditions when I was, like, eight or nine. She was my first favorite actress.”

As with everything, Saweetie has big goals for her acting career: “I’m trying to get an action role,” she manifests. “If I get a superhero job, I won’t turn it down, but I’d rather be a supervillain. I’m a sports girlie, so I could probably do my own stunts.”

“Plus, with all that training, my body’s going to be looking bomb,” she laughs, headed to her next flight. “DC, Marvel, call me!”

Read this story and many more in print by ordering CERO 9 here. Saweetie has selected Somebody's Mama, which strengthens mother-child relationships through movement, art, mindfulness, and community support, as the recipient of proceeds from direct sales of CERO 9.