Bay Area native Saweetie is hip-hop through and through. She burst onto the rap scene in late 2017 when she declared herself an "Icy Grl" on her debut single. Since then, the 30-year-old has dropped four EPs (2018's "High Maintenance," 2019's "Icy," 2021's "Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1," and 2022's "The Single Life") and a handful of hit tracks and graced festival and award show stages — all before the arrival of her debut album. She previously told POPSUGAR she wants the long-awaited LP to be "a masterpiece." While her fans await the next chapter of her rap career, Saweetie reflects on 50 years of hip-hop and her love for the culture.
What does hip-hop mean to you?
I feel like hip-hop is our culture put into a song, a great way to express yourself. I fell in love with hip-hop because I was writing poetry at first, and once I realized that hip-hop was just basically poetry over a beat, that's when I was like, "OK, I'm going to be a rapper." And my mom was like, "Girl, you better go to college."
"I think it's just crazy that it's 50 years in, and I'm so happy to be alive for this moment."
What's the most profound thing about hip-hop celebrating 50 years of influence?
I think it's just crazy that it's 50 years in, and I'm so happy to be alive for this moment. I remember when I first fell in love with hip-hop and I went down a rabbit hole. I did an interview with Roxanne Shanté, and I was just telling her, thanking her for paving the way because women like her who have came before us are the reason why we're here in the first place. So it's just an exciting time: the big 5-0.
Who are some women in hip-hop you look up to? Why?
Well, when I was growing up, my mom loved Lauryn Hill. She loved Lil' Kim, Foxy [Brown]. When I was a teenager, I loved Trina. Her song just puts you in the best mood. And then I remember LimeWire, girl. I ruined the family computer downloading Nicki Minaj songs from her mixtape. But I love Nicki. I loved her mixtapes, and it's just so great to see her continue to keep going and still be the queen that she is.
