| Born | 2 July 1993 (age 33 years), Santa Clara, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Full name | Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper |
| Education | Monterey Trail High School, University of Southern California, San Diego State University |
| Religion | Christian |
What religion is Saweetie?
Saweetie is an American rapper who was raised Christian. She shared that she grew up as a church baby, with her grandparents serving as pastors in the Apostolic Christian tradition.
Saweetie first gained national attention with her 2017 breakout single “Icy Grl,” which went double platinum in the United States and earned her a recording contract with Warner Records in partnership with Artistry Worldwide. Her debut EP, High Maintenance (2018), introduced her to a wider audience, while her second EP, Icy (2019), marked her commercial breakthrough. The project featured “My Type,” which peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received quadruple platinum certification from the RIAA, becoming her first major chart hit.
Saweetie continued her success with the platinum-certified single “Tap In” (2020), followed by “Back to the Streets” featuring Jhené Aiko and “Best Friend” featuring Doja Cat. “Best Friend” reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 64th Grammy Awards, while Saweetie herself received a Best New Artist nomination. She has also expanded her catalog with projects such as Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1, The Single Life, and Hella Pressure.
Early life and education
Saweetie was born Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper on July 2, 1993, in Santa Clara, California. She is the daughter of Trinidad Valentin, who is of Filipino and Chinese descent, and Johnny Harper, an African American former football player. She was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and later in Sacramento. She is also related to several well-known figures, including rapper MC Hammer, music producer Zaytoven, actress Gabrielle Union, and former NFL player Willie Harper.
Saweetie attended Merrill F. West High School in Tracy and graduated from Monterey Trail High School in Elk Grove. She began writing poetry and rap lyrics at the age of 13, developing an early passion for music while also excelling in athletics. During high school, she competed in volleyball, track and field, and other sports. After graduating from high school, Saweetie enrolled at San Diego State University, where she studied communication and business before transferring to the University of Southern California. She completed a bachelor of arts in communication in 2016, choosing to finish her degree before pursuing music professionally. Shortly after graduating, she turned her full attention to rap.
Career
Saweetie began her music career by sharing freestyle rap videos on Instagram and SoundCloud while building an online following. Her breakthrough came in 2017 with “Icy Grl,” a reworking of Khia‘s “My Neck, My Back (Lick It).” The single went viral across social media, received multi-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and earned her a recording contract with Warner Records in partnership with her manager Max Gousse’s Artistry Worldwide. She also launched her own record label, Icy Records, marking the beginning of her professional career.
Saweetie released her debut EP, High Maintenance, in 2018, followed by Icy in 2019. The latter produced “My Type,” her first single to enter the Billboard Hot 100. She continued her rise with “Tap In” in 2020, “Back to the Streets” featuring Jhené Aiko, and “Best Friend” featuring Doja Cat, which earned a nomination for Best Rap Song at the 64th Grammy Awards and became one of the biggest female rap collaborations of the year. Beyond her solo releases, Saweetie has collaborated with artists including H.E.R., Gwen Stefani, Galxara, David Guetta, Little Mix, Ava Max, and YG while expanding her career into television, acting, fashion, and entrepreneurship. Although her debut studio album, Pretty Bitch Music, has been delayed, she has remained active by releasing standalone singles and collaborative projects.
Business ventures
Saweetie’s business interests extend beyond music into fashion, beauty, food, and entertainment. She has partnered with major brands including McDonald’s, MAC Cosmetics, Morphe, Crocs, Reebok, PrettyLittleThing, Forever 21, and SinfulColors. Her collaborations have included cosmetic collections, footwear releases, clothing lines, national advertising campaigns, and brand ambassador roles. She is the founder of Icy Records, the label established to support her music and creative projects. Saweetie has also expanded into television, acting, and digital media while developing the Icy Girl brand into a lifestyle business. Her success as an entrepreneur earned her recognition on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, highlighting her influence beyond the music industry.
Personal life
Saweetie was born into a family with connections to both sports and entertainment. She is related to rapper MC Hammer, producer Zaytoven, actress Gabrielle Union, and former NFL player Willie Harper.
Saweetie was in a relationship with rapper Quavo from 2018 to 2021, one of the most publicized relationships in hip-hop during that period. Following their breakup, she released The Single Life EP in 2022, drawing inspiration from her experiences after the relationship ended. She later had a brief relationship with rapper YG, and since 2025, she has been in a relationship with English footballer Jadon Sancho.
