Dreezy: Music’s New Hip Hop Princess
The tides are turning as new and fresh faces begin to dominate the charts and the road in music. Maybe you’re not keeping up because you feel you’re long over listening to commercial radio or you are over 40. For most millennials who keep up with the latest hip hop trends in music, the name Dreezy isn’t too far from their radar.
The Chicago-born artist recently dropped her freshman album, No Hurt Feelings, on Interscope Records. Coming off of a nonstop tour with Tory Lanez and A$AP Rocky, she started rapping nearly seven years ago.
With a raw bravado that drips truth and reality, she started making industry executives raise heads on her rendition of “ChiRaq.” She flipped the Nicki Minaj and Lil Herb single upside down and made it her own. But it’s been close to two years since being serenaded by the major record companies and landing with the label that also houses power talent: Kendrick Lamar, School Boy Q, Snoop Dogg and Robin Thicke.
With the anticipation of No Hard Feelings, she brings some life lessons to the project — healing through music.
“What this album means to me, is where I’m at in my life. I’m at a different place, then than when I dropped Schizo. Back then, I was in a relationship, right now I’m single. With Schizo, I was frustrated. I still get frustrated at times, but I was real lost and I didn’t know what was really going to happen.”
Stepping back, she had to regather her thoughts and really write from the heart. A straight-A student throughout high school, she was accepted at Northern Illinois University. She dropped out to pursue her passion in music — taking a chance.
“Now, I feel like I’m good. I know what I need to know. I know where I’m at in life. I have a good opportunity — I’m blessed. All I have to do is to follow-through. The people that underestimated or slept on me is what the album represents — No Hard Feelings. There’s no grudges.”
She says she has gone through a great deal in her 23 years — forcing her to be cautious in both her professional and personal life.
“It taught me to keep my family and friends close. People that I really have in my corner. It also taught me not to trust people but be more social. In Chicago, you can build a shield around you,” she said. However, when you get out to these places, you’ve already cried or don’t anticipate wanting to meet people or expect people to know you. I know a lot of artists like this.”
Chicago has built a solid reputation as the breeding ground for raw talent in rap music. Hailing from the West Side, female artists such as the Da Brat, Newsense of Psychodrama and repping the South Side — Shawnna Guy and Teefa launched their career as the Rhyme Syndicate. Dreezy recognizes the legacy and talent before her along with women emcees who have written chapters in the history of hip hop. However, her style is in a unique lane that doesn’t duplicate but stands on the same reputation that is so reminiscent of Chicago female lyricists.
She said, “I don’t think I’ve taken anything from them. What I do like about their style is that they have different sounds in what they do — most females do. I like the aggressiveness behind it. Most of the females that come out of my city always have that delivery,” she explains. “We come as hard as the guys, we talk about the same stuff as the guys. It’s just really gritty and real. That’s what I like about the Da Brat and Shawnna.”
Currently, she is taking her newfound success all in stride but admits she is human, and part of growth is making mistakes. Pulling up stakes from the city she loves was a hard but necessary decision in order to focus on building her brand.
“Right now, we’re in album mode. I’m not even looking for time to unwind yet. I know it’s going to come. I’m glad to see my work literally paying off. I’m just saving my money so that I can relax eventually.”
Having recently performing on VH1’s Hip Hop Honors, and she’s featured on AlunaGeorge’s new single release, “Mean What I Mean” which drops this week. The new princess of hip hop will be joining AlunaGeorge onstage at Lollapalooza.
With the heat of the summer upon us, there is no slowing down for Dreezy. She is promoting No Hard Feelings with promo market visits and hopes to release another project before the year is out.
She gives some solid advice for artists who are challenged with the speed bumps in the music business. “Always keep God first. Work hard at what you do and know what you want to do. Do something that makes you happy and passionate — that way it never gets boring or tired.
Check out behind-the-scene footage for the new video, “Mean What I Mean”
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