Bebe Rexha
Biography
Bleta "Bebe" Rexha, born in Brooklyn, New York on August 30, 1989, is an American singer and songwriter of Albanian descent. Her family moved to Staten Island when she was six. Rexha's musical talents emerged early; she played trumpet, guitar, and piano. During her high school years, she participated in choir and musicals. A significant early achievement was winning the "Best Teen Songwriter" award at the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences' "Grammy Career Day" event.
Career Beginnings
In 2010, Bebe Rexha joined Black Cards, an experimental electronic music project created by Fall Out Boy's bassist Pete Wentz. She served as the lead vocalist for the band before leaving in 2012 to pursue a solo career. In 2013, she signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records.
Songwriting and Breakthrough
Rexha first gained widespread recognition as a songwriter. She penned the Grammy Award-winning song "The Monster" for Eminem featuring Rihanna. She also co-wrote and was featured on several successful tracks, including "Hey Mama" with David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, and Afrojack, and "Me, Myself & I" with G-Eazy. Her debut solo single, "I Can't Stop Drinking About You," was released in 2014, followed by her first EP, "I Don't Wanna Grow Up," in 2015.
Solo Success and Collaborations
Rexha's career as a solo artist gained significant momentum with the release of her EPs "All Your Fault: Pt. 1" and "All Your Fault: Pt. 2" in 2017. These featured the singles "I Got You" and "The Way I Are (Dance with Somebody)". A major milestone in her career was the collaboration "Meant to Be" with the country duo Florida Georgia Line, which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut studio album, "Expectations," was released in 2018 and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, earning her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. She has since released the albums "Better Mistakes" (2021) and "Bebe" (2023). The latter included the worldwide hit "I'm Good (Blue)" with David Guetta.
Notable Achievements
Throughout her career, Bebe Rexha has accumulated numerous accolades. Her collaboration "Meant to Be" holds the record for the longest-reigning #1 song on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for a female lead artist. The song also won Top Country Song at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards and an ACM Award for Music Event of the Decade. Rexha has also received multiple awards from BMI and ASCAP for her songwriting.