R&B/Hip-Hop

Sexyy Red joined Billboard on Instagram Threads on Wednesday (Dec. 6) to speak about the success of “Pound Town 2,” enlisting Nicki Minaj for the song’s remix, touring with Drake, and the deluxe version of her second mixtape, Hood Hottest Princess. 

The burgeoning St. Louis representative has gained traction for her salacious lyrics, swaggering records, and “I Don’t Give a F–k” persona. See what Sexyy had to say below during her conversation with Billboard on Threads. 

On the Success of “Pound Town”:

What started as a freestyle became a breakthrough for Sexxy Red when she released “Pound Town” last January. After receiving numerous cosigns, the song’s explosion put her on the map and became viral gold on TikTok.

“I think it’s because the song is catchy and its real life sh-t. We done all been to pound town before, so I think its just a fun way of talking about it,” she revealed. “I feel like Nicki also matched my energy of what it means to go to pound town on her verse, so it was fire.”

On Working With Nicki Minaj: 

After the scorching success of her viral single “Pound Town,” Red enlisted the rap’s original Barbie, Nicki Minaj for the song’s remix. Minaj had kind words for Sexxy, saying last May on Instagram Live: “This is only the f–king beginning for her. This is what I told her. Yo, people like you. People like what you have to say, they like your sound. So, make sure a whole bunch of people aren’t coming around trying to help you do this and help you do that.”

“It was such a good experience! She’s a sweet person, and you can really tell she’s really serious about her music,” Sexxy said on Threads. “She gave me some of the best advice that I know I’ll always come back to. I really appreciate her for being supportive and kind.”

On Joining Drake & SZA For “Rich Baby Daddy”: 

Courtesy of her sizzling features, Sexxy’s stock skyrocketed and caught Drake’s attention, so much so that the 6 God brought her to open up on the remaining legs of his It’s All a Blur Tour. Following the trek, Sexyy joined Drake and SZA for Drizzy’s For All the Dogs standout, “Rich Baby Daddy.” Sexyy’s titillating hook and fun energy made the song a magnetic bop. 

“Me and Drake already was cool ever since he brought me on his tour,” she said. “We talked about doing songs then he put SZA on it.”

On Releasing Her Hood Hottest Princess Deluxe Project:

Last June, Sexyy released Hood Hottest Princess, which featured her Hot 100 singles “Pound Town 2” and “Skeeyee.” After receiving acclaim for her latest mixtape, Sexyy upped the ante and returned with the project’s deluxe version featuring Summer Walker, Chief Keef, and more. 

“If people thought the first one was lit, they gonna love this deluxe! I love it bc I got to collab with some people that I’ve always wanted to work wit. It’s just fun and I’m sure that everyone is gonna be rockin wit it!”

In a preview clip for the Recording Academy’s upcoming “A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop,” rap pioneer Big Daddy Kane succinctly sums up the evening’s significance: “This night is something special. You get to see so many generations of hip-hop artists on one stage. That shows unity, and I think it’s beautiful.”

When the telecast airs this Sunday (Dec. 10) at 8:30 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+, viewers will see and hear for themselves just how special a night it was. Over the course of two hours, a who’s who of rap legends, DJs and next-gen stars numbering close to 60 — from Roxanne Shanté, De La Soul, Too $hort, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Common to Nelly, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Gunna, Latto, GloRilla and more in between — came together to rap their way through a 50-year refresher course/living history lesson for OG and current fans alike. Or what the Recording Academy is billing as a “once-in-a-lifetime live concert special.”

Of course, two hours isn’t long enough to fully encompass all of rap’s trailblazing artists, legacy-building moments and cultural impact. That’s something the special’s host and executive producer LL COOL J addressed in his opening remarks during the taping of the special at Hollywood Park’s YouTube Theater in Inglewood, Calif., on Nov. 8.

“Are you all ready to celebrate the music that changed the whole world forever?” he asked the enthusiastic audience. LL, who also performs on the special, then noted, “And while it’s not possible to have every [rap] artist here, it’s flowers for all!”

The first flowers of the evening saluted the women of hip-hop during a roof-raising segment that included Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Spinderella, MC Lyte and Remy Ma, as well as rap touchstones such as Latifah and Love’s 1989 gem “Ladies First.” Next up: a salute to hip-hop’s regional roots around the country, ranging from New York, Atlanta and Texas to Memphis, Miami and the West Coast. Among those repping for their regions were Jermaine Dupri, Jeezy, T.I., Boosie Badazz, Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Flavor Flav, E-40 and Warren G. 

Chloe Bailey, Jennifer Hudson and Questlove, who also executive produced the special, were among the artists who introduced the various concert segments. D-Nice and Doug E. Fresh saluted the genre greats who are no longer here.

Viewers of “A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop” will also be treated to performances by other trailblazing rap groups such as De La Soul, Arrested Development and Digable Planets. But by far, one of the buzziest and most anticipated performances of the evening was delivered by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff. In a full-circle moment, the pair reunited as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. They received the first-ever Grammy for best rap performance in 1989. However, the duo boycotted that year’s ceremony to protest the category presentation not being televised. Now, some 34 years later, Jeff and Smith proved what a missed opportunity that was as they reeled off several hits — including “Summertime,” “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” “Miami” and the theme song for Smith’s ‘90s television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — to audience screams and a sustained standing ovation.

“It’s important for the Recording Academy to commemorate [50 years of hip-hop] because it’s such a huge part of our industry,” says the organization’s CEO Harvey Mason jr. in the preview clip. “It’s the authenticity. It’s the storytelling. It’s the emotion that has permeated a lot of other genres.”