Saweetie | |
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| Born | Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper (1993-07-02)July 2, 1993 (age 32) Santa Clara, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California (BA)[1] |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2016–present |
| Relatives | Willie Harper (grandfather) Josh Harper (uncle) MC Hammer (uncle)[2] Gabrielle Union (cousin) Zaytoven (cousin)[2] |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Hip-hop |
| Labels |
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| Website | saweetie |
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Musical artist | |
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Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper[3] (born July 2, 1993),[4] known professionally asSaweetie (/səˈwiːti/; also pronounced as simply "sweetie"), is an American rapper, singer and actress. Her 2017 debut single, "Icy Grl", receiveddouble platinum certification by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and led her to sign withWarner Records in a joint venture with her then-manager Max Gousse's record label, Artistry Worldwide.
Her debut extended play (EP),High Maintenance (2018) was met with lukewarm reception and failed to chart. Her second,Icy (2019) moderately entered theBillboard 200 and spawned the single "My Type", which marked her first entry—at number 21—on theBillboard Hot 100 and receivedquadruple platinum certification by the RIAA. Her 2020 single, "Tap In" and her 2021 single, "Best Friend" (featuringDoja Cat), both peaked within the chart's top 20, and are preceding the release of her forthcoming debut studio album,Pretty Bitch Music. At the64th Annual Grammy Awards, the latter song earned a nomination forBest Rap/Sung Performance, while Harper herself was nominated forBest New Artist.
Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper was born on July 2, 1993, inSanta Clara, California, to formervideo vixen Trinidad Valentin, who is of Filipina and Chinese descent,[5] and Johnny Harper, who is African American.[6][7] She grew up inHayward[8] and later inSacramento, attendingMerrill F. West High School inTracy[9] and graduating fromMonterey Trail High School inElk Grove.[10][11][12][13] She began writing music at age 13. After high school, she attendedSan Diego State University, where she studied communication and business before transferring to theUniversity of Southern California, where she completed her degree and received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication.[14] After graduating in 2016, she began to focus on her rap career.[2][15][12]
Saweetie began posting clips of her freestyles to herInstagram account in 2016. One video featured her rapping over the beat from fellow female rapperKhia's "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)", which eventually became "Icy Grl".[10][12] The song was released on herSoundCloud in the summer of 2017 and brought her to the attention of Max Gousse, a well-known producer and A&R executive, who became her manager.[16][17][12] The video went viral online, accruing 100 million views onYouTube as of June 2020.[2][12]
That same month, Saweetie released a freestyle rap, "High Maintenance", accompanied by a short clip of herself rapping a verse to the song, which also went viral on Instagram andTwitter.[17][12] In October 2017, she released a video for her song "Focus", which samplesDRAM's "Gilligan".[18]
In January 2018, Saweetie was namedTidal's Artist of the Week and one ofPigeons & Planes's Best New Artists of the Month.[19] DuringSuper Bowl LII in February 2018, she was featured in an ad forRihanna's cosmetic company, Fenty Beauty.[20] That month, she signed to Warner Bros. Records (since May 2019Warner Records) and Gousse's record label, Artistry Worldwide.[2][21][22]
I do a lot of covers but this is the first time I'm actually doing original content. I leave the studio and I come home wanting to listen to really myself.
In February 2018, Saweetie launched her own record label, Icy Records.[23][24][25]
Saweetie released her major label debut EP,High Maintenance, on March 16, 2018. It has nine tracks and was produced byCashMoneyAP, Nyrell and Saweetie's cousin,Zaytoven.[26][27][28] The single "Icy Girl" was certifiedGold in June 2018, for sales of 500,000 in the U.S.[29] In September 2019, the single was certifiedRIAA multi-platinum and reached No. 1 onBillboard's rhythmic songs airplay chart.[30][31]
Saweetie released her second major label EP album,Icy, on March 29, 2019. Its first single, "My Type", written by Saweetie and produced byLondon on da Track, samples the 2004 song "Freek-a-Leek" byPetey Pablo. Debuting on theBillboard Hot 100 at number 81 on the charts, It was Saweetie's first song to enter theBillboard Hot 100.[32] "My Type" peaked at number 21, becoming Saweetie's first top-40 hit on theBillboard Hot 100.[33] A remix of the song featuringJhené Aiko andCity Girls was released on August 23, 2019.[34] "My Type" hit number 1 on the Rhythmic Radio charts in September 2019 and was later certified double platinum in the U.S.[30][35]
In September 2019, Saweetie collaborated withPrettyLittleThing to launch a 59-piece clothing collection, PrettyLittleThing x Saweetie. She said the theme of thecapsule was "aboujie rich girl enjoying the finer things in life. I want to show the boys and girls that if you hustle hard your work will pay off."[36] It debuted duringNew York Fashion Week.[37] Saweetie appeared on VH1'sNick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out on January 28, 2020, as a guest performer, performing "My Type".
Saweetie released the lead single, "Tap In", from her upcoming debut album,Pretty Bitch Music, on June 20, 2020.[38] The single peaked at number 20 on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming her first top-20 single and her first song to enter theUK Singles Chart, peaking at number 38. In September 2020, the single reached number one onMediabase's Urban Radio Chart as well as the Billboard xTriller US and Global charts.[39] The track was Saweetie's second single to reach Billboard's Hot 100.[40] In August 2020, Saweetie released aremix of the single, "Tap in Remix", that featured rappersPost Malone,DaBaby andJack Harlow.[41] This was followed by the promotional single "Pretty Bitch Freestyle" on July 2, 2020.[42]
On July 31, 2020, Saweetie appeared alongside American rapperTay Money on the song "Bussin 2.0", with a music video premiering the same day.[43] On August 6, 2020, she was featured onAva Max's song, "Kings & Queens, Pt. 2", alongsideLauv. On October 23, 2020, she released "Back to the Streets" (featuringJhené Aiko), which serves as the second single fromPretty Bitch Music.[44] The album's third single, "Best Friend" (featuringDoja Cat), was released on January 7, 2021.[45]
In 2020, Saweetie was added toForbes'30 Under 30 Music list andVariety's Hitmakers Impact list.[46] In March 2020, she embarked on her first beauty collaboration by becoming the face of the KISS Colors edge fixer glue in the Edge Fixer Glued x Saweetie collection.[47][48][49] In October 2020, she launched her ownvirtual educational content series, Icy University.[50]
As of March 2021, Saweetie has also launched ajewelry line, a capsule clothing collection (partnering with retailerPrettyLittleThing), and a co-branded makeup collection with cosmetics retailer Morphe.[51] Her other brand partnerships include her February 2021 Essenchills collection withSinful Colors,[52][53][54][55] and the Saweetie Meal atMcDonald's in August 2021.[56][57] Saweetie also expanded her appearances by hosting Culture Con 2021 for creatives of color[58][59][60] and making her television acting debut as the character Indigo in 3 episodes ofGrown-ish.
In April 2021, Saweetie released the extended playPretty Summer Playlist: Season 1. It was supported by the singles "Risky" (featuringDrakeo the Ruler) and "Talkin' Bout" by Loui, featuring Saweetie. On April 30, 2021, Saweetie collaborated with British girl groupLittle Mix to be featured on the remix version of its song "Confetti" with a video released the same day. The song peaked at number nine on theUK Singles Chart . On May 7, 2021, Saweetie released "Fast (Motion)" as the fourth single fromPretty Bitch Music.
In November 2021,Netflix released a sex-positive comedy special titledSex: Unzipped in which Saweetie was the host.[61][62][63] On November 19, she released the single "Icy Chain" which she performed onSaturday Night Live the following day.[64] During her SNL debut, she also performed "Tap In" and "Best Friend".[65] In January 2022, Saweetie appeared as the star ofMAC Cosmetics' "Challenge Accepted" campaign alongsideCher.[66]
On November 18, 2022, Saweetie released her fourth EP,The Single Life, which sold 2,000 units within its first week. The EP was preceded by the single "Don't Say Nothin'", which was posted just hours ahead of the project's release.[67][68]
In July 2023, it was announced that Saweetie would co-headline a tour withYG andTyga for the west coast and Canada.[69] It was announced on September 12, 2023 that the tour was canceled.
On May 30, 2024, Saweetie made a surprise appearance for Japanese female professional wrestling league Sukeban during their Los Angeles stop. Saweetie waved to the crowd and valeted the Harajuku Stars coming out to her song "Nani."[70]
On August 1, 2024, Saweetie's music video for her single "My Best" was uploaded onto YouTube, which was shot in her old high school and directed by herself.[71]
Saweetie is the first cousin once-removed of actressGabrielle Union.[72] Her grandfatherWillie Harper, played football for theSan Francisco 49ers and her uncleJosh Harper played football most notably for theFresno State Bulldogs.[73]
Saweetie began dating fellow rapperQuavo of the groupMigos in September 2018. They were first seen together during theNew York Fashion Week.[74] On March 19, 2021, Saweetie confirmed via social media that she and Quavo were no longer together. She also mentioned on social media that Quavo had been unfaithful, writing "Presents don't band aid scars and the love isn't real when the intimacy is given to other women."[75][76] In late March 2021, video footage surfaced showing the pair in a physical altercation that allegedly happened in 2020.[77]
Since 2025, Saweetie has been in a relationship with English footballerJadon Sancho.[78]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Eric Andre Show | Herself | Season 5, Episode 2 |
| Wild 'n Out | Season 14, Episode 9 Guest Performer | ||
| 2021 | Grown-ish | Indigo | 3 episodes Credited as Diamonté Harper[80] |
| Cooking with Paris | Herself | Season 1, Episode 2 Guest | |
| Nickelodeon's Unfiltered | Episode: "Poppin' Starfish & Rockin' Roaches!" | ||
| Saturday Night Live | Musical guest; Episode: "Simu Liu/Saweetie"[81] | ||
| Sex: Unzipped | Host | ||
| Respectfully Justin | Guest | ||
| 2023 | Bel-Air | Season 2, Episode 1 | |
| Selling Sunset | Season 6, Episode 9 | ||
| Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop | 4 episodes | ||
| That's My Jam | Herself/Guest | Along withKeke Palmer,Joel McHale,will.i.am | |
| 2024 | The Voice | Herself/Guest mentor | Guest mentor to TeamDan + Shay onseason 25 |
| The Jennifer Hudson Show | Herself | Episode: “Saweetie” | |
| Velma | Herself (voice) | Episode: “This Halloween Need to Be More Special!” | |
| Dinner Time Live with David Chang | Herself/Guest | Episode: "The Epic Combos Menu" | |
| A Great Day with J Balvin | Herself | Episode: “Net Gains with Saweetie” | |
| 2025 | Idiotka[82] | Candy |
| Year | Organization | Work | Award | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | MTV Video Music Awards | "Tap In" | Song of Summer | Nominated | [83] |
| People's Choice Awards | Herself | The New Artist of 2020 | Nominated | [84] | |
| BET Awards | Best Female Hip Hop Artist | Nominated | [85] | ||
| 2021 | Nominated | [86] | |||
| Billboard Music Awards | Top Rap Female Artist | Nominated | [87] | ||
| MTV Video Music Awards | Best New Artist | Nominated | [88] | ||
| "Best Friend"(featuringDoja Cat) | Best Art Direction | Won | |||
| UK Music Video Awards | "Fast (Motion)" | Best Pop Video – International | Nominated | [89] | |
| BET Hip Hop Awards | Herself | Hustler of the Year | Won | [90] | |
| "Best Friend"(featuringDoja Cat) | Best Hip-Hop Video | Nominated | [91] | ||
| MTV Europe Music Awards | Herself | Best New | Won | [92] | |
| American Music Awards | Favourite Female Hip-Hop Artist | Nominated | [93] | ||
| People's Choice Awards | Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | [94] | ||
| "Best Friend"(featuringDoja Cat) | Collaboration Song of the Year | Nominated | [95] | ||
| 2022 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap Song | Nominated | [96] | |
| Herself | Best New Artist | Nominated | |||
| Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Breakthrough Artist | Nominated | [97] | ||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding New Artist | Won | [98] | ||
| "Best Friend" | Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Hiphop/Rap Song | Nominated |
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