It’s Sexyy with TWO Y’s, because she's extra Sexyy: The Rise of the St. Louis Rap Sensation Sexxy Red
By B. Sims aka ‘Urban Music Enthusiast’
On Thursday, October 19, 2023, I had the pleasure of attending Sexyy Reds’ Baltimore stop, on her Hood Hottest Princess Tour. The tour began days after a surprise announcement that she's also pregnant and during the Baltimore tour stop, her surprise guest was the on and off again partner/Baby Mother of Blueface, Chrishean Rock-who might I add, was toothless. Needless to say, this was one of the most unhinged and invigorating, concert experiences of my adulthood. Yet somehow, mostly because I listen to her album regularly and thoroughly understand/appreciate the energy of her fanbase, none of what I witnessed on stage OR in the crowd, came as a shock.
As a St. Louis native, everything about Sexyy Red’s accent, authenticity, unforgiving sense of self, and overwhelming confidence was familiar and endearing to me. As Missouri natives often say, ‘They don't call us the ‘Show Me State’ for NO Reason.’ Sexyy Red is undeniably the personification of our state slogan and her brand is a reflection of how infectious Missourian’s commitment to showmanship, truly is.
An admirable attribute about Sexyy Red is her unwavering authenticity, specifically in the face of adversity and relentless criticism. The genre of rap music is dominated primarily by male artists from the East Coast or the South. She exists as a minority not only because of her gender but also because of her hometown—but despite this, she continues to project her entire self with ease in all spaces.
Unbeknownst to most people, St. Louis is experiencing a resurgence of urban artists. This is significant because, for decades, the only artists associated with the city were Nelly, Chingy and The St. Lunatics. In recent years, Smino, Big Boss Vette, Jordan Ward along with Sexyy Red, are taking the stage in their respective urban forms and being well received not only in our Midwest hometown, but nationwide as well.
In addition to the resurgence of urban artists in St. Louis, there has also been a resurgence of female rap artists in recent years. For decades, Nicki Minaj reigned as the premier female rapper but lately, we can appreciate Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Glorilla, Ice Spice, Lola Brooke along with Sexyy Red among many others. Along with this re-emergence, a modernization of energy and approach to dating/sexual intimacy has been reflected in the lyrics of new-generation artists. Women are reclaiming their power in intimate spaces, prioritizing their needs, explicitly stating their limitations, and proudly becoming the unforgiving villains in men's sexual stories/fantasies. This reclamation of agency and autonomy is long overdue and artistically refreshing.
An impressive aspect about the rise of Sexyy Red, is the brand strategy of aggressively working her singles and the subsequent impact it has on listeners. For example, her No. 1 single ‘Pound Town’ was intentionally integrated into radio and Club DJ sets, making the lyrics familiar and recognizable even to listeners who weren't fans of "Sexyy Red." I would argue, that 70% of Rap fans, can answer ‘I’m out here in Miamiiiii' if presented with a lyrical recognition call/response. This is the impact and influence all new artist aspire to have, when laying the foundation of their music careers. Not to mention, the remix (Pound Town 2) featured one of our greatest living female rap lyricists, Nicki Minaj, which also charted Top 100 on Billboard upon its release. This feature and nod of approval from a Veteran is integral in the launch of any upcoming artist. It is as integral as it is RARE. She has also collaborated with Lil Durk, Moneybagg Yo, A$AP Ferg and Sukihana since the release of ‘Pound Town 2.’
The ascension of Sexyy Red, as previously mentioned, has not been without criticism. She has been criticized for her sexually explicit lyrics, while male rappers have been lyrically exploiting women for decades without condemnation. She is also criticized aesthetically, often referenced in memes as resembling Young Thug. It's worth noting that aesthetic appeal has never been a unit of measure for male rapper's relevance/acceptance in the music industry. Finally, she's recently been punished for her battle with acne, and, I'm not sure how many rappers have established relationships with dermatologists—so, again, this is an unprecedented area of focus in the urban music scene.
Nonetheless, the release of Sexyy Red’s Sophomore Mixtape was well received, despite the criticism, and her Hood Hottest Princess tour sold out within an hour of tickets being released. Additionally, she has been added as a multiple-city opener for Drakes It Was All A Blur Tour, and featured on his recently released #1 Album, For All the Dogs, on ‘Rich Baby Daddy.’ After attending her concert, I realized that the primary difference between women in Gen Z and the previous Gen Y (Millennials) is that Gen Z gravitates toward female champions who dismantle perfectionism in partnership, embrace aggressiveness (over meekness), and affirm their sexual freedom. Sexyy Red, represents all of these things. Whether one agrees or disagrees with her message, her hood aura is infectious, her fan base is aggressively growing, and it doesn't look like she's running out of lyrical material or ammunition anytime soon.