Saweetie

in conversation with Samiyah Herbert

Saweetie, Tina Rudasingwa

From the gate, I’ve always thought Saweetie was that girl. I’m sure I’ve tweeted it before. Saweetie is the whole package—beauty, brains, talent, BLACK, and she has the personality of a boss ass bitch. With songs like “My Type” and “Tap In,” Saweetie provides Black women like myself with fun bops to throw ass and pop our shit to. Music isn’t her only  gift  though. Saweetie is also an entrepreneur and a professor to over 40,000 students at her own institution, Icy University, where she shares her knowledge on business, relationships, and how to be a pretty bitch.

 When Malcolm-Aimé first came to me about wanting to interview Saweetie for Blacks Rule back in August, I said yes with the impression that it would  never be happening. Two months later, at 2 in the morning while I was cornrowing my roommates hair, I got a series of “WAKE UP” texts and a phone call saying we got the interview. It was all happening. 

 I spoke with Saweetie on the phone, days before Halloween and she shared with me her hobbies, passions, and even gave me advice on getting through a breakup. I was anxious but all my anxiety went away once she did her first “I know das right!”

 This is an opportunity, a moment in history that I’ll never forget and nobody can ever say shit to me ever because I made Saweetie laugh, BITCHES!!!

Samiyah Herbert : I love your series on YouTube, The Icy Life. What made you want to give your fans a deeper insight into your life?

Saweetie: I feel like in this new day and age fans want to feel some level of connection to the artist that they're supporting. I was already documenting so much, I had all this footage I was sitting on. Fans would ask me to share videos of this and that. But, I'm not really a person that’s into going on live all the time or talking to the camera all the time. For me that's kind of weird, so I'm getting used to that. I feel like the most organic way for my fans to get some insight into my life was just by creating my own series. I always loved Kimora Lee Simmmons’ show, Growing Up In the Fab Lane, she kind of inspired the angle I’m taking with this reality series.

Are you aware of the impact that you have on Black women and how happy you make us and how much you inspire us?

At first, I didn't. But, now I do. The reason why I do The Icy Life series and the reason why I do Icy University is to show girls that look like me that they can do it too. I've been approached by some people who are interested in putting me on their network, but one thing that is missing is drama. To be honest, I don't have drama in my life like that. I feel like they put Black women in these reality series’ but there's always drama there. I want to show the world that as Black women, we handle our business. We're loving, we're articulate, we're so much more than just how, you know, reality TV shows us. Once I was aware that girls were looking up to me, I wanted to show them they could do it too.

I know das right!

Guuurl, I know das right!

What are you hoping your students take away from their Icy University experience?

For Icy University, I created classes around my most popular questions. Instead of  going on a rant on Twitter or doing a Q&A on Instagram, I wanted to give something timeless and something that my fans can always reference. I had a great village who raised me and people ask me a lot of questions. I'm just giving game that was given to me to my fans, supporters, and people who are interested in learning.

What are you listening to right now?

Girl, it really just depends on my mood. When I'm in, like, my super you know, Auntie Icy mode, I'm listening to like Isley Brothers, SOS Band, Chaka Khan, and Stevie Wonder. It's a vibe, it's always a vibe. I play music based on the weather, the light, who's around me, it's just always a vibe. I could easily put on, you know, some Naija music or I could easily put on some pop music or I could put on some Saweetie music. Or I can play some, you know, 2000s music. I love curating playlists. So it really just depends on my mood.

Oh, you need to drop a playlist.

Ooh, girl. I was thinking about that.

OK well, I'm letting you know I'm ready.

got moods for everything. You know what? I think after quarantine, I would love to try DJing, I think I can create a good vibe.

I want to talk about your nails, I love your style. Like, I love getting my nails done. When I get a fresh set? I feel like I'm the baddest bitch! Who's your nail artist?

I feel like a bomb nail set can make you feel confident. My nail technician’s name is Tamika, @customtnails1 on Instagram, she's been doing my nails for the past two years. 

A lot of people are invested in your relationship with Quavo. Is it hard for you to keep things private between the two of you?

It's very easy, Quavo and I are naturally two private people. But in the beginning, it was tough to keep us private because I was scared.

What were you scared of?

As a young female artist, especially a female rapper, they're always trying to put off our accolades and attribute it to a male. So, I didn't want all my hard work to be overlooked and to be credited to someone who I had just started dating. I tried to be as cautious as I could in the beginning.

Last week on IG live you were celebrating your new song, ‘Back to the Streets’ and you said,“If he not getting you a Birkin, if he not paying for your bills, then throw that nigga back to the streets.” People ran with that short clip and there was a lot of controversy. Do you want to clear that up?

I'm an entertainer and I’m here to entertain. I feel like it was taken out of context, I was just popping my shit and promoting my song. But, I wasn't offended by how people were taking it [and] how they were responding to me because they felt a way. Like Jay-Z said at the end of Ignorant Sh*t, “It's only entertainment,” and then he does this lil cynical laugh. If you know me and watched The Icy Life, you know that I have a sense of humor. I was playing, but there is some truth to that. I feel like a bag is symbolic for a great gift and depending on what your tax bracket is, I feel like women deserve to be spoiled. Women deserve to be treated like a queen and women deserve to be taken care of because we give life, we nurture, we're a good time and we look good. All I’m saying is respect your counterpart the way she respects you.

Yes, absolutely. I agree. How did you come up with the Birkin Bag Bratz? They’re so cute, they’re a ki.

I think I have only child syndrome.

Are you an only child?

I was an only child for about 12 years. When you're an only child you have to learn how to entertain yourself. I had imaginary friends, I had tea parties, I would do plays for my mom and skits and I'd play out multiple characters. I always had a really colorful imagination. 

Do they have names?

Only one of them is named. Her name is ChiChi. She's like the peachy pink one, she's the ringleader.

Are we gonna see more of them?

Yeah, but I think people are kind of over the Birkin bag conversation. So. they're kind of lowkey, but they will be making another appearance real soon.

I saw you on Instagram live with Omah Lay talking about the #EndSARS movement in Nigeria. It’s so necessary that Black American artists continue to amplify voices from Nigeria and all over Africa, we’re all connected. However, I feel like a lot of people didn’t expect that from you, because of your brand. Why was that important for you to help spread awareness?

I think it's surprising for people who don't know my brand. If you do know my brand you know I aim to educate and I aim to spread awareness, it’s why I started Icy University. I personally feel like it is my obligation to enlighten [my fans] of social issues because my grandmother was an activist and she would enlighten me as a child. I’ve always cared about social matters and while entertainment, beauty, and fashion serve as a form of escapism, I'm a real person who cares about real issues. 

Saweetie, Tina Rudasingwa

What was college life like for you and how do you implement your studies into your career?

College life was fun, stressful, and adventurous. I think  college life made me into a great businesswoman and into a great student, I'm always eager to learn.

You studied communications, right?

Communications and business. I think college helped me see the world in a different way. It was very uncomfortable for me. I went to a really prestigious university and not a lot of people on campus [looked] like me. So, it forced me to be comfortable in a situation where I was uncomfortable. I feel like every person who is striving to be in the business world, that's good for them because there's plenty of situations that aren't comfortable and you have to make yourself comfortable to make it work.

A lot of people on Twitter say you’re culture appropriating, that you glorify the hood even though you never grew up in it, and that because you went to a prestigious college, you have no right to represent the hood. Do you give that any attention?

I understand that because of who I'm related to, because I'm articulate, because I went to a prestigious university, which I fought to get into...I fought to get a lot of things in life. But, no one knows my background, no one knows how I was raised. So I don't understand how these false narratives are being attached. Because, if anybody knows me, when I'm doing that, that's like middle school and high school Saweetie, just with more money. For me, it's not a dress up. For me, it's just me. If anything, I felt like college stripped me of my identity, because I felt like I had to perform for classrooms, for my environment, and having to fit in with the kids who were privileged. I think privilege is another word that's also associated with my brand, which is also false. I am getting back to how I used to dress, if you know me, you know, this is just a more expensive version of Saweetie. It's not cosplay, it's not for fun, and it's not just for the look of it, it's just who I am.

Do you have any words for anybody that's in college right now? It's really difficult for a lot of people because it's all online. And I KNOW they're probably struggling a bit.

I would definitely say this is nothing like campus life. And if it is not something  they like, please continue until you're able to get that college experience. I feel like some of the best years of my life were my freshman and my sophomore year  of college. I think it's unfortunate that it has to be online, but if they don't like it, give it another try once, you know, campus life is open. 

I know you’ve said you like to draw and I know you said you make moodboards, and I've seen you painting on Instagram. But can we please see some of your work? I wanna see something...

[Laughs] So the issue with that painting is that I'm learning how to paint, it’s a lot of trial and error. It takes me so long; you have to sketch it and then paint on top of it. Once I get better at it I definitely will start sharing. Eventually I want to go down to--what's the thing in Miami?

Art Basel?

Yes! And I wanna showcase my art but it has to be like some fly like, “Wow." I just don't want to just to say I'm doing it like, it has to be fly.

For all the astrology girls who   want to know: could you please tell us your moon sign? PLEASE!?

[Laughs] Oh my gosh....it's  Sagittarius.

Oh my god. Okay. Do you know your rising?

Um, no. My glam [team] wanted to know what my rising was and they figured it out, or was it the moon? I don't know! Girl my fans kept asking me and I was like, “I don’t even know what that is.” 

Who's your favorite Disney Princess?

Oh my gosh, that is so hard. I loved all of them growing up, but I would say my favorite... my favorite... my favorite... I would have to say Mulan. That was my girl, she with the shits. She fights for her people, her family, her country, her village. So I think it was her because I really liked how strong she was. And I liked how she was kind of saving the day instead of somebody saving her. I liked how she disguised herself and then went into the Emperor city. And ,you know, popped up and saved the day. So definitely Mulan.

Oh, yeah, I loved what you did with the Destiny's Child [costume]. That was amazing. What made you want to do that?

Um, well, like I said, I got only child syndrome. My glam team knew that they could get me, so it was actually a combination of like all of our ideas, just trying to do something special for Halloween. I think I would have done it anyways, but it made sense. I love dressing up, I love reenacting songs that I wish were my songs, I love “Bootylicious,” and I love Destiny's Child.

Are you and Quavo gonna’ do a couples Halloween costume thing?

I don't know. I'm trying to convince him right now so we'll see, girl.

Convince him; tell him I said do it! Is there anything that you like to say to our Blacks Rule readers?

I would say for all the Icy Boys and all the Icy Girls who've been supporting me, thank you! I’m so excited to share this new music. I got new music, lip gloss, and a new fashion capsule on the way. Pretty Bitch Music is on the way but, you know, we're only getting started. And I'm so happy that everyone is loving the content.

“Back to the Streets” is the breakup anthem that we all needed. Can we expect more of that on Pretty Bitch Music? Like, more break up, more like "fuck him" type stuff? 

[Laughs again cuz Samiyah is a funny nigga] You know what? My goal [for everyone] is always to value yourself and get to the bag. So yes.  You can definitely hear more of that on Pretty Bitch Music. 

What was the inspiration behind ‘Back to the Streets’? 

I cope differently and I know that it's regular to be mad [and] to be sad when you break up. But, I wanted to take a different approach because I've broken up with people before and I have been happy about it. I feel like you should celebrate your independence again and you should celebrate getting somebody toxic out of your life. So,  it was just ,like, a great breakup song for getting back to yourself and sending that person who was wasting your time back to the streets.

Oh, I needed that. That is a word. Thank you.

Girl, cuz sometimes  not every breakup gotta be sad. Sometimes it's a good thing to get back to being single and focusing on yourself.