Janae Nierah Wherry (born April 15, 1998), known professionally as Sexyy Red, is an American rapper and singer. She rose to prominence with the release of her 2023 single "Pound Town" (with Tay Keith); its popularity spawned the remixed sequel "Pound Town 2" (with Nicki Minaj), which marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Released in June of that year, her follow-up single, "SkeeYee", was met with similar success; both songs were included on her second mixtape, Hood Hottest Princess (2023). Her 2024 single, "Get It Sexyy" , peaked within the top 20 of the chart and led her third mixtape, In Sexyy We Trust (2024).
Throughout 2023, Wherry guest appeared on the official remixes of the singles "Shake Sumn" by DaBaby, "Slut Me Out" by NLE Choppa, and "Peaches & Eggplants" by Young Nudy, alongside rapper Latto, all of which entered the Billboard Hot 100. She featured on Drake's "Rich Baby Daddy" in 2023 and Tyler, the Creator's "Sticky", her first US top-10 song, in 2024.
Billboard declared her as "one of the biggest breakout artists of summer 2023."[3] She received a nomination for "Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist" at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards. Her public image, lyrics, and media presence have been described as brazenly sexual, boisterous, and "confident".[4][failed verification]
Early life
Janae Nierah Wherry was born and raised in St. Louis. Wherry started rapping after penning a diss track directed towards a boyfriend who cheated on her. The stage name "Sexyy Red" was adapted from the nickname "Red" she already had for a long time due to her red dyed hair. She has previously worked as a hairdresser and a call center agent. Wherry graduated from Normandy High School in Missouri.[5][6]
Career
Red released her first song "Ah Thousand Jugs" in 2018. In 2021, she released her debut mixtape Ghetto Superstar.[7]
In January 2023, she released "Pound Town" with Tay Keith, which later went viral on social media.[8] In April, she was featured on the remix of NLE Choppa's "Slut Me Out".[9] In May that same year, she released "Pound Town 2" with Nicki Minaj, which became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. In June, she released the mixtape Hood Hottest Princess.[10] In August 2023, Red joined Drake on his It's All a Blur Tour as an opening act, having appeared as a guest at previous shows.[11] She featured alongside SZA on his single "Rich Baby Daddy", from his eighth studio album For All the Dogs, in October.[12] Her first top-10 song in the United States was with Tyler, the Creator over a year later.[13] The two released a collaboration with GloRilla and Lil Wayne, "Sticky" from the album Chromakopia, in October 2024.[14]
On May 28, 2024, Red appeared at WWE NXT where she presented the new NXT Women's North American Championship. On June 9, 2024, she hosted the 2024 NXT Battleground PLE.[15]
Artistry
Summarize
Perspective
Influences
Growing up, Red listened to artists such as Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Project Pat, Juicy J, Three 6 Mafia, Chief Keef, Webbie, Boosie BadAzz, and Trina.[16][17][18] Kyle Denis remarked in Billboard that those artists "embody the unapologetically hood energy that now courses through every Sexyy Red song", with Red herself stating that she sought to emulate their "fearlessness".[17] She has frequently been called the "Female Gucci Mane" in particular and released a song with that title on her mixtape Hood Hottest Princess.[16]
Lyrical and musical style
"I don't agree with that ["pussy rap" classification], because why is that the only thing you heard me talking about? That's the only thing that you got out of everything I just said? You just heard me say 'coochie'? I hate when they say that. I just rap about my daily life. Girls that live like me, I just rap about what we go through. I don't sit and talk about coochie all day."
– Sexyy Red discussing her lyrical themes[17]
Red's lyrics focus on one-sentence phrases rather than metaphors and other devices, with Jayson Buford of Rolling Stone writing that "she abstains from traditional lyricism". He also described her as a "classic Southern rapper".[18] In Complex, Eric Skelton called her songs "full of viral lyrics".[16] Red has stated that her daily life serves as the main inspiration for her music. Due to the often highly sexual nature of her lyrics, she has been characterized as a prominent figure of "pussy rap", although she rejects this classification and has expressed exasperation over being reduced to her sexual songs.[16][17] Red is also noted for her distinctive voice and flow.[17][18] She has received praise for her "authenticity" and her "energy", which are cited as factors for her success with a broad audience.[17]
Public image
Sexyy Red has been a focal point in discussions about the representation of Black women in the music industry. During an interview with One Musicfest, American rapper Trina defended Red, emphasizing her right to express herself freely and to create music on her own terms. In contrast, rapper Khia voiced her disapproval of being compared to artists like Trina and Red, citing concerns over their perceived negative influence. In response, Red addressed Khia's remarks on social media, referring to her as "washed up" and "miserable."[19][20]
Personal life
Red's first child, a son, was born in 2020.[18] On October 15, 2023, she announced that she was pregnant with her second child in an Instagram post.[21][22] She gave birth to her second child on February 5, 2024, a daughter, and footage of her in the delivery room was the center of Drake's music video for "Rich Baby Daddy", released 9 days later.[23]
In August 2023, Red disclosed on a podcast that she was a victim of rape.[24]
Red, having formerly expressed support for current U.S. president Donald Trump, utilizes the phrase "Make America Sexyy Again" as part of her branding.[25][26] She later clarified that she is not endorsing Trump.[27] She revealed in November 2024 that she had voted for Kamala Harris.[28]
Discography
Summarize
Perspective
Mixtapes
| Title | Mixtape details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [29] |
US R&B/HH [30] |
US Rap [31] |
CAN [32] | ||||||
| Ghetto Superstar |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Hood Hottest Princess | 62 | 21 | 13 | — | |||||
| In Sexyy We Trust |
|
17 | 5 | 5 | 80 | ||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Pound Town |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [13] |
US R&B/HH [36] |
US Rap [37] |
US Rhy. [38] |
CAN [39] |
NZ [40] |
WW [41] | ||||
| "Ah Thousand Jugs"[42] | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Free Smoke"[43] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Don't Trust Em" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Northside" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Young Hot Nigga" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Slob on My Ckat"[33] | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Ghetto Freestyle"[33] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghetto Superstar | ||
| "Throw That Mf" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Hood Bitch" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ghetto Superstar | ||
| "My Bitches" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "I Love My Nickel" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Throwin' It" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Don't Get Beat" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "My Twin" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Born by the River"[44] (featuring Sukihana) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hood Hottest Princess | ||
| "All White Air Forces" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "FYM" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Tired" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Pound Town"[45] (with Tay Keith or remix with Nicki Minaj) |
2023 | 66 | 21 | 14 | 19 | — | — | — |
|
Hood Hottest Princess |
| "Push Start"[46] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Female Gucci Mane"[46] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Hood Hottest Princess | ||
| "SkeeYee"[47] | 62 | 17 | 12 | 13 | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Hood Rats"[48] (with Sukihana) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Hellcats SRTs"[49] (solo or remix featuring Lil Durk) |
—[A] | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Shake Yo Dreads"[51] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Free My N***a"[52] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Mama)[53] (with Chief Keef) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Get It Sexyy"[54] | 2024 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 82 | — | 73 |
|
In Sexyy We Trust |
| "U My Everything" (with Drake) |
44 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 70 | —[B] | 132 | |||
| "U Kno What to Do (UKWTD)"[56] | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Whatchu Kno About Me" (with GloRilla) |
17 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 59 | 30 | 62 |
|
Glorious | |
| "Fat Juicy & Wet" (with Bruno Mars) |
2025 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 27 | 31 | 22 | Non-album single | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [13] |
US R&B/HH [36] |
US Rap [37] |
AUS [58] |
CAN [39] |
FRA [59] |
IRE [60] |
NZ [61] |
UK [62] |
WW [41] | ||||
| "Sense dat God Gave You"[63] (Summer Walker featuring Sexyy Red) |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Slut Me Out" (remix)[64] (NLE Choppa featuring Sexyy Red) |
2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Cottonwood 2 | |
| "Check"[65] (Gloss Up featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Area Codes" (314 remix) (Kaliii featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Shiesty"[66] (Finesse2tymes featuring Kaliii and Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Shake Sumn" (remix)[67] (DaBaby featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Mmm Hmm"[68] (Lancey Foux featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Back2datrap | ||
| "Face Down"[69] (MCVertt featuring ASAP Ferg and Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "One Margarita (Margarita Song)" (Ladies remix)[70] (That Chick Angel featuring Sexyy Red, FendiDa Rappa, and Flo Milli) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Perc & Sex"[71] (YN Jay featuring G Herbo and Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "I Love Freaks (Sexyy's Version)"[71] (Lijay featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Bing Bong" (remix)[72] (Blakeiana featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Peaches & Eggplants" (remix)[73] (Young Nudy featuring Sexyy Red and Latto) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Big Dawg"[74] (Moneybagg Yo with Sexyy Red and CMG the Label) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gangsta Art 2 | ||
| "No Panties"[75] (Raedio featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Rap Sh!t: The Mixtape (From the Max Original Series, S2) | ||
| "Rich Baby Daddy" (Drake featuring Sexyy Red and SZA) |
11 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 152 | 20 | 9 | 10 | 16 | For All the Dogs | ||
| "All She Do Is Shake"[80] (J Traxx featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Hoe Shit"[71] (GenesisTheGawd featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Bent" (remix) (41, Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, and TaTa featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 41 World: Not the Album | ||
| "Yonce Freestyle"[81] (Kevin Gates featuring Sexyy Red and B.G.) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Ceremony | ||
| "Daddy"[82] (Tokischa featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Sexyy & Conceited"[71]
(Pardison Fontaine featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sext8pe | ||
| "Somethin'"[83] (Nardo Wick featuring Sexyy Red) |
2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Damn Shorty"[84] (Chief Keef and Mike Will Made It featuring Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Dirty Nachos | ||
| "FTCU (SleezeMix)" (Nicki Minaj featuring Travis Scott, Chris Brown, and Sexyy Red) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | —[C] | — | — | Non-album single | ||
| "Sticky" (Tyler, the Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne) |
10 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 26 | — | 63 | 25 | 57 | 23 |
|
Chromakopia | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Bub. [50] |
US R&B/HH [36] | |||||||
| "Looking for the Hoes (Ain't My Fault)" | 2023 | — | 49 | Hood Hottest Princess | ||||
| "Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Dad)" | 14 | 38 | ||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||
Tours
Headlining
- Hood Hottest Princess Tour (2023)[87]
- Sexyy Red 4 President Tour (2024)[88]
Supporting
- Moneybagg Yo – Larger than Life Tour (2023)[89]
- Drake and 21 Savage – It's All a Blur Tour (2023)[90]
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Nominee | Category | Result | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BET Hip Hop Awards | 2023 | Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist | Herself | Nominated | [91] |
| 2024 | Won | [92] | |||
| BET Awards | 2024 | Herself | Best New Artist | Nominated | [93] |
| Best Female Hip-Hop Artist | Nominated | ||||
| "Rich Baby Daddy" (with Drake and SZA) | Best Collaboration | Nominated | |||
| Viewer's Choice Award | Nominated | ||||
| Video of the Year | Nominated |
See also
Notes
- "Hellcats SRTs 2" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[50]
- "U My Everything" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 6 on the NZ Hot 40 Singles Chart.[55]
- "FTCU" (SleezeMix) did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 20 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[85]
References
External links
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