If you're really listening there are alot of hidden messages in my songs.
I grew up listening to a lot of 2Pac and a lot of East Coast, West Coast rap; Bad Boy, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Biggie, 2Pac. Super hip-hop, super listening to that raw era of music.
What I really love about the Bay area sound is that it's very unique and that's something I want to strive for, as an artist. It's easy to get caught up in what's trending, but Bay area rap stays true to the local sound.
We all want to be identified as someone cool, and I have struggled with repping where I'm from and my heritage before. It's part of growing pains. But when people see me being proud of what I am - and they are what I am too - it makes them proud. That's why I try to represent my Asian and my black side.
I performed in high school for Black History Month at a talent show, but besides that I didn't have the resources to perform so I spent my time as a teenager writing music.
People had boxed me in as a 'pretty girl with followers that's rapping,' but I think my project and the work speaks for itself.
I was already writing poetry, so I transitioned from writing poetry a cappella to writing over beats, and it was way more exciting to me that way.
I wish I could be more carefree. I grew up fast.
It used to take me a really long time, and I used to not be able to write in the studio because I felt there was a lot of pressure to be perfect. The more I'm collaborating with other artists, the more I realize being in the studio is about catching a vibe.
When you're a college student interested in music, you hear all these rappers talking about dropping out. For me, when I heard someone like J. Cole rapping about school and staying in school...it inspired me to keep going.
I'm a very competitive person - I grew up playing sports - so the challenge of always bettering myself is something that I like.
It's crazy because 'Icy Girl' came when I was in a dark place, but I made it to motivate myself. It was kind of like my anthem for lifting up my spirits.
I make music for people to relate to and to connect with me. I want to tap into different emotions.
I get extensions, but when they start to get spotty, I go buy wispy lashes and cut them up. I put them where the gaps are when I don't have time to get a fill.
Me wanting to be an artist never really faded away. I knew that no matter what else I tried to pursue, my passion was always that.
With social media, the gatekeepers are our followers. It has opened so many doors for me not only musically, but fashion-wise as well.
I like it to look natural, to be smooth, dewy glowy. I like my eyebrows to look nice and I love lip gloss. That's essential to the Saweetie look.
If I want to listen to myself as much as I want to listen to Drake or Beyonce, I feel like that's a good sign.
High maintenance means a lot of care. My relationships are high maintenance, my body is high maintenance, and my soul is high maintenance. I really care about my friends and my family; I eat good; I pray a lot. So it's like, I really care about my relationships with my family, my friends, my body and my soul.
I'm super drawn to the high-end brands because they're made with such care and great materials. I really love Chanel, it's my favorite.
