Sexyy Red on lyricism, Metro Boomin, and Iceman

Sexyy Red is a quintessential American musician. Hip-hop is our country’s definitive homegrown artform, and trap music in particular mirrors our national culture: extravagant displays of wealth juxtaposed against the lack of economic opportunity that transforms people into hustlers, and all the ways we find meaning and joy in the space between those extremes. Though her music and image is frequently reduced to a hypersexualized caricature, Sexyy Red is a torchbearer for the genre as much as her influences like Gucci Mane and Juicy J.

The St. Louis native and her producers (Tay Keith, Shawn Ferrari, Mac Fly) have honed their own iteration of trap music. Her music draws heavily on bygone eras of Memphis and Atlanta, unapologetically updated for modern sound systems and sexual practices alike. While her biggest hits are outlandish (“My coochie pink, my bootyhole brown”) and hard-knocking, most of her catalog emphasize a deeper understanding of trap as a genre that goes beyond emulating the classics.

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Pearl-clutchers were likely aghast when the “Female Gucci Mane” took the stage at Rolling Loud on Sunday, led by two leashed men on all fours, but that’s why Sexyy Red is so ubiquitous and beloved. Dating sucks for everyone, but in an era of redpilled streamers and men who think they’re the prize, her music offers a low-stakes, high-energy outlet for misandrist frustration. “N***as wanna fuck on me, but I won't let 'em hit,” she grins near the end of “Female Gucci Mane.” If sex is about power, Sexyy Red is the one holding all the cards.

As you might imagine, Sexyy Red’s music is frequently about being sexy, and like her collaborator Chief Keef, she’s a big fan of True Religion – she shouts out the brand on “Female Gucci Mane,” but also “She’s Back” and “Sexyy Walk,” where she boasts that not even denim can constrain her callipygian curves. As an official sponsor and merch capsule partner for Rolling Loud 2026, naturally True Religion teamed up with Sexyy to give one lucky fan a makeover at their VIP popup on the festival grounds; the teen girl who won the giveaway was cheesing hard as Red tied the back of her t-shirt just so. True Religion and Sexyy Red also partnered on a video series documenting festival style and Red’s Coachella Weekend 2 performance: you can watch the first two episodes of True Spotlight on YouTube now, with a third set for release Friday, May 15.

The FADER got a few minutes with Sexyy Red to chat about her son’s favorite song, working with Metro Boomin, and whether she’ll be on Drake’s upcoming album ICEMAN.

The FADER: It’s The FADER and we’re here at Rolling Loud with?

Sexyy Red: Your favorite hood hottest princess Sexyy motherfucking Red.

Can you give us a fit check of what you’re wearing?

This just my chill set after the stage. I got on my Ricks, I got on a True Religion set, and then just some jewelry.

You’ve got crazy swag. If you could give me a makeover, what would you change?

I wouldn't change nothing about you. I like your style! Keep dressing how you feel, be yourself.

Can you tell us a little bit about your first song, which was a diss to your ex-boyfriend at the time?

My first song… I just was talking shit and then I showed it to him and he was like, you know how to rap for real.

The first time you really went viral was “A Thousand Jugs” in 2018. Can you tell us a bit about that moment and what was going on in your life then?

I had seen somebody made a song saying, do do do do do do do do. He was from New York and I’m like, I’m just gonna remix it. And then I remixed it and it went up.

When you think about that song or some of your other early songs, and then your growth to Hood Hottest Princess or today, where have you grown the most as a rapper and artist?

I've grown in my stage presence for sure, and probably lyrics. Lyricism, yeah.

It’s Mother’s Day, and obviously, happy Mother’s Day to you. What’s your son’s favorite song by you?

“Skee Yee.” [laughs.] For sure.

He be rapping the hook and shit?

That’s all he say around the house, Skeeee yeeee!. All day, every day.

What’s the best thing you’ve bought for less than a hundred bucks?

The best thing I bought for less than a hunnid? Probably some food. Shit, I love food.

What's the best thing you've eaten recently?

I don't know, I can't think off the top of my head. I just be eating shit, I order all kind of shit. I'm a food connoisseur.

I feel like you and your producer Shawn Ferrari ("DIRTY NACHOS," "OKAY") have been leading a wave of trap revivalism, and [that classic trap sound] coming back right now. Could you talk to me a little bit about how you guys met and why you work so well together?

He from St. Louis, and we met cuz I seen he did some hard beats and then I'm like, “pull up on me one day.” And when he pulled up, we made “Hellcats & SRTs” right off the top. He showed me a beat and I’m like, “oh yeah, okay.”

What’s the craziest session you had for Yo Favorite Trappa’s Favorite Rappa?

Craziest session? Well, probably with Metro [Boomin]. That was fun, cuz soon as he turnt the beat on, I just went in the booth and started rapping. He got some hard ass beats.

Are you going to be on Iceman?

I don't know. I hope so!

The last question we have is from Skrilla: do you fuck with six seven?

Six sevennnnn [hits the emote].