My Type

"My Type" is an anthem of female empowerment, sexual liberation, and unapologetic materialism. The core message revolves around Saweetie defining her specific standards for a romantic partner, which are explicitly tied to wealth and physical attributes. She desires a 'rich nigga, eight-figure' man who is also well-endowed, referring to this with the line 'eight-inch big, ooh, that's good pipe.' However, the song's meaning extends beyond a simple checklist for a man. It's a declaration of her own success and self-worth. By stating her high standards, Saweetie positions herself as a 'boss tycoon' who has achieved her own wealth and status, and therefore seeks a partner who is her equal. The song flips the conventional hip-hop script, where male artists often boast about their wealth to attract women; here, Saweetie is the one setting the financial and physical terms of engagement, showcasing her agency and control. It’s a celebration of knowing your value and refusing to settle for anything less, all delivered with a confident and playful swagger.

The song is a bold declaration of the artist's standards and preferences, particularly in a romantic partner. She asserts her independence and success, making it clear she's not looking for just anyone, but a specific 'type' of man. This ideal partner is characterized by immense wealth, specified as having an 'eight-figure' income, and being physically well-endowed. The narrative is one of female dominance and sexual liberation, where she is in control of her desires and interactions. The artist presents herself as a 'boss tycoon,' someone who is already successful and paid on her own terms. This financial independence allows her to be selective and demand a partner who matches her level of success and can satisfy her physically.

Throughout the lyrics, she flexes her lavish lifestyle, mentioning a 'new wrist, new whip,' and 'Lamborghini keys,' which serve as markers of her own success and the kind of wealth she expects from a partner. There's a confrontational and competitive edge to her words as she dismisses other women ('basic hoes') and makes it clear she is not interested in another woman's man unless he meets her high standards. She flips the typical hip-hop narrative, which often features male rappers boasting about wealth and women, by placing herself in the position of power and laying out her criteria. The repetition of the chorus reinforces her unwavering standards. The tone is unapologetic and braggadocious, celebrating self-worth, sexual agency, and the pursuit of a luxurious lifestyle. It’s a powerful anthem about knowing what you want and not settling for less, all set against a high-energy, party-starting beat.

"My Type" was released as a single on June 11, 2019, and was featured on Saweetie's second major-label EP, Icy, which dropped earlier on March 29, 2019. The song was reportedly a last-minute addition to the EP. Saweetie explained she 'needed a slap' for the project that would get the party going.

The track was written by Saweetie (Diamonté Harper) and a team of songwriters, with production handled by London on da Track. A key element of the song's creation is its prominent sample of the 2004 crunk hit "Freek-a-Leek" by Petey Pablo, which was produced by Lil Jon. The distinctive, high-energy beat from "Freek-a-Leek" forms the foundation of "My Type," giving it an instant familiarity and party vibe. Saweetie noted her ability to 'flip these really big songs and make them my own.' The writers of "Freek-a-Leek," including Petey Pablo (Moses Barrett III) and Lil Jon (Jonathan Smith), are credited as songwriters on "My Type" due to the sample.

The music video, directed by Daps, was released on July 3, 2019. It was filmed in Saweetie's home region, the Bay Area, specifically in San Leandro, California, to showcase her background and local culture, including a 'sideshow' with drifting cars. The video features appearances by fellow Bay Area artists Kehlani and Kamaiyah. The song's popularity was significantly boosted by the viral #MyTypeChallenge on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where fans created dance videos to the track.

The rhyme and rhythm of "My Type" are central to its infectious, danceable quality.

Rhyme Scheme: The song primarily uses a simple, direct rhyme scheme, often relying on couplets (AABB) within its verses, which makes the lyrics memorable and impactful. For example: "New wrist, new whip, ride around dipped / I can see why all these basic hoes pissed." This straightforward structure enhances the clarity of her boasts and demands. There are also instances of internal rhyme that add to the flow, such as 'Nigga spending bread but he still can't hit.'

Rhythm and Meter: The song is built on the driving, up-tempo crunk beat sampled from "Freek-a-Leek." It has a tempo of around 105 BPM, perfect for dancing. Saweetie's lyrical rhythm works in tandem with the beat's syncopation. Her flow is confident and conversational, sometimes sitting right on the beat and at other times pulling back slightly, creating a laid-back but assertive swagger. The rhythm is not overly complex, prioritizing a strong, consistent pulse that makes the track a club and party anthem. The interplay between her vocal rhythm and the hard-hitting instrumental creates the song's signature 'slap' that Saweetie was aiming for.

"My Type" employs several stylistic techniques to create its confident and catchy appeal:

• Sampling: The most significant musical technique is the direct sampling of Petey Pablo's 2004 crunk hit "Freek-a-Leek". This immediately provides a familiar, high-energy foundation that leverages nostalgia while introducing it to a new audience. Saweetie herself has called sampling her 'specialty.'
• Braggadocio: A core literary technique of hip-hop, Saweetie uses braggadocio throughout the song, boasting about her wealth, appeal, and high standards. This is a deliberate flip of the male-dominated narrative in rap.
• Repetition & Ad-libs: The chorus is highly repetitive and catchy, drilling the song's central theme into the listener's head. Her use of ad-libs like 'Ah,' 'Uh, uh,' and '(Hahaha)' adds personality and punctuates her lines with a playful, confident energy.
• Direct Address and Rhetorical Questions: She uses direct address to speak to her rivals ('no the fuck I don't, sis') and poses rhetorical questions ('If he a rich nigga, why he still hitting licks?') to assert her superiority and critique others.
• Vocal Delivery: Saweetie's vocal performance is key. Her delivery is a mix of laid-back confidence and sharp, rhythmic precision. She flows over the crunk beat with an assertive but playful tone, embodying the 'icy' persona she's known for—cool, confident, and in control.
• Bay Area Slang and References: The song and video are infused with her Bay Area roots, from the overall 'hyphy' aesthetic of the video to referencing Bay Area legend Mac Dre in the lyrics, which grounds the track in her personal identity.

"My Type" became a significant cultural marker and Saweetie's mainstream breakthrough hit. Released in the summer of 2019, it became a veritable party anthem, dominating clubs and social media. The song's success was massively propelled by the #MyTypeChallenge, a viral dance trend on platforms like TikTok, Triller, and Instagram, which greatly expanded its reach.

The track marked Saweetie's first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 81 and eventually peaking at number 21. It also hit number 1 on the Rhythmic Radio charts. The song has been certified 4x platinum by the RIAA in the United States, signifying massive commercial success.

Its use of the "Freek-a-Leek" sample was widely recognized, creating a bridge between early 2000s crunk nostalgia and contemporary hip-hop. Saweetie even performed the song live with both Petey Pablo and Lil Jon at the 2019 BET Hip-Hop Awards, cementing this connection. The song's popularity led to several official remixes, including one featuring City Girls and Jhené Aiko, and a Latin remix with Becky G and Melii, further broadening its cultural footprint. The track solidified Saweetie's 'icy girl' brand and established her as a major artist capable of creating chart-topping, culturally resonant hits.

The lyrics of "My Type" are quite direct, but they employ financial and status symbols to build a larger metaphor for value and power.

• 'Eight-Figure': This isn't just a literal demand for a man with a net worth of over $10,000,000; it symbolizes a demand for a partner of a certain caliber, success, and power that matches her own. It establishes a baseline for ambition and achievement.
• 'Rich Nigga' / 'Lamborghini Keys': These phrases and images are recurring symbols of a luxury lifestyle. They function as a shorthand for success, power, and the high life she not only desires in a partner but also embodies herself. They represent a world of affluence that is her natural habitat.
• 'Bust down wrist, not a bust down bitch': This line is a powerful metaphor for her self-worth and independence. A 'bust down' watch is one covered in diamonds, a symbol of wealth. She contrasts this with being a 'bust down bitch,' a derogatory term. The metaphor asserts that while she enjoys luxury (the watch), she is not an object to be bought or controlled; her value is inherent.
• Basketball Theme in Music Video: The music video features Saweetie twerking on a basketball hoop. This can be seen as symbolic. Basketball players often fit the physical ('tall') and financial ('rich') descriptions in the song. Her dancing on the hoop symbolizes her dominance and playful control in this arena of men who fit her 'type.'

Several key phrases and motifs are repeated in "My Type" to emphasize its central themes and enhance its memorability.

• 'That's my type': This is the central recurring phrase and the song's title. Its constant repetition in the chorus acts as the song's thesis statement, drilling home the theme of having specific, high standards. It’s a confident affirmation of her preferences.
• 'Rich nigga, eight-figure': This motif, directly paired with 'that's my type,' defines the primary criterion for her ideal partner. Its recurrence underscores the unapologetic materialism and demand for a partner who is her financial equal.
• 'Good pipe': This explicit phrase is another key part of the chorus and serves as the physical counterpart to the financial requirement. Its repetition highlights the song's theme of sexual liberation and the artist's ownership of her desires.
• 'Icy': While not in the lyrics of "My Type," the 'Icy' motif is central to Saweetie's entire brand and the EP the song comes from. Being 'icy' is a mentality of being a hustler, a go-getter, and confident. "My Type" serves as a perfect musical embodiment of this 'icy' philosophy, where luxury, confidence, and coolness converge.