From working at Taco Bell to attending Georgia State University to having a huge fan base on ONLY FANS – Rubi Rose has always made a way for her goals. When we first met Rubi, it was the summer of 2020. We met a shy, beautiful young woman who was excited to talk about her music because she felt it wasn’t the main topic of discussion. She was open with us about Rolling Loud, Business, and how Saweetie is her business influence. One mixtape and an XXL freshmen feature later, her goal was reached, and the young Atlanta native is no longer known as “just a pretty face.” She is now recognized as hottest up NEXT!
We caught up with Rubi before she made her Rolling Loud Festival performance debut. The spicy is going beyond living in the shadows of a male-driven industry. With music that makes you feel like “a bad bitch”, Rose has made a tremendous mark in the game, and she’s just getting started. With co-signs from Drake and LA Reid, Rubi Rose is a rap star on the rise! Her recent XXL freestyle has everyone talking and was arguably one of the best! Rose is here to stay!
According to Rose, she grew up with a pretty normal upbringing. Although she was born and raised in Kentucky, her move to Atlanta is where she fell in love with music. Summer trips to visit her mom’s family in Africa and attending boarding school in Switzerland gave Rose a unique perspective on music and life. Her loud and spunky personality created a huge social media following even before her music career. However, it was not until her appearance in Migos “Bad and Boujee” where Rose found her calling to the rap game.
While studying political science at Georgia State, Rose used her social media presence and began to master her craft as a rapper. Her main influences are Nicki Minaj and Foxy Brown, so Rose began to create music to empower women with her sultry sound. Her mixtape For the Streets was released in December, which featured the hit single “Big Mouth.” She gained more notoriety with her sexy but unique visuals. Even Drake was caught rocking to her singles. But, her world changed when she was signed by LA Ried.
Rubi had always been a go-getter and businesswoman. She credits her discipline, persistence, and the fact that she’s a hard worker to her being an amazing businesswoman. Aside from music, Rubi has amassed an empire on Only Fans that has turned into a business. On the second day, the rapper raised 100k on the popular site. Her boyfriend at the time motivated her to expand her social media presence to the Only Fans platform.
“My significant other at the time motivated me to get on it because he was using it to teach people how to make money on YouTube. Everybody was telling me I needed to get one because I was already posting crazy stuff on Instagram for free,” said Rose. “I just decided to make the account and it just took off. I just make exclusive personal content. It’s just emotional and I try to have relationships with the fans and people who support me and it’s just growing by the month by the day.”
The platform has undeniably changed Rose’s life. She even has a company helping her on how best to curate and use her content.
“I also upload snippets of my music before it comes out, unreleased things, behind the scenes, me recording music videos, or me in the studio with people. It’s cool that I can tie all of it in and make money off of it and use the money to support my music endeavors.”
With her experience with Only Fans and her growing knowledge of how to manage a business and finances, Rose stated that the best piece of advice she’s gotten was “Work hard now, chill later.”
“Do everything you can now. F*ck that lazy s*it. We’re young. Make money now. I see how hard my mom and other people’s parents work their regular 9-5 Jobs everyday and they’re typically unhappy. Work hard now so that you can chill later. PERIOD.”
Other than her mom, Rose looks up to rapper and fellow businesswoman Saweetie. She admires Sweetie’s unique content and her ability to excel in so many things.
“Saweetie kills s*it. We know that. Her advertisements I just want to watch. She’s really good at everything she does. She’s a great businesswoman, she’s doing fashion, and everything. I don’t know what she’s doing but she’s doing it.”
Rose understands the importance of branding yourself, especially in the age of social media, where you have to have more to offer than your music. You have to be able to adapt and solidify yourself as an all-around brand.
“It’s extremely important. It’s what carries how you market yourself and how you show yourself off aside from your actual music. Your music can only take you so far. How you present yourself plays a major part.”
The rapper has created this persona about herself online, but in person, she’s calm and chill. She explained that people often have a misconception about who she is in real life versus what they see online.
“Whenever people meet me in person they are always saying I’m different than what they think I would be like on the internet. I’m not as turnt. I’m turnt sometimes. I’m chill. I’m not as promiscuous or provocative in real life.”
With so many females rising to the top, Rose is feeling right at home. She is here to show the world that it is time for the boys to move over! Her dream is to collaborate with most of her fellow rappers, including Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, and of course, Nicki Minaj. She continues to be the topic of discussion.
Rubi Rose came into 2021 with guns blazing and soon found herself a part of this year’s XXL Freshman Class lineup alongside other female rappers such as Flo Milli and Con Leray. She has nothing but praise for her fellow female rappers.
“The women I share the cover and moment with are the future of female rappers in hip hop. I love seeing us all on the come up together, I’m more excited about looking back in 5 years at that same cover.”
Rose stated that it was also an honor to be a part of a class with a long list of legends and on a platform that is so pivotal to hip hop.
“It still doesn’t feel real.”
Rose performed at Rolling Loud Miami last month, and she delivered a show-stopping performance. The raptress debuted her song “Poke” on the Rolling Loud stage. After watching other acts perform, Rose was super excited to get the call that it was her turn.
“I was super super stoked. I recently did a virtual performance for them in Miami, but I used to go and watch other people perform so it’s cool to finally be invited and get paid to perform.”
The rapper praises festivals like Rolling Loud because it allows smaller artists to perform on a larger platform. It gives them a chance to share their talents with the world.
“Festivals like Rolling Loud and Broccoli Fest bring new artists like myself to a bigger audience. If they don’t know me they get to see me and hear me and fall in love with me.”
With performing at Rolling Loud, 2021 is looking like Rubi’s year. The artist is releasing two new singles, the aforementioned “Poke” and “Single.” She also has her debut album coming up. By this time next year, the artist will have her Cinderella moment that has graced female rappers before her, such as Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.
“I reached a low point in my life. I had cut off this dude who was like financing my life. This sounds very bad but I was at a low point. I didn’t know what I was going to do. My ex had given me a song. And then I just like to devote all my time into doing it. I kept myself busy and it made me happy. I’m happy I finally took it seriously.”
In 5 years, Rose sees herself being an even bigger force in music and business, and soon enough, everyone will know the name, Rubi Rose.
“I see myself being a global household name in music. I see myself doing music and so much more. I’m a boss ass bitch. I want to show young women that they can come from nothing and accomplish so much. Music, movies, philanthropy, investments, and innovation.
When asked what she wants to tell her younger self, well, that’s simple.
“I would tell little Rubi to believe in yourself because you can do anything you put your damn mind to.”
Photographed by Inari Washington
Creative Directed by: Gabrielle Amani
Styled by Sequine Lee
Hair by: Dreshawn Scott
Project Manager: Simone Clarke
Makeup by: Lakisha Geegbae
Photo Assistant: Yevonne Kiim
Photo Assistant: Rafael Njogu
Asst. Prod. Coord. : Taylor Boykin
Asst. Prod. Coord. : Tionna Barnes
Retoucher: Steven Warren