ENCORE: The Secrets to Sweet Success with Saweetie

She’s not just an artist, she’s a brand, a businesswoman, and a whole vibe!! We know that’s right! Whether it’s her hit songs on the radio, her collab with McDonald’s (we’re lovin’ it!), or her social media brand deals, Saweetie is everywhere! Our multi-talented guest lets us in on what’s coming next for her in the music world, the surprising reality of feuds between female rappers, and how she approaches relationships in the public eye. Aren’t we all just dying to know what a day in the life of Saweetie looks like?? Plus, Sharon gets into the nitty-gritty behind-the-scenes of what it takes to transform a music and acting career into more than that, and we’re thankful she did! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Keke Palmer?

  This episode is presented in partnership with Airbnb. Baby, Memorial Day weekend is all about family, food, and kicking off summer. And with Airbnb, you can celebrate in one of the most loved homes in America. All right, y'all, let's dive in.

• 0:23Keke Palmer?

  Uh, I love my conversation with entertainer, content queen, and all-around diva, SooweeDee. So today, we gonna throw it back, okay? We got everything from MySpace and mood boards to reprogramming your mind when it comes to self-criticism. I was living for all the self-awareness that she brought to the table. You know I appreciate a woman that knows what she wants, and SooweeDee is that girl. Let's get into it, y'all.

• 1:16Keke Palmer?

  Hey, Mom. Hello, how are you? I'm thrilled, and I'm very excited to talk to you about this conversation we're having today, which is how to build a brand, and honestly, the impact that a brand has in really giving you longevity in your career, in whatever field, right? Especially now, the social media era. You can be a doctor, or a psychologist, therapist. You can be so many different positions that people necessarily wouldn't have imagined needed branding, and actually see how it can leverage what your mission is, and overall, just word of mouth on what it is you do. So I want to start with my career, because you are the reason why and how I built the Keke Palmer brand. You've been my best and most amazing collaborator to date. But building a brand is kind of like...

• 2:02Keke Palmer?

  Having people with ease identify who it is you are and what it is you're bringing to the table. So for me, I'm your daughter. When we came into this industry, I was just trying to sing, I was just trying to act. But you had, or maybe you didn't, bigger plans in mind in terms of building my brand?

• 2:20Speaker 01

  You know what? That's funny. No, I did not. I just, again, I just wanted you to go to college. I wanted you. I had a girlfriend that was a school teacher and she was telling me how her son had done all these commercials. And, um, her daughter, actually, her daughter had done all these commercials. And, um, she was going to college. She was like, my daughter's going to college. So anyway. But it's funny that you talk about brand, because do you remember when we made the decision to, for you to be Keke Palmer? Like, Kiki was just...

• 2:51Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 2:52Speaker 01

  Yeah, Kiki was a nickname that, I mean, it was, it was what your family called you. But when you went to school, you were Lauren. And when you did your very first movie, Barbershop 2, if you look in the credits, it says Lauren Keke Palmer. And so when we came, when we went out, because you know, you did Barbershop 2 in Chicago. And then when we went out to California, you were in, uh, Mr. Berman's office. Remember the guy, your first manager?

• 3:17Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, Richard Berman.

• 3:18Speaker 01

  Yeah, and you were messing with something on the table. You were just being a precocious kid. And I kept saying, "Stop, leave that alone." And I was talking to him and I said, "Kiki, stop, leave that alone." And he said, "Who is Kiki?" I said, "Oh, that's Lauren." He said, "No. Kiki, that's what she is. That's what she looks like." I was like, "Good," because that's what we call her anyway.

• 3:41Keke Palmer?

  That is so freaking funny. I do feel like when Kiki became my name in the industry, that I did start bringing some of that natural vibe that you just have at home with fans and family. Even more into...

• 3:56Keke Palmer?

  My career, because it was like, you know, when you, your names really do trigger different vibes in you. Like Lauren and I immediately feel like, "Time to get professional, time to get serious." But with Kiki, I'm like, "Time to have fun, time to wild out." And so when we started doing the Keke Palmer as my name as entertainer, I was like, "Well, it kind of opened me up to be that, that silly goofy crazy uh, person that I was at home with my family.

• 4:19Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah, you definitely have a Kiki energy.

• 4:23Keke Palmer?

  When did you understand the concept of a brand? Because I remember, we came into California, what, 2004, 2005? And I think this is pretty much, I mean, the internet was around, but it was really starting to kind of be a tool. And I remember when you decided to make kikipalmer.com. I'm not sure if that was when you started to understand the concept of a brand, or imprinting your identity outside of your roles. So I'm curious, at what point for you did you say, "I gotta build her a brand?"

• 4:50Speaker 01

  Okay, so I've been really blessed in my life. I've been tremendously blessed in my life that I ran across people who would tell me things. And I would like to, you know, my mother would always say, "Don't, you know, don't pat your own self on the back. Let somebody else do that." But, but I will, in this case, pat myself on the back because I actually, because I actually listened to people. When, when I didn't know something, I was humble. You know, I didn't act like, "Oh, I know it, you don't gotta tell me." When they would tell me things and I didn't understand, um, I would go read or research. And so when you did a movie called The Wool Cap with William H. Macy, I had a gentleman on set. His name was Alan Duke. And Alan came up to me, yes, Alan's awesome.

• 5:35Speaker 01

  And he came up to me and he said, "Your daughter is amazing, she's gonna be really big one day." And I was like, "Yeah, oh, thank you," you know, just the usual stuff. And, um, he goes, "Does she have her own website? Like kikipalmer.com? You better hurry up and get it because if you don't get it, someone's gonna snatch it up." And I didn't understand what he was talking about with snatch it up, because I'm like, "Keke Palmer, no one has this name. What is he talking about snatch it up?" And I really didn't understand what he was saying. But I was polite and I just kept it moving. Literally, two years later, you were everywhere. People were talking about Akilah and the Bee. You were working, you were doing a Tyler Perry movie. And Alan called me and he said, "Hey."

• 6:18Speaker 01

  Did you ever get the kikipalmer.com? And I said, Alan, I didn't even know what you were talking about. I'm so sorry. I said, I tried to get it, but it was taken. So now I understand what you mean when you said, get it before someone takes it. And he says, I know who owns it. And I said, who? He says, I do. I knew you didn't understand me. But you were such a nice lady that I went on and purchased it two years ago. And now I'm turning it over to you free of charge.

• 6:51Keke Palmer?

  Wow. I never realized that Alan did that for us.

• 6:56Speaker 01

  He did. He did. I mean, he was that much of a visionary. And everything he told me actually happened. So I was preparing for this to happen.

• 7:06Keke Palmer?

  So I think it's safe to say that having an online presence, right? You know, having a narrative and, you know, a digital footprint for yourself is an important aspect of building a brand out of whatever you do. Would you agree?

• 7:19Speaker 01

  Yes, without question. I think that people just feel comfortable one way or the other. They want to feel like they know who you are. But the one thing that I like about what you and I were able to build by the grace of God is we build a brand on authenticity. Like you are genuinely who you present yourself to be. And I think that one is the hardest to do. Because most people create personas to protect themselves. They create, you know, they just go into a whole character because they don't want people to know who they are. They don't want to be vulnerable.

• 8:02Speaker 01

  And I just think that when people see you and they see you out and they see you, whether you're with the National Guard or when you're, you know, with kids, you're consistently Keke Palmer.

• 8:14Keke Palmer?

  Well, let's talk about that because I think that it's also a choice in branding, as you so well put. What you want to represent and what you want to speak to. And I don't, I think it's all subjective, right? But very early on, you guys made it clear to me as a person and that folded into my brand to really be about community. When you would have me speak at schools or the Boys and Girls Club or working with later on, Saving Our Daughters. How for you, what, what aspect of the brand, what you were building? Why was that important to you?

• 8:44Speaker 01

  Well, having had been a teacher, I had been a high school teacher. And then we had always been very active in our community and our church. As you know, your father, you know, would, you know, cook and feed, you know, go to the homeless shelter and all that kind of stuff. So, community was embedded in us, you know, from the time we were young people. My mother, um, you know, had me in church very, my sisters and I in church. And your dad, he was an altar boy. And so, we grew up in a church community. So, that was our foundation. And I just really felt like you needed community. You needed to be around other kids that were your age. But also, what we, what I guess would say, normal kids.

• 9:28Speaker 01

  Kids that were going to school, going to a public school. Um, kids that were playing games and, you know, just regular, in a regular environment. Because most of the time, your environment was Hollywood.

• 9:42Keke Palmer?

  I love what you're saying because it also just hits on again, what comes naturally to you? What is in your world that you want to bring to the forefront? It's no different of if you're a person that has always grew up on fashion and your family were artistic in that way.

• 9:56Speaker 01

  Absolutely.

• 9:57Keke Palmer?

  You know, if that is a part of who you are, folding that into your brand, that might mean going to Fashion Week. That might mean, you know, collabing with a, a, a fashion designer or supporting an up and coming fashion designer. Me, coming from the background I come from of being community driven and service driven, it, it, it, again, is folding into who you are, what you are, what's important to you. And figuring out how to also be front facing with that and representing that. And I, I really am grateful for it because in my generation, I just love being able to have a connection to them.

• 10:31Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 10:32Keke Palmer?

  In this real way.

• 10:33Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 10:34Keke Palmer?

  Because there is so much that feels unreal. You know, and I'm not saying I'm the realist person out there, but just knowing that. Through my career, I've been able to have real conversations and, you know, also be silly and crazy, but like, really what's going on? Like, the parasocialness of it all. I feel really grateful to be in a position to be able to have that kind of relationship with them.

• 10:55Speaker 01

  I think I have a question for you. Can I ask you your question?

• 10:58Keke Palmer?

  Please, of course.

• 10:59Speaker 01

  After your time on True Jackson VP, how did you continue to keep your brand going? You know, how did you keep yourself at the top of people's minds in the industry? Because that was, you go from True Jackson VP, that's over. Now it is an 18, 19-year-old Kiki Palma dude.

• 11:18Keke Palmer?

  Well, it's so funny because it's kind of twofold. It's like, I did a little bit of the first two, which was fold into my digital footprint a little bit more. Like, go to my social media and realizing that that was a way that I could outreach to my audience and see what they wanted from me. You know, continuing to speak to the things that were important to me through my digital, you know, media. But then also, I think the third aspect of that that I learned through content creation was investing in producing my own stuff. I think that is a big part of building your own brand that I don't know if everybody always thinks about. You know, there's kind of this thing with entertainment where it's like, you gotta wait for somebody to choose you or pick you, and why aren't they choosing me or picking me? Especially when you are someone that feels like,

• 12:00Keke Palmer?

  okay, in society, maybe I am not the one they would push. It's even more on you to actually push yourself. When I was having a problem with traditional acting and we went to the hosting, that created a whole nother avenue for me. So when it came to roles, I didn't have to take a role I didn't really want to take because, you know what, I got my hosting to fall back on. For a few years where nobody was offering me a movie, I was on Good Morning America hosting The Third Hour with Michael Strahan and Sarah. And then when I started doing movies again and I wanted to go back into the schools and continue to talk, and, you know, there's always somewhere else that I could go. And I always talk about that with hustle culture and brand building because I think there's a negative connotation.

• 12:40Speaker 01

  Absolutely. Let's talk about, yeah, definitely, let's talk about Good Morning America. Because I know when that job offer came, there was a lot of people who saying, what in the hell is she doing?

• 12:50Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 12:50Speaker 01

  Why is she doing a talk show? What's going on here? You and I, you and I know why you did it and it worked out well. But tell me about how you felt about that? Like, how some people thought that you were taking yourself out of being a serious actress by taking that job?

• 13:10Keke Palmer?

  Well, I personally don't believe that there is no world where you can't be everything that you want to be. That's how I was raised. That's how y'all raised me. Like, you guys raised me with the concept of Vaudeville, right? Everybody in Vaudeville did everything. You know, you think about Sammy Davis Jr., Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland. All those kinds of people. Josephine Baker, she was sexy and kooky. Like, there is no-

• 13:31Speaker 01

  Lola Filana.

• 13:32Keke Palmer?

  Lola Fil- you know, you had to do everything. There was, it was actually kind of crazy if you did only one thing. So, that's number one for me, is I come from like the old theater-esque concept of entertaining, where you should do it all. And then on the other side of that, again, I think I was, you know, taught the business early on. Whether it had been from my family, or it had been from my attorney, Ken Hertz, you know, he's been great for us, and just different people, I've learned and I've listened. And I thought to myself, well, the truth of the matter is, I need more capital, right? I need more money to be able to invest in the ideas that I want. So, number one, this is a good job. If we're putting it plainly, this is a good, consistent job

• 14:13Keke Palmer?

  that will allow me to get the income that I need, to be able to spread out amongst all the other things that I want to do from a solely passionate place.

• 14:23Speaker 01

  Absolutely.

• 14:24Keke Palmer?

  I think there's another aspect to my brand, which is bringing nuance, right? I think especially for being a woman, and then being a black woman and all of whatever stereotypes come with that. It's like, I'm a nuanced person. And I feel like that is a conversation we have a lot within my generation. And so, for me, when I think about my art, or who I am as a person, and what I want to bring to my, to my, uh, public-facing work, is like nuanced. I could play pimp and I could be on Password. You know what I mean? I could be on Password, and I could be, you know, in the, in the pickup with Eddie Murphy. I can be on the podcast, and I can be talking to a professor at Ha- Harvard. Why can't you be all, I can have a long tattoo on the side of my body and pray and search.

• 15:06Speaker 01

  And do a HelloFresh commercial.

• 15:07Keke Palmer?

  And do a HelloFresh commercial. So, I think for me, that's also like a big part of what I like to do with art, is say, hey, guys, people are diverse, you know? And, and that's so representative, again, like I said, of the millennial generation. And I think, you know, with what we bring to the forefront, I think there's obviously still more things that the Gen Z is going to take over and continue to expound upon. But, understanding that people are multi-hyphenated, that everybody is dynamic, and allowing space for that.

• 15:33Speaker 01

  Right, absolutely.

• 15:34Keke Palmer?

  Any more questions for me that you have, before I let you go and get into the convo with Sweetie?

• 15:38Speaker 01

  No, you know what? I just think that you're awesome and amazing. And keep on doing you, boo boo.

• 15:45Keke Palmer?

  Crazy girl.

• 15:50Keke Palmer?

  Memorial Day is right around the corner, and there is nothing more special than gathering with the whole family together to honor this important holiday. And baby, I found the perfect way to celebrate: booking an incredible Airbnb by a lake and throwing something on the grill. So y'all remember my winter ski chalet up in Big Bear with the gagas? This spot is a year-round paradise. I mean, you're waking up to gorgeous lakeside views, breathing in crisp mountain air, all while the smell of barbecue floats up from the deck. That's the kind of magic I'm talking about. The space was everything. We had a massive deck where the grill master could show off their grilling skills,

• 16:33Keke Palmer?

  all while the rest of us played cards and splashed in the lake. And the game room, huh, your girl might be a movie star, but everyone can catch these hands when it comes to Miss Pac-Man, okay? What makes Airbnb so special is how it brings families together, all with more space for the fam to spread out. Privacy when you need it, because you know sometimes the Palmer's need a minute. And locations that hotels could never match. The Memorial Day that's coming up is time to create the precious family memories and moments in a space that feels like home. Whether it's a lakeside retreat like my Big Bear spot or any of Airbnb's most loved homes, these are the places where memories are made.

• 17:14Speaker 02

  Baby, this is, this is Kiki.

• 17:18Keke Palmer?

  I'm losing my mind over our guest today, okay? A two-time Grammy nominee, the founder of a nonprofit, the queen of content and marketing and all around, just an amazing woman. No one, including me, can get enough of her. Of course, I'm talking to Sweetie. Welcome to the show, girl. Hi, Kiki. Thank you, girl.

• 17:39Keke Palmer?

  Okay, so I want to go back to the beginning, because I met you like, what, 2016, 2017? We had mutual friends. And this was around the time that... Well, first of all, let me say this. I think you're amazing at your marketing and I watched it build over time. So I want to go back to the beginning of where you were when you decided to actually start taking rap seriously.

• 18:02Speaker 03

  I think when you met me, I was already taking rap seriously. I just didn't have the resources to, you know, pursue it correctly. But for those who don't know, me and Kiki met lit at a party. I was in college, she was already the amazing Keke Palmer. And she's just always been like a really dope girl who supported me. So shout out to you, Kiki.

• 18:24Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh, I love you so much. Well, yeah, because I seen you, I was, I remember we met and then I went to your Instagram page and I saw you was rapping in your car and I was like, girl, you, like, what are you doing with this? Like, I loved your flow, your vibe, I loved your, your image, like, and just like, you know, okay, this is a cute chick, she giving you some rhymes real quick, it's very effortless and laid back. And you, you know, I know you, I know you just said you were trying to get your coins together, but what was the kind of first step of you making it a real career for you, aside from putting the content out?

• 18:52Speaker 03

  Honestly, rapping in my car, I felt like social media and content has created a lucrative business. You know, back then, we were all just immersing ourselves into like Instagram, Twitter, but because those videos went viral, I was actually able to, you know, create a case for myself. Like, hey, I'm an artist, I'm just starting out, I may not have a resources, but y'all gonna hear me. So I feel like even before social media was what it is today, I was already, I was already utilizing it as my resource. So I think that was just like my, my stepping stone into the business.

• 19:29Keke Palmer?

  Okay, now, I know you said in the interview before, you see yourself more as a brand than just a rapper. What does that mean? What does being a rapper to you mean? And then what, what is a brand to you?

• 19:38Speaker 03

  I feel like as a rapper, as an artist, that's specifically music. And what I've built over these past couple of years, I think I became a multifaceted business beyond artistry and I think that's what makes me a brand. A brand is Icy Girl, a brand is The Snowflake, a brand is I Know That's Right. Yeah, Pretty Girl Music. A brand is all these things that have, that have became centric for the sweetie lifestyle.

• 20:08Keke Palmer?

  Yes, sweetie lifestyle. I'm here for that. Yeah.

• 20:14Speaker 03

  It's me, you know, it's, it's just a multifaceted image and that's what I fortunately have, have become. So I'm really thankful for that. And I am very grateful for the fans who have stuck with me along the way.

• 20:27Keke Palmer?

  I want to talk to you a little bit about your grandma real quick because I like something that I heard you said about her. That she kind of told you to always have seven different sources of income, like she was an entrepreneur herself. So how did your lessons from your grandmother kind of help you figure out how to manage this so you could support your career?

• 20:44Speaker 03

  Well, when she told me that, I automatically was like, you know, how am I going to get this money? And when she took me there, I was like in middle school. So I probably started, I started doing like bake sales and I was like.

• 20:55Keke Palmer?

  Come on.

• 20:56Speaker 03

  Yeah, I've always been about that money, okay?

• 21:01Speaker 03

  Well, but then after that, another life lesson, I learned that yes, I want seven streams of income, but what's going to be the platform for that? The platform was music. So I had to put all my time and my energy into music. And from there, I was able to tap into these other ventures that I was interested in, like content, like makeup, like beauty, like fashion, like all these other things that I've always had an interest in, but you have to put your focus somewhere and then build off that.

• 21:26Keke Palmer?

  I think that is important. Also, a key piece you said is like, you know, because people always say, um, what is it? Jack of all trades, master of none. And I kind of resent that statement because it's this idea that you only can do one thing. But the truth in, in what it is you just said is you need a bouncing board to be able to be important and seen in another area. So if I got something off the ground real quick, even if it's just real quick, now I can leverage that. So I think that's a, a great point.

• 21:52Speaker 03

  And you, all people should know that because you started in acting, you're great at music, you're now starting this thing with the podcast that has grown. Out to be this beautiful thing, you now get into all these other things. And we've seen Kiki from Aquila and the Bee. So, I've always been a fan, so it's just nice to see another woman doing that as well.

• 22:12Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, it definitely does feel good, and I think that's why I've always had such an affinity for you, even just from seeing the music, but then like realizing, no, this girl is for real, because you never know if people are for real. And I know a lot of people say, oh, you know, they, first of all, I like when you explained it on one of these interviews where people were trying to make, you know, asking you about pretty girl music, and you're like, no, pretty girl music is, if you feel pretty and you not a hater, that's what it is? And I love when you said that because it's like, don't push your stuff on me, this is what I'm actually saying. But I want to zero in on it because how do you feel, you know, I feel I have my own stuff that people box me into, when they try to make it seem like you're just supposed to be pretty, like, they don't want, you know what I mean? Don't do this, don't do that, we don't want to hear that, we don't want to do this.

• 22:55Keke Palmer?

  How do you manage dealing with that? Because you are beautiful, but it's like, that's not all I am.

• 23:01Speaker 03

  Honestly, how do I manage that? I manage myself. And my best, my best way to respond to those type of people is through winning, is through my music, is through my brand deals, it's through persevering. I love me a good quote, I read one yesterday, and it's, and it said, um, "The people who are not where you, where you are will always say more than the people who have gone past you." So it's just like, yes, P and you may get that, those constructive criticisms, or those criticisms, or those comments, but it's just like, when you see the person who's giving it to you, where are y'all at in your life?

• 23:33Keke Palmer?

  Now that's T-Boo.

• 23:35Speaker 03

  For real, because when I see the girls who, who are winning, those are the girls when they see me and they're out, they're like, keep going, like, you got it. And then, this goes to the other side of the spectrum, for those who want to give like, the, those, um, those critiques and those remarks, it's just kind of like, they're at home on their couches.

• 23:55Keke Palmer?

  If you on your couch, look, don't be mad, y'all, don't be mad. No, I'm just playing.

• 24:00Speaker 03

  Couch comments, we don't want them.

• 24:04Keke Palmer?

  Now, when it comes to your music story, right, like a big part of branding is your brand evolves. Every step, you know, and also with our social media era, we also have to deal with people being in our personal life and how that affects branding. I've dealt with that myself, like, just people thinking they know, they don't know everything, and you gotta just like, okay, I want you to focus on what I want you to focus on. Like, this is my career, this is my, what I do, this is my craft. So when it comes to you, when you think about originally Icy Girl, what was the story you were telling then? And how has that story changed? You know, both musically and brand-wise?

• 24:39Speaker 03

  Well, Icy Girl, I feel like Icy Girl is like pretty girl music. When you think of Icy Girl, you think of like the blonde hair, the ice.

• 24:46Keke Palmer?

  My boss wife.

• 24:48Speaker 03

  Girl, exactly, the luxurious lifestyle. But for those who don't know, like, I wrote Icy Girl when I was running rooms off of Craigslist, and all I had was a mattress. And for me, like, in that moment, I was like, I'm still an Icy Girl. I'm a hustler, and I'm gonna get to where I need to go because I'm really ambitious, and I'm gonna reach my dreams. So I feel like a real Icy Girl is a go-getter. So I feel like I am still that girl, but just at a different level in my life. And I think that's why my fans are able to like gravitate towards my music is because I feel like they all see themselves in me, no matter where they are at in their life, because I've been there before, you know?

• 25:25Keke Palmer?

  I love that.

• 25:27Speaker 03

  My purpose is, yes, I love being fabulous, but my ultimate purpose is to inspire. Because I know what it feels like to be that girl who just wants to be heard, who just wants to make this next, you know, this next payment of rent, who wants to just, you know, live, live out this dream that you have in your head that sometimes only you can see.

• 25:47Keke Palmer?

  And that's why it's so important that you gotta go for it on your own. Seriously, cuz it's true, like, everybody doesn't see or get what it is you're going for. When we're getting into your new music, like Birthday, and just some of the other songs you drop, I'm a Barbie Girl, is it just about lifestyle? What is that, or is it about, like you said, go-getting? Kind of what is the, what is this new era of Sweetie that we're about to get into?

• 26:09Speaker 03

  I feel like I set the premise with this freestyle that I dropped last Monday.

• 26:12Keke Palmer?

  Love that, you know I reposted that.

• 26:14Speaker 03

  Thank you, honestly. But I feel like Immortal Freestyle, I feel like that's the premise of where I'm at in my career. I mean, I feel like you've even been here before, but it's just like, Immortal to me is just getting up over and over again, no matter how many times you get knocked down. And I feel like, men or women, if you're in the industry, you know that feeling really well. Because although we are blessed to, like, live out these 1%, 2%, 3% dreams, whatever that data might be for whoever's able to live in our positions, it's just like, it's tough being in the industry.

• 26:47Keke Palmer?

  It is.

• 26:48Speaker 03

  For me, it's just like, yeah, I took my little break, I was low-key, but now I'm back. Because I'm a bad bitch and you can't kill me.

• 26:55Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, and breaks are good, because in those breaks, you kinda like are quiet enough to hear and feel and experience life. Cuz as an artist, you do gotta experience. As a creator, you have to experience so you know what you wanna talk about. So, that's important.

• 27:06Speaker 03

  Absolutely.

• 27:07Keke Palmer?

  So, how much of your true self do you put into? I mean, obviously, I know your name is Sweetie. I know, your name is also Diamante, like, your name is Sweetie Diamante?

• 27:18Speaker 03

  Um, no, so my MySpace name was SoWitty. And like, I was really popping on MySpace, like, I had all the codes.

• 27:25Keke Palmer?

  I know, that's right.

• 27:26Speaker 03

  Girl, I was like, I didn't even realize it was coding, but I had a really dope MySpace. I would accept everybody as my friends. So, I became like, known as SoWitty in high school through my MySpace. So, people would meet me at a party, or at a gas station, or at the McDonald's, and be like, "Hey, are you SoWitty from MySpace?" So, that's how, the name just organically stuck to me.

• 27:47Keke Palmer?

  So how much of, because this sounds like you was even low key branded back then, having your page and having like a public facing persona?

• 27:53Speaker 03

  Absolutely, like, I had the photo bucket, I had MySpace, I had Tumblr.

• 27:59Keke Palmer?

  Like a Tumblr girl, mmm hmm.

• 28:01Speaker 03

  Yeah, so to me, branding has always been second nature, and I'm really grateful that branding has took off to what it is, because for me, like, that's just what I love to do as a little girl. I've always been a mood boarder, like.

• 28:11Keke Palmer?

  You love to curate?

• 28:12Speaker 03

  I love to curate, absolutely.

• 28:14Keke Palmer?

  So how much of, uh, how, how much do we actually know, Diamante? Like, I know you're from the Bay, you know, obviously I do feel you from knowing you, but I actually know you. So in your work, how much do you decide to give us and pull back? Because that's also a, a push and pull in our industry, like, do I want to, like, expose myself? Or, you know what I mean, I want to be authentic, but I also want to keep enough for me at home. How do you balance that?

• 28:40Speaker 03

  I feel like, I, with each moment, or with each song, or with each interview that I do, I decide how much I decide to share. Um, but I've always just been like a super private person, like, my parents were super private, they've always been like low key people, so I think that's where I get it from. So I, I like pick and choose what I, what I share.

• 28:59Keke Palmer?

  So how do you decide to share? Because I know for me, growing up, my mom used to always be like, "Your career is your own, don't you share your career with anybody else." And it was always geared towards, like, relationships, so I always was very, "Ooh, do I be public, do I not be public? Like, I don't know, like, but I'm also happy." And I've had my own ups and downs with that whole public facing relationship thing. So how do you decide, like, "Okay, you know what, you, I, I, I'll be seen with you"? Or, you know what, "I don't want to be seen with you no more." You know what I mean? Because once that person gets the chance to be, like, in your presence or a part of what you're doing, if they do something crazy, or if shit go left, then you got to deal with what they done did.

• 29:39Speaker 03

  Honestly, I'm at a moment where it's just like, if I get caught, I get caught.

• 29:44Speaker 03

  And we can go from there.

• 29:49Keke Palmer?

  Oops, whoops, that is.

• 29:51Speaker 03

  Yeah, oops, man, it's true.

• 29:57Keke Palmer?

  I know exactly, but I will say that I feel like you've, like you did, like when you just did like shh, I feel like you've handled so much so well because that's literally what it gets to a point where it's like,

• 30:09Keke Palmer?

  I'm just quiet because I've, you know, I'm at my, my, my, my limit of what I think is deserved here and like, make, do what you want and think what you're gonna think because I'm not about to try to control what you think.

• 30:20Speaker 03

  Yeah.

• 30:21Keke Palmer?

  How has it been for you navigating the business? Like what has kind of been, and I don't even want to say as a woman, but as a woman and just as an artist and creator in general, how, what have you learned trying to navigate this business stuff?

• 30:35Speaker 03

  I think it's, it's been very difficult. Um, for all the artists listening, you are only as strong as the people around you. And I think that I've learned that through trial and error. Um, but this industry, man, like I was raised differently, so.

• 30:52Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 30:52Speaker 03

  I was, I was super green when I came in. I'm just thinking like if someone's nice and they cool, no, that's not always the case. Sometimes people have like ulterior motives. And I think the best thing that I've done for myself is always to just be thorough with each relationship that I have. Know the intention, know the reasoning of why, you know, you're dealing with certain people, but it's honestly been like a lot of trial and error. And if I was like, just sharing what I would like to share on social media because I'd be like, I don't know. I'd be, like be happening like behind the back of the car. Right? But I choose not to, but um, I think it's just a lot of trial and error. And I think that I wish that as artists, as, and you know, actresses and actors, they're artists too in their own right.

• 31:35Speaker 03

  I just wish that people actually like took our careers more serious and um, protected us more. Um, like there's a lack of, a lack of protection when it comes to artists. It's like, we're like, we're these like exotic animals that everyone loves. And then once they get us, it's like, let's try to tame them, let's try to make them miss. No, you wanted us because of who we were and they, they take us, they try to control us, they want to manipulate, they wanna, they want to do things for themselves and it's just not fair because like all we want to do is create art. But it's unfortunate that we have to like, to be very aware because we never know who's around us.

• 32:14Keke Palmer?

  I think it's really important what you just said because it can totally feel like that. And then it, and then you uh, don't really have the space because people assume that you're rich. And even if you are rich, it's like at that point, you don't have a right to feelings. Which everybody, I really do want to be clear that everybody in the industry don't have money like that. And even if they do got a little bit, they got a business that they have to like afford to keep up. And you, I mean, it's just like the overhead.

• 32:37Speaker 03

  Even what Taraji said, like with, with all, all like the markdowns. And it's just like the people who, who be close to us and the people who feel like they may know us, they just be thinking, oh, you're rich, you're okay. No, I have teams that I have to take care of. So I really love that, that, that interview that she did because it truly broke down all the knockdowns that we had and what we truly take home, you know?

• 33:00Keke Palmer?

  And hopefully humanized the reality that we are all dealing with corporate struggle in every industry. Like our issues may not be the same, but corporations are gonna incorporate. Whether they are in the Hollywood world or they're in the, you know, uh, factory world. Like every industry across the board in America is dealing with being underpaid, undercut and having to maintain something. And so, um, I also love the aspect of what you said of that is like, you know, we just want to create. So there's that aspect where it's like, oh my gosh, I love my fans, this parasocial relationship, I appreciate this, I love this. But because it's parasocial, you really, you really don't know me. So I had to learn how to not take it personal, even though it, even though sometimes, you know, it will hurt your feeling.

• 33:41Keke Palmer?

  I've been doing it for 20 years and I remember the first time I got dragged on Twitter, you know what I'm saying? Or when I got dragged on Instagram, you know what I mean? Like you just be like, why y'all dragging me like this? Y'all done hooked me up to the back of this truck and y'all are going a hundred miles per hour, damn. But then you just sit back and say, you know what? They love my work, they don't know me, and I guess them motherfuckers hated that last project.

• 34:06Speaker 03

  You know what has helped me with to, like in those dealings? I'm like, okay, you're, you're dragging. The, the persona of me. Not me, cuz if you know me, you wouldn't be dragging me. So it's just like how I've dealt with that, it's just kinda like, okay. So, Sweetie, you have a public image. The public image of you is being dragged right now, but don't take it personal because you're still like Diamante and all these other like, you know, I have other existences, so. How I've dealt with that, with any time things may not go how I want to, especially with the internet, I'd be like, oh, damn. Like, cuz you know when it's not you, you just be like, damn. But when it's you, you be like.

• 34:48Keke Palmer?

  Hold up, let, let up off me real quick, let, let, let, let up off me real quick.

• 34:51Speaker 03

  You on the back of that truck hitting all the.

• 34:56Keke Palmer?

  It's bad, man, it is.

• 35:00Speaker 03

  Especially in trolling culture, cuz sometimes people would just join because they enjoy trolling, so. Just, I hope that, that you know that as public figures were able to detach from that public image because if you don't, it could really take a toll on your mental health.

• 35:16Keke Palmer?

  It really can. Well, let's get into the fact that people use constant gifts of you. There's a lot of love out there, you know, everybody gets the criticism, but you also get a lot of love, like you're everybody's homegirl, you know, like you said, you're inspiring on an aesthetic level, like people like, well, let me get into the look, let me get into what Miss Sweetie done did. You know, it's giving curated, it's giving mood board, you know what I mean? So how does that feel when the love comes in? Obviously, I know it's like you don't want it, wanted to take you up too high, but it must feel good to see that people are responding to what you put so much work into creating.

• 35:47Speaker 03

  I feel like as long as I can inspire and as long as I can give you something and we're able to create like a positive moment, like I, I love that for, for me or for anybody else. For me, like, my creativity is, is my therapy, so anytime someone else feels good about it, it always touches my heart because it's coming from, you know, like the inner child of myself.

• 36:10Keke Palmer?

  I love that. What is your unique approach to branding and marketing? Because I mean, I've even been in a studio with you and you've looked like Sweetie. Does that make sense? Like, there's not anywhere where I've seen you and you didn't look like the role of being Sweetie. So how, like, how is, is it like you sit down and you're like, okay, you know, I live, I love a little bit of this and I love a little bit of that? Or I want to be like, what is the makeup that have, that you have created as to what's your brand that you follow?

• 36:39Speaker 03

  I honestly do what makes me happy. And anytime I try to be too strategic with something, that's when I feel like it's not me. Because I feel like when you're authentically you, it's second nature. And when it's something that's not necessarily that, you know, is not, may not be your most authentic self, that's when more thinking goes into it.

• 36:57Keke Palmer?

  Is there something that comes into your mind where it's like, oh, you know what? That was this, when I did this project, that really wasn't me. Or I would have did that differently now, like something from in hindsight?

• 37:07Speaker 03

  Yes, there was a, there was a record that came out. It was called The U-S-O Record. It was with Kid Inc. and Lil Wayne. And I remember when the song came, when the song came to me, it was super like, um, it was more freaky than usual, you know?

• 37:20Keke Palmer?

  Right.

• 37:20Speaker 03

  And I wanted to like, well, for me, I always love a challenge. So I was like, okay, how do I do like a dope spin on this to where it's like, I'm still me, but I'm able to tap into this world? Um, girl, I struggled so hard in that studio. Like, at first, it took me like a really long time to say pussy on records, like. It just was like.

• 37:37Keke Palmer?

  I mean, well, that's a big, that's a big thing with your brand. Where it's like, do I want to be, even if you say it in your own life, it's like, do I want to say that in the front of the world? How is that going? So it's, it's an, I get it.

• 37:49Speaker 03

  No, it put, it took me a really long time to like say pussy on music.

• 37:54Keke Palmer?

  Even right now, I'm spooked.

• 37:56Speaker 03

  Yeah, no, but like, like for me, it was like, it took a long time. Now I'm used to it, but I remember just being in the studio and it's just that studio pressure. When some, when people who aren't in the room that really know you, it's just like, man, just say the word. Like, and I'm just like, it's making me cringe.

• 38:15Speaker 03

  You know, this is at least for me, you know, because I grew up.

• 38:19Keke Palmer?

  I feel the same way.

• 38:21Speaker 03

  Right, because how I grew up, I was a super tomboy. But as an artist, having that level of success so young and where you're the only person in the room who can only stand up for yourself and everybody's just like, just say this or that, and I'm just like.

• 38:36Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, but you have to go through those scenarios, you know what I mean? It's important because then it gives you the strength to know how to act the next time. So I mean, like, do you still use pussy? Do you fuck with it now? Or like, what has it changed? Have you been like, nah, nah, nah, I ain't gonna do that?

• 38:51Speaker 03

  Honestly, I say it with intention, but if it's not needed, it's not a word that I'm just gonna throw in there, you know?

• 38:57Keke Palmer?

  Period.

• 38:57Speaker 03

  Um, I've been recording a lot lately lately, and when I'm in the room, I try to stay away from it unless it really like, you know?

• 39:04Keke Palmer?

  It feels right.

• 39:05Speaker 03

  Unless it feels right, you know? If it's empowering, oh, like my song.

• 39:11Speaker 03

  Like, I love that record because I feel like I was, it was me and I was empowering women to let them know that they have the power. Because, you know, the puani is power.

• 39:22Speaker 03

  So that's when I love to use the word. Um, but if it's, if it's like, if it's just no intention, I'm just throwing it away and it's just casual, I'm like, no. Because I feel like pussy is such a sacred word.

• 39:34Keke Palmer?

  Yes, I agree with you. It's like, it's like, if I don't want to just use it in a way where it feels exploitative to me, but if it feels necessary, then yeah, I'ma say it.

• 39:47Keke Palmer?

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• 40:30Keke Palmer?

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• 41:13Keke Palmer?

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• 41:23Keke Palmer?

  What is the kind of standard for not only music you want to do, but people you want to collaborate with? Like, is there a rule of thumb that you have?

• 41:33Speaker 03

  Honestly, it's do or I love it. And like I said, when it's second nature to you, you don't have to think. If it's too much thinking going into it, that means, oh, girl. I follow this page. It was vintage icons. And there was this wonderful woman, I forgot what her name is. And she talks about the difference between the heart and the mind. She goes, "The heart always knows. It's the mind that talks us out of situations, or it's the mind that kind of tells the heart, 'Okay, you may not like it, but let me start thinking about it. Let me persuade you out of what your initial thought is.'" So I try to listen to my heart as much as possible now. Because my mind, especially in this industry, I'm like, I'm second-guessing myself. I'm like, "Well, you know, it's not that bad." No, girl.

• 42:17Speaker 03

  If it was a no from the get-go, it's a no now. So I try to listen to my heart as much as possible now.

• 42:22Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, I love what you said with that, because I think it becomes quite difficult to... You know, again, people are trying to build brands, trying to figure out how to be able to get big collaborations. They want to do what's right. They want to put themselves in the best position. But if you really are authentic in terms of how you feel, what's comfortable for you, what's true to your heart... Then it would actually lead you to the better opportunities for you.

• 42:45Speaker 03

  Absolutely.

• 42:47Keke Palmer?

  Are you critical of yourself? I know that's a silly question because I'm sure you are. You're an artist, you know, but what do, what, what, what are the kinds of things that you have to fight against in your mind when it comes to being critical of yourself?

• 42:59Speaker 03

  Well, I'm a Cancer.

• 43:01Keke Palmer?

  Ooh, girl. What's your rising and what's your moon?

• 43:03Speaker 03

  Um, I'll tell you offline.

• 43:06Keke Palmer?

  Oh, she don't want you in her business, y'all.

• 43:08Speaker 03

  Astrologist, and once they find out the big three, they be trying to feel like they know you.

• 43:14Speaker 03

  Um, I honestly have been, I think since last summer, I've been proactively reprogramming my mind because

• 43:28Speaker 03

  I think I think so negatively about myself. And I think that I only started to do that once I became a public figure because there was a time where I got dragged online so much and that's all I was reading in. Um, when you learn about the subconscious mind, like what you allow to enter, so your mind gets programmed. So honestly, I'm, I'm doing a lot of deep programming right now. Um.

• 43:53Keke Palmer?

  That's me too. I've been through some traumatizing stuff publicly and privately so I can, I mean, I, I I feel, feel like everybody in the world has to some degree, but maybe not on the public scale that, you know, entertainer could, could experience. But what I will say is what I've learned for my own self is like traum- traumatic stuff is a part of life and it's actually like, uh, I don't want to say it's necessary, but like on a soul level. You know, we chose our experience to a certain degree. And the questions that I've pushed myself to ask myself is instead of saying, why did this happen to me? I say, you know, why did this happen for me? What am I supposed to learn? Because if I wanted to go through this on a spiritual soul level, if I wanted my sins character to experience X, Y, and Z,

• 44:36Keke Palmer?

  what am I supposed to take from it? Because if I don't take nothing from it, then I'm not doing my job. It's not, I didn't do my job because I went through it. It's, I didn't learn something from it. And if I don't, then that means I'm not doing my job. So.

• 44:48Speaker 03

  And there's that, there's that act, I honestly, I love following like my little random pages that be having the quotes and like little.

• 44:54Keke Palmer?

  Me too, the memes.

• 44:55Speaker 03

  But there's a, um, I think it was the butler of Batman. Can you, you, you know his name? I feel so bad because he's so iconic.

• 45:02Keke Palmer?

  Alfred, you talking about Alfred?

• 45:04Speaker 03

  Alfred, yeah. Um, he was doing an interview and, um, I forgot what the analogy, I forgot the analogy that he used, but he basically gave this dope story. I forgot what it was, but he was like, use problems, use traumatic experiences. Like, what is the opportunity in that? What's the positivity? So for me, I'd be excited and I'd be like, okay, this feels bad, but how do I make it a positive moment? So for me, it's like, I now look at challenges as obstacles. I get excited for them because I know I'm going to turn it into something better.

• 45:34Keke Palmer?

  Yes, I, I feel you.

• 45:37Speaker 03

  It's reprogramming, you know?

• 45:38Keke Palmer?

  It's that reprogramming because honestly, it's a narrative. If I have to have an, if I have my inner monologue, I'm gonna let my inner monologue be on that Jordan Sparks.

• 45:51Keke Palmer?

  You know what I mean? Like, I want my shit to be positive no matter what I'm going through. Okay, well, give me a day in the life of sweetie, because I feel like your life is quite fabulous. You're probably gonna try to downplay it, but like, what is a day in life, sweetie? Do she wake up? Are you turning your music on? Are you going to the studio? Are you laying back?

• 46:08Speaker 03

  I love loud music. I love loud music and coffee in the morning. I love it. That's like my go-to.

• 46:15Keke Palmer?

  Come on, Stimulant.

• 46:16Speaker 03

  I love Afro beats or I love like nineties reggaeton. Like, those are my.

• 46:22Keke Palmer?

  I love the accent that went with it. Reggaeton.

• 46:25Speaker 03

  Yeah, so those are my two starters. It's, we go into the islands in the morning and we drink.

• 46:29Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 46:30Speaker 03

  Um, I love to work out. Ooh, girl. Have you tried Pilates?

• 46:34Keke Palmer?

  Girl, I love Pilates, but I like it mostly with the machines. I don't like when we on the ground.

• 46:40Speaker 03

  Oh, yeah. I tried machine Pilates. Ooh, girl.

• 46:43Keke Palmer?

  It's very severe.

• 46:44Speaker 03

  My stomach was good the next day. I said, I'm coming here every day. So for try Pilates, you know, we getting ready for the summer body for everybody who's listening. Um, what else? Meetings, um, I prefer, um, studio time during the day because I hate, I, minimum, I'm in the studio six to eight hours. So I don't, I don't like going at night because I'm gonna be there until like the morning time.

• 47:08Keke Palmer?

  Literally.

• 47:10Speaker 03

  I love Pinterest.

• 47:12Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh, I live for it. You really are a mood board girl.

• 47:15Speaker 03

  Yeah, I love, I love Pinterest. Um, I like, I like binge watching shows like.

• 47:22Keke Palmer?

  What show you watching right now?

• 47:24Speaker 03

  I just binge watched, um, Griselda and Black Cake.

• 47:27Keke Palmer?

  Oh, I gotta watch those. So wait, I Griselda I've heard of, but what's Black Cake?

• 47:32Speaker 03

  It's basically about how, um, the mother, she was an immigrant and she came to the States. And, um, before she, well, she, she passes away and she basically uncovers her whole life through this recording for her kids. And it just, it made me like, it humanized my mother. And I hope, and I hope that in the most respectful way. Um, cause you know, sometimes when I look at my mom, I don't wanna generalize and say how everybody looks at their mom. I only see her as like mom, you know? Not realizing that she went through all these things to become the woman she is today. And I feel like especially with immigrant parents, they hide a lot of things. They hide a lot of their trauma.

• 48:13Speaker 03

  And, um, but through those experiences, if, when they share it, it helps. You know, us as kids like learn, uh, like, learn about them as humans and it takes away that title. So I really appreciated Black Cake. It really made me look at, um, my mom in a different way.

• 48:30Keke Palmer?

  That's very, very amazing. I gotta check that out.

• 48:34Speaker 03

  No, you definitely do. And my mom, like, she a tiger mom, you know? And a lot of tou- lot of tough love, but I realized that she was loving me. She was teaching me through her teaching style because of her trauma. And it just, it just, it just made me, uh, just have a lot of empathy towards my mom.

• 48:53Keke Palmer?

  It's so true, man, isn't it?

• 48:55Speaker 03

  Absolutely. And then even like, through talking to my mom about different like, um, love styles. There was like anxious attachment, avoidant attachment. And, and he- and their healthy attachment. And I, girl, I could learn about myself. I ain't gonna say, I ain't gonna say what I am.

• 49:10Keke Palmer?

  I'll tell you what I am after this.

• 49:12Speaker 03

  Okay, I'll tell you too.

• 49:18Keke Palmer?

  Mine is like, I feel like, actually I'm just gonna say it here, y'all can edit mine's out, but she could still respond to it right now, but mine's is fearful avoidant. Could you believe? It's like, I wanna be close, but I don't really wanna be close, but I wanna be close, but like, back up, for real.

• 49:37Keke Palmer?

  I love those little quizzes, girl. I be doing them quizzes, Dab, like, tell me about myself, please.

• 49:43Speaker 03

  Me too. The older I get, the more I just wanna learn about myself so that I have better relationships with those around me.

• 49:49Keke Palmer?

  I guess the last question of the question half of this conversation I would ask is, what do you want your legacy to be? I know it's loaded, cuz, you know, you're so young, but what is kind of like, you know, what you would want people to take away from, you know, sweetie?

• 50:03Speaker 03

  Honestly, consistency.

• 50:05Keke Palmer?

  Ooh.

• 50:06Speaker 03

  Yeah, I think that consistency is what builds legacy, so honestly, I'm not, I'm not sure what my legacy will be until the legacy is, is, you know, imprinted into like, history, but my word of the year, and I tell everybody that's around me, like, yes, I wanna win, and yes, I wanna achieve this and that, but I honestly just wanna be consistent.

• 50:27Keke Palmer?

  Mm-hmm, and I couldn't agree with you more. I define legacy in like, longevity based off consistency, uh, as well. So, you're amazing. I love how you're taking the world by storm, and I know you always gonna have so much, so much, so much, so much to show us. Uh, on the show, we like to play games, and we always end our convos with a little game, so the game is called, But The Gag Is. And I'll share a take, and then you just share your honest opinion for it. You ready?

• 50:53Speaker 03

  Mm-hmm.

• 50:54Keke Palmer?

  Okay, sampling other songs means maybe you're not an original artist, but the gag is?

• 51:00Speaker 03

  You are.

• 51:02Keke Palmer?

  Period, period, period.

• 51:05Speaker 03

  Cuz hip-hop was based off of sampling, and... Yeah, girl. I'm gonna sample for the rest of my career.

• 51:12Keke Palmer?

  And I also think it's like, again, it's telling a story. Like when we were talking about the icy girl, icy world. Like it's dope when you can put a flip on something that you feel, but you make it your own. And that's the original aspect of it. It's like, yo, we feel this vibe, but I'm gonna take it to another. I'm taking it to rap. I'm gonna take it my way. Um, okay. If you already know who you want to be as an artist, college is a waste of time, but the gag is?

• 51:36Speaker 03

  Honestly, it's not because I feel like col- college, it made me a confident person. Like, I can go in any room and just be comfortable because USC is just like, girl, to be in those kind of rooms and sometimes being the only black girl, you're just like, oh, no, I'm gonna make this work. Um, and al- and also, like, if your homegirl or your homeboy wants to be a rapper, like, for the friends around you, because like, I don't know about you, I like to work with people who like,

• 52:06Keke Palmer?

  Oh, me too.

• 52:06Speaker 03

  Like, I could be who I could vibe with because I'm with them all the time. If your homegirl wants to be a rapper, learn how to lay- lay a wig, learn how to do some makeup. Because you're gonna need those kind of people around you. And I'm pretty sure you know this, you want to hire people who you love. Like, I want to put that money into someone's pocket who I know, who I actually know. So, for those people who are listening, if you're, if you're a homeboy or a homegirl, or it's trying to be something, figure out a, a job that can like, service that so that you guys can always like, stick together.

• 52:34Keke Palmer?

  You on that LeBron James. I'm on the LeBron James too. Me and all my friends is coming up, period, okay? Pretty privilege is real, but the gag is?

• 52:43Speaker 03

  It's really not. I feel like because, like, the pretty privilege thing got kind of reversed. I'd be feeling like people like, I'mma, I'mma be mean to her because everybody's probably nice to her, or I'mma treat her like this, she can feel like this. And I just honestly, because my emotional intelligence is so up, I'd be like, okay, you got it.

• 53:03Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, I do think that people try to do this whole humble you thing. Like, not you particularly, but just like, anybody. Like, if they feel like somebody think they cute, like, oh, you think you cute, like, let me humble you real quick. And it's like, don't be a hater in disguise. It's so apparent what you're doing right now.

• 53:21Keke Palmer?

  Female rappers are forced to compete against each other, but the gag is?

• 53:27Speaker 03

  Um, healthy competition is great. You know, iron shop is iron. It's the, it's the, it's the, all the extras that come with it. You know, I love that there's other talented women out there because when I see them, I'm like, I gotta do better. And I feel like that's always, it's always good when it's healthy.

• 53:44Keke Palmer?

  Girl, you ate that down.

• 53:45Speaker 03

  And honestly, for all like new artists, female artists, male artists, always fact check. Cause there's been plenty of times where like I've heard that someone didn't like me. When I see them, I ask them, do we have a problem in the most respectful way? And 10 times out of 10, it's like, no, I thought you had a problem. Oh, girl, we good. Like, I feel like the internet and other people create the beef. It's not real, the, the female rappers or the artists. So it's just like, we always gotta ask them questions because honestly, sometimes there's nothing even there.

• 54:17Keke Palmer?

  But if somebody meets you, there's no way that they wouldn't like you, even if they didn't like you before. Because you are literally like a personality that's a character on the episode of The Parkers. Like, you literally are a Parker's episode character. Like, I love her. Like, you're just like a sitcom person. Like, it just gives life. Okay, last one. Social media is crucial to success and fame nowadays, but the gag is?

• 54:40Speaker 03

  It is.

• 54:41Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, that is, I, I agree. It's definitely crucial to being able to sustain your business.

• 54:46Speaker 03

  I feel like with Generation Z and the upcoming generations, they're so online. And if those are your consumers, we have to adapt.

• 54:56Speaker 03

  And unless you're a two or three decade company, um, who already have those built in fan bases and consumers,

• 55:06Speaker 03

  you have to create and serve the people who are upcoming. And those are the younger generation, and the younger generation really enjoys the internet and social media, so.

• 55:18Speaker 03

  I think that it's always important to adapt to the business climate.

• 55:22Keke Palmer?

  I couldn't agree with you more and that's why you are my business girly. And I'm so happy to have had you on the show, hearing you talk and also having a conversation, I think, around just so many of the things that I want people to know about you as somebody that personally knows you and has watched your evolution on a, on a personal level. Like, I just, you know, I'm, I'm excited for people to hear this conversation and really get into the mind of you.

• 55:44Speaker 03

  Oh, thank you, Kiki. And girl, you know, I'm a fan since day one. You've always just been you. You on screen, off screen, Kiki is always a good time.

• 55:54Keke Palmer?

  Girl, we gotta get up in the studio again how we was having fun. I fell asleep on the couch. Y'all was, y'all was giving me too much drinks. Y'all was giving me too much drinks. I, I was, remember I woke up, I was like, huh, good night, good night.

• 56:08Speaker 03

  We had fun in the studio.

• 56:09Keke Palmer?

  So much fun. Thank you again. Thank you to your team and I know I'll see you around.

• 56:14Speaker 03

  Yeah, I'm gonna see you soon, girl. Thank you, guys.

• 56:18Keke Palmer?

  Okay, I'm honestly leaving this conversation feeling inspired and impressed. I feel like I can relate a lot to what Sweetie said. You know, it's one thing to succeed in your art, but it's a whole other ballgame to become bigger than your craft and really become a brand in itself. One thing I know for sure is it's not something that just happens on its own. It's something that you gotta put work into. All right, listeners, this was another good one and I know there will be yet another good one next week. Until then, you know it's your girl.

• 56:58Keke Palmer?

  Enjoy Baby This is Keke Palmer on the Wondery app, wherever you get your podcasts and now, on YouTube where you can watch full episodes. Subscribe to the Wondery channel on YouTube and don't miss any episodes. You can listen to Baby This is Keke Palmer early and ad free on Wondery Plus. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.

• 57:22Keke Palmer?

  Baby This Is Keke Palmer is hosted and executive produced by me, Keke Palmer. Lucas Segal is our post-producer. Music supervisor is Scott Velasquez. Our original theme song was written and performed by me, Keke Palmer. For Team Kiki, my producer is Sharon Palmer. For Wondery, our managing producer is Olivia Fonti. Senior producers are Tristan McNeil and Candice Monriquez-Rin. Our executive producers are Emily Feldbrake, Dave Easton, Erin O'Flaherty, and Marshall Louis.