Sexyy Red
Biography
Janae Nierah Wherry, known professionally as Sexyy Red, was born on April 15, 1998, in St. Louis, Missouri. She first began rapping after her boyfriend cheated on her, leading her to write a diss track about the situation. Realizing she had a talent for it, she decided to pursue a career in music. Her stage name originated from the nickname "Red," which she got in middle school for dyeing her hair red. She later added "Sexyy" at the suggestion of her cameraman when she started releasing music.
Career Beginnings
Sexyy Red's first single, "Ah Thousand Jugs," was released in 2018 and sampled Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles." She continued to release music and build a local fanbase over the next few years. In 2021, she released her debut mixtape, "Ghetto Superstar." However, it was the release of her single "Pound Town" with producer Tay Keith in January 2023 that propelled her to mainstream fame. The song went viral on social media, particularly on TikTok.
Breakthrough Success
The success of "Pound Town" led to a remix titled "Pound Town 2" featuring Nicki Minaj, which was released in May 2023 and became Sexyy Red's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following this, she released her second mixtape, "Hood Hottest Princess," in June 2023. The mixtape included the successful single "SkeeYee." Both "Pound Town 2" and "SkeeYee" solidified her position as a rising star in the rap scene. She also gained significant attention for her collaborations with other artists, including features on remixes of songs by DaBaby, NLE Choppa, and Young Nudy. A major collaboration came later in 2023 with her feature on Drake's song "Rich Baby Daddy" alongside SZA, which became a top 20 hit.
Artistry and Image
Sexyy Red's music is often described as unapologetically raunchy, confident, and energetic. She has cited artists like Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, and Three 6 Mafia as influences. Her public image is characterized by her brazen and sexual lyrics and media presence. She has been referred to as the "Female Gucci Mane" and even has a song with that title. Despite the explicit nature of many of her songs, she rejects being narrowly categorized as a "pussy rap" artist.
Personal Life
Sexyy Red is a mother of two children. Her first child, a son named Chuckie, was born in 2020. She gave birth to her second child, a daughter, on February 5, 2024. Footage from the delivery room was featured in the music video for Drake's "Rich Baby Daddy." In August 2023, she disclosed that she had been a victim of rape. She has also expressed her intention to expand her career beyond music into fashion, beauty, and television.