Saweetie
Biography
Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper, known professionally as Saweetie, is an American rapper and songwriter born on July 2, 1993, in Santa Clara, California. Her father is African-American, and her mother is of Filipina-Chinese descent. She grew up in the Bay Area, primarily in Hayward and Sacramento. Her stage name was a nickname given to her by her grandmother. Saweetie is related to a few notable figures; actress Gabrielle Union is her first cousin once-removed, and her grandfather, Willie Harper, played for the San Francisco 49ers.
Education
After graduating from Monterey Trail High School in Elk Grove, Saweetie attended San Diego State University before transferring to the University of Southern California (USC). She graduated from USC in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis on business. After completing her degree, she decided to focus on her music career.
Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
Saweetie began writing music at the age of 13 and started posting short rap videos on her Instagram account in 2016. Her career took off when her freestyle over the beat of Khia's "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" went viral. This freestyle evolved into her debut single, "Icy Grl," which she released on SoundCloud in the summer of 2017. The song's success and its viral music video, which amassed millions of views, brought her to the attention of producer Max Gousse, who became her manager. This led to her signing a record deal with Warner Records and her own label, Icy Records.
Musical Success
In March 2018, Saweetie released her debut EP, "High Maintenance." The single "Icy Grl" was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA. Her second EP, "Icy," was released in March 2019 and featured the hit single "My Type." "My Type" became her first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 21. She followed this success with other popular singles, including "Tap In" (2020) and "Best Friend" (2021) featuring Doja Cat, both of which reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Best Friend" earned a Grammy nomination. Her debut album, "Pretty Bitch Music," has been anticipated for release.
Other Ventures
Business and Fashion
Saweetie has ventured into the business world with several brand partnerships and collaborations. In 2019, she collaborated with PrettyLittleThing for a clothing collection. She has also been the face of KISS Colors' edge fixer glue, launched her own jewelry line, and created a makeup collection with Morphe. Notably, she partnered with McDonald's for the "Saweetie Meal" in August 2021.
Acting
Expanding her career into acting, Saweetie made her debut in the third season of the TV series "Grown-ish" as the character Indigo. She has also expressed a desire to pursue more acting roles, with aspirations of playing a supervillain. Saweetie has also had roles in "Bel-Air" and the animated series "Velma," and is set to appear in "BMF".