Trim is the girl’s girl of rap
At 19, the Charleston native is earning nods from Tyla and leading the charge into a collaborative new era for female rap.
“I wanna accomplish everything. Who's stopping me?”
Trim poses this challenge on a recent afternoon at the FADER office in Dumbo while dressed in a black corset and one long, decadent yellow mink that sweeps the floor. The question is, ostensibly, an open invitation to anyone willing to give it a try, but one gets the sense that they probably wouldn’t be successful. In fact, in person, Trim gives off the air that very little phases her or stands in her way. Take the very outfit she arrived in; outside the weather is a mere 37 degrees.
With over 10 million likes on TikTok, the 19-year-old South Carolina rapper’s star power is undeniable in real life. Her song “BOAT” hit TikTok in 2025 and immediately grabbed the attention of artists like Tyla, Rico Nasty, and Baby Tate. In the song’s music video, Trim stands on a yacht ready to twerk, but it was her sharp voice — I wasn’t sure if I liked it or was annoyed — and blunt bars that created the formula for addictive listening. Since then, she’s been collecting female rap features like infinity stones — Vayda, YK Neice, and FADER Gen F star Bunna B — an endeavor that means more to her than just getting cosigns. As one of the few women who’s emerged from the “mostly men” rap scene in Charleston, South Carolina, Trim says she’s trying to usher in the next era of female rap.
Trim grew up listening to hip-hop and R&B — “I can’t sing though” — and studying the stories of Aaliyah, Lil Kim, and Da Brat. She didn’t always see music in her future; for a while, she thought she’d pursue makeup and hair. But after she made a footprint on the “clock app,” she knew she had to change paths. “I wanted to find a purpose,” she says of why she started rapping. “I wanted to invest in myself.”
That “get it done” attitude blares across her relentless singles run (“BOAT,” “Taxi,” “Floor,” and “GUAPO”), and in her bars: “Only one year comin’ in this, n***a I’m winnin’ they said I’m doin’ the most.” It's entrenched in her DNA. “I don’t care, let’s go. I’m ready for anything I need to do,” she responds when I ask if she’s willing to pose for photos on our snow-covered roof.
Ahead, get to know Trim as she talks about her upcoming EP, Pass The Tiara, the new reign of women in rap, and the making of the glock-loaded music video for “GUAPO.”
The FADER: Why did you start making music?
Trim: I got into music because I wanted to find a purpose. I knew I wanted to be bigger than the program. I was working and I was like, I need to find my true purpose and become the woman I am today. I knew it probably wasn't doing hair or makeup, that isn't what makes me happy. So I tried something different, hopped on a beat, and that made me happy.
Starting music gave me confidence, but it also made me self-aware. I don’t like being told what to do. Becoming a boss means people aren’t telling you what to do. People can give me advice and I may listen, but don’t just come in here thinking you know everything. Get to know me first.
Even when people were criticizing me, I was like, “Okay, that’s gonna make me better. Thank you for letting me know.” People look at hate comments and they get sad; I get motivated. It's not listening, it’s learning. How can you elevate if you take stuff to heart?
You’ve linked with a lot of Atlanta-based artists, YK Niece, BunnaB, and Vayda. What is your criteria for a collaboration?
Everybody [in Atlanta] is just so vibey, so it worked perfectly. I just go off who fits my vibe the most for that song. Like me, I have different personalities. I go for who has the aesthetic for how I’m feeling at the moment. If I’m wearing all black, I go towards who fits that with their sound.
What was the specific pull of Atlanta? Was it just the music, or were you looking for a community you couldn’t find back home?
I wanted to come over here, take over Atlanta a little bit, and bring everyone together. Before I came into rap, I didn’t see anybody collaborating. Charleston is just men. So I was like, “Dang, everybody’s in Atlanta.” I hadn’t seen anybody collab, especially up-and-coming female rappers. It was really my idea to bring everyone around. I’m ready for the new era to arise in female rap. But I do wanna go on a solo journey now so people know who I am more. I want people to focus on what’s coming next. Who is Trim? Can we get a solo run? Yes.
Tyla invited you to her 21st birthday. What was that link-up like?
I was in heels, waiting on Tyla. We came early and she came late, so I thugged it out. Seeing her reaction was very genuine. I got the invite personally. She probably thought I was just coming to say hey, but I gave her a birthday gift.
I had to put the queen in Chanel, you know people not doing that nowadays. Who you know doing that? I got her some perfume, Chanel perfume and I got her some Moncler glasses. It’s like the bubble glasses, one of them ones. She didn’t even know I knew it was her birthday. I didn't do it for the future; I did it because I genuinely wanted to make someone else happy.
Tell me about the making of the “GUAPO” music video.
It was very different. You have to follow rules, and you know me — I don't follow rules. Following instructions and the script... I had to get in my acting bag a little bit. I’m so used to freestyling and doing it my way, but this has to look like a movie. If I have to tote and do what I gotta do for “GUAPO,” I'm gonna do it.
Can we expect more songs like “BOAT” or “Floor” on your upcoming EP Pass The Tiara?
[For “BOAT”,] I was in bed with a bonnet on. I was like, Damn, I’m a little bummy right now, but inside I wanna twerk on a boat. People were like, Girl, why you wanna twerk on a boat? It's cold. I’ma twerk on a boat if it's hot, cold, or raining. But “Floor” is more emotional. It’s who I am outside of being bubbly. I’m letting people into knowing how I feel and what I go through.
You can expect sadness, emo-ness [on Pass The Tiara] You can expect bad bitch. It’s gonna be the full package. It might take a minute, but it’s gonna be delivered the way fans want to hear it. Some days I wanna feel like a bad bitch, some days a Barbie. I wanna accomplish everything. Tapping into different things is just who I am.
What keeps you grounded as you move into this next chapter?
Continuing to work with the people that I was surrounded by. Charleston artists — I will always pay homage to where I came from. Who I knew before I came here, that's what keeps me humble, sane. That’s a little peace of mind.