walking upstream…
Sexyy Red
photo: hotspotatl · cc by 3.0 ↗Sexyy Red
Janae Wherry grew up on St. Louis's north side, riding to school on a steady diet of Gucci Mane, Project Pat, and Lil Wayne, while her family's longtime north-side home exposed her to the soul and funk records that surface in songs like 'Born By The River.' After years of local mixtapes and viral freestyles, her January 2023 single 'Pound Town' turned blunt, ratchet-hood candor and gleeful sexual bravado into a signature sound, carrying her from St. Louis clubs to Drake's arena tour and a run of Billboard hits inside a single year. She favors flat, unadorned one-liners over metaphor, a choice critics say drives the durability of her hooks.
the sound in question
2023
Pound TownSexyy Red
walk the tributaries ↓
Gucci Mane2000s · Trap / Hip hop
Red has repeatedly named Gucci Mane's 2005-2008 run as a direct template for her own hype-heavy style and titled a song 'Female Gucci Mane' in tribute; her A&R has flatly called her 'the female Gucci.' She's borrowed his half-sung, ad-lib-stuffed cadence and unbothered, freestyle-driven delivery over stripped-down trap beats.
listen: upstream & heresource: NME — Sexyy Red on being called 'the female Gucci Mane' ↗
2007
Freaky GurlGucci Mane
2023
Female Gucci ManeSexyy Red
listen forCue Gucci's 'Freaky Gurl' against her own 'Female Gucci Mane' — listen for the same singsong, ad-lib-heavy brag delivery riding a bare-bones, bass-heavy beat, unhurried and matter-of-fact about the raunchiest lines.
Trina2000s · Hip hop / Southern hip hop / Dirty rap
Red has named Trina among the female rappers she grew up on, crediting the Miami veteran's bold, sexually explicit delivery and refusal to soften her image for radio; Red's persona extends that same unapologetic hypersexual bravado into the trap-and-TikTok era.
listen: upstream & here
2002
No PantiesTrina
2024
Get It SexyySexyy Red
listen forPlay Trina's 'No Panties' next to Red's 'Get It Sexyy' — listen for the same blunt, X-rated boasting delivered in a flat, matter-of-fact tone rather than sung or pleaded.
Nicki Minaj2010s · Hip hop / Pop rap / R&B
Red has cited Nicki Minaj's commanding, larger-than-life persona among her formative influences; the two later connected in person through Larry Jackson and recorded the 'Pound Town 2' remix together, with Minaj embracing Red's raw energy.
listen: upstream & here
2010
Roman's RevengeNicki Minaj
2023
SkeeYeeSexyy Red
listen forPlay Nicki's alter-ego showcase 'Roman's Revenge' next to Red's 'SkeeYee' — listen for the same theatrical, take-no-prisoners bravado and rapid-fire ad-libs, filtered through Red's flatter, more deadpan delivery.