Whole Lotta Money

Who Is BIA? Getting To Know The Hitmaker

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Rapper Bia has been making waves since her debut on Oxygen’s Sisterhood of Hip Hop. Since emerging on the scene, the MC has garnered a huge following due to her confident, trap-influenced flow. She has collaborated with big names in the game in her career, including Hip Hop’s leading lady, Nicki Minaj. With a long list of singles, the rapper has made her way onto the charts, starting her reign in Hip Hop. Here’s everything you need to know about the rapper BIA.

Early Life & Career

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 10: Rapper BIA performs onstage during Day 1 of Rolling Loud Los Angeles at NOS Events Center on December 10, 2021 in San Bernardino, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

BIA, real name Bianca Miquela Landrau, is originally from Medford, Massachusetts. The rapper is of Afro-Puerto Rican and Italian descent. The star’s multicultural identity is something that the artist embraces. Growing up, she lived in a household where mixed language was used often. However, the star also had to overcome challenges from her background. This is especially true while growing up in a segregated city.

“It was hard to grow up as a mixed kid because you don’t really have a certain place,” said the rapper in an interview. “I saw the world differently, and it forced me to really know myself through music and to create my own thing.” The artist is proud of her ethnic background and is willing to defend it. She once went after online trolls who questioned the star’s racial identity, saying that she “not Black” in a tweet. “Very aware of my roots guys,” she Bia in a reply to the tweet. “Very proud to be Afrolatina and Italian.”

Having dreams of becoming a rapper, she got her break when Def Jam rapper Fam-lay discovered her on YouTube. This eventually led to Bia being introduced to superproducer Pharrell. Shortly afterward, the rapper starred on the Oxygen reality show, Sisterhood of Hip Hop for two seasons. She would sign her first record deal with the I Am Other music label. This led to the artist getting the chance to collaborate with big names like T.I., Jennifer Hudson, and Usher. At RCA Records, she dropped the singles “Whip It” and “Gucci Comin’ Home.” 

Collaborations 

Bia’s catalog not only includes the fan favorites like “Cover Girl” but impressive collaborations that made their marks on the Billboard charts. Bia got her first appearance on the charts when she was featured on J Balvin’s 2016 hit, “Safari,” alongside Pharrell Williams and Sky. The single peaked at No. 3 on the US Latin Charts. Bia’s next big collab would be “Best on Earth,” her smash hit collab with rapper-singer Russ. The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard US Rhythmic Chart and No. 22 on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart. The song is certified Platinum by the RIAA. 

In 2020, she returned to the charts again, this time with the remix to her single “Whole Lotta Money,” which featured Nicki Minaj. The remix to the Bia single made its way to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. According to Rolling Stone, the Platinum-selling remix came about after Nicki heard the song and was so impressed she decided to reach out to Bia on her Instagram. The banger was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Collaboration at the 2021 BET Awards. It was also listed at No. 38 on Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Songs of 2021 list.” Already a favorite among fans and critics, the Nicki Minaj collaboration gave even more momentum to the star’s expanding career. 

The rising star’s next single came from the UK drill-influenced collaboration with J. Cole, “London.” The hit 200 single would peak at No. 20 on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Chart. “London” reached No. 130 on the Global 200 Chart as well. The music video for “London” also gained the artist a “Best Music Video” nomination at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards. During her career, Bia has also hopped on the track with artists including Lil Durk, Doja Cat, T-Pain, and 21 Savage. Early in her career, Bia toured with the likes of Pusha T, Ariana Grande, and Don Toliver. 

What’s Next For Rapper BIA?

Still going strong from the momentum of her previous hits, Bia recently dropped another banger. Earlier this month, Bia released her newest single, “I’m That B**ch,” which features Timbaland. The single samples and takes inspiration from Missy Elliot’s “She’s a b**ch”, originally produced by Timbaland, and debuted at ten on the Billboard 200 chart at the time of its release. “I’m That B**ch is the second single for her long-awaited debut album. Future shows that fans can spot Bia performing this year includes the Metro Metro Festival in Montreal, Canada, later this month. Outside of dropping hits and performing, Bia also has her own line of cosmetics called “Beauty For Certain.” 

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BIA’s ‘Whole Lotta Money’ Caused A Store To Sell Out Their Stock Of Bottega Veneta Heels

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A successful doesn’t always just affect the artist who made it; sometimes it can also help others make money as well. A good example of this is BIA’s hit song “Whole Lotta Money.” The track, from her 2020 EP For Certain, originally gained popularity as a viral song on TikTok. But months later a remix featuring Nicki Minaj made it even bigger. And it affected others as well, as BIA recently revealed.

Fans of the rapper have been rushing to a certain store to purchase a pair of Bottega Veneta heels, the same luxury brand that BIA mentions in “Whole Lotta Money.” Apparently so many rushed to the store that they’re having trouble keeping that line in stock.

“Not the store clerk at Bottega saying the heels are sold out bc of the song,” the rapper wrote in a tweet Wednesday morning.

In the song, BIA is fulsome in her praise of these shoes. “I put on my jewelry just to go to the bodega / And I keep it with me just so that I’m feeling safer,” she raps. “Fendi on my body, but my feet is in Bottega / B*tch, I’m getting money, give a f*ck about a hater.”

Earlier this year, amid the song’s growth, BIA brought “Whole Lotta Money” to the UPROXX Sessions for a boisterous performance. You can revisit that here.

Nicki Minaj Surprises Fans With A Remix Of BIA’s Viral Hit, ‘Whole Lotta Money’

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This year is building up to be the year of Nicki Minaj and in just a matter of months, the rapper already has a number of memorable moments to be proud of. Her latest one comes through a surprise remix of BIA’s viral track, “Whole Lotta Money.” The track that has helped greatly in boosting the Boston native’s popularity, but the new remix with Nicki will only increase that exponentially. On it, the two rappers deliver verses of their own before going back and forth on a third verse for the remix that maintains the song’s original production.

The remix comes after Nicki teased something big for fans in the days leading up to the track’s arrival. “There’s something I URGENTLY need to share w you guys,” she tweeted, promising to go on Instagram Live to share it. She added, “This is VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT. Love you guys so much.” As promised, Nicki held the Instagarm Live, which featured a live appearance from BIA who sat beside Nicki for the last 20 minutes of the livestream. Here, Nicki and BIA discussed how the remix came together and their prior interactions before engaging in a game of “f*ck, marry, kill.”

The remix arrives after BIA stopped by UPROXX Sessions to before the original version of the track which can be found on her 2020 project, For Certain.

You can check out the remix to “Whole Lotta Money” in the video above.

Bia Brings Her TikTok Hit ‘Whole Lotta Money’ To A Boisterous ‘UPROXX Sessions’ Performance

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If you’ve been on TikTok at any point in the last two months, the odds are extremely high you’ve heard Bia’s “Whole Lotta Money” at least once — I’d ballpark it at around 96%. The ruthlessly catchy wealth anthem has been a staple of all kinds of content, but today, you get to see the face and the razor-sharp performance behind the jewelry jam on UPROXX Sessions.

Hailing from Medford, Massachusetts, Bia is one of a growing number of rising stars to get her start on a reality show. In her case, it was Oxygen network’s Sisterhood Of Hip Hop, where she spent two seasons after signing to RCA Records. However, when the deal stalled out, she secured her release in 2019 — and started her ascent to stardom in earnest. Her song “Best On Earth” with Russ was highlighted by a Rihanna co-sign and gave Bia her first platinum plaque. Over the course of the next year, a string of releases included “Same Hands” with Lil Durk, a new EP, For Certain, on Epic Records, and yes, the TikTok-favorite single with which she’s taken over viral launching pad TikTok. Keep an eye and an ear out; Bia is built for this and finally getting her due.

Watch Bia’s UPROXX Sessions performance of “Whole Lotta Money” above.

UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.