Saweetie says she had PTSD following Hot 97 interview
Saweetie’s 2018 interview and freestyle on Hot 97 caused her to suffer from PTSD.
Saweetie is opening up about her past struggles with PTSD following an interview where she freestyle for Hot 97’s Ebro Darden, Laura Stylez and Peter Rosenberg.
During the 2018 interview, the Bay Area native confidently proclaimed that she was a freestyle rapper. After delivering a quick verse, Darden critiqued her bars. “I just thought the raps was basic,” he told her. “I think you need to get sharper on your diction, your clarity and your content if you’re going to impress me.”
Saweetie’s freestyle ended up going viral and she faced some harsh criticism from many people on social media.
During her April cover story for Cosmopolitan, the “Tap In” emcee revealed how she struggled after that interview. “It was a really dark point in my life,” she said. “I went from being so loved so quickly because of ‘Icy Grl’ to, on my first promo run, well, you saw the interview. The script flipped really quick, like night and day. I was like, ‘Wait…’ I had PTSD from that.”
Although Saweetie dealt with a lot mentally, she is thankful for everything she’s been through. “I’m really beholden for my start,” she said. “Because the mistakes, the struggle, the grind — it allows me to appreciate the rewards that come now because I know what it feels like to sleep in motels, to drive and do promo, to be stressed out.”
Aside from the drama, her music continues to do well on the charts. “Tap In” spent two weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Triller U.S. chart. Her Jhené Aiko-assisted single “Back To The Streets” hit No. 1 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart.
“Last year was the year that I finally became comfortable in my own skin. I kind of figured out what my purpose was,” she told Cosmo. “I think it’s important to show little Black and Brown girls that they can be successful in whatever they want to do. If I can do it, you can do it too.”
Check out Saweetie’s full interview on REVOLT’s “Respectfully Justin” below!