Janae Nierah Wherry (born April 15, 1998), known professionally as Red, is an American rapper. She rose to prominence with the release of her 2023 single "Pound Town" (with Tay Keith); its popularity spawned the remixed sequel "Pound Town 2" (with Nicki Minaj), her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Her follow-up single, "SkeeYee", was met with similar success; both songs were included on her second mixtape, Hood Hottest Princess (2023). Billboard declared Wherry as "one of the biggest breakout artists of summer 2023."
That same year, Wherry guest appeared on the remixes of the singles "Shake Sumn" by DaBaby, "Slut Me Out" by NLE Choppa, and "Peaches & Eggplants" by Young Nudy, alongside rapper Latto. She guest appeared on Drake's 2023 single "Rich Baby Daddy", which peaked within the Billboard Hot 100's top 20. Her 2024 single, "Get It Sexyy", preceded her third mixtape, In Sexyy We Trust (2024). That same year, her appearance on Tyler, the Creator's single "Sticky", alongside GloRilla and Lil Wayne, peaked within its top ten, and was nominated for Best Rap Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Her 2025 single "Whatchu Kno About Me" (with GloRilla) received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In addition to a Grammy Award nomination, Wherry won "Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist" at the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards.
Early life Janae Nierah Wherry was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 15, 1998, and raised there. Wherry started rapping after penning a diss track directed towards a boyfriend who cheated on her. Her stage name, "Sexyy Red", was adapted from the nickname "Red", which she had had for a long time due to her dyed red hair. She has previously worked as a hairdresser and a call-center agent. In 2016, she graduated from Normandy High School in Wellston, Missouri.
Career Red released her first song "Ah Thousand Jugs" in 2018. In 2021, she released her debut mixtape, Ghetto Superstar.
In January 2023, she released "Pound Town" with Tay Keith, which later went viral on social media. In April, she was featured on the remix of NLE Choppa's "Slut Me Out". In May that same year, she released "Pound Town 2" with Nicki Minaj, which became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. In June, she released the mixtape Hood Hottest Princess. In August 2023, Red joined Drake on his It's All a Blur Tour as an opening act, having appeared as a guest at previous shows. She featured alongside SZA on his single "Rich Baby Daddy", from his eighth studio album For All the Dogs, in October. Her first top-10 song in the United States was with Tyler, the Creator over a year later. The two released a collaboration with GloRilla and Lil Wayne, "Sticky" from the album Chromakopia, in October 2024.
On May 28, 2024, Red appeared at WWE NXT where she presented the new NXT Women's North American Championship. On June 9, 2024, she hosted the 2024 NXT Battleground PLE.
In February 11, 2026, Red posted a video on her Instagram showing a remix of Michael Jackson's "Beat It". Shortly after, Jackson's estate responded, deeming the usage of the song as unauthorized.
Artistry Influences Growing up, Red listened to artists such as Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Project Pat, Juicy J, Three 6 Mafia, Chief Keef, Webbie, Boosie Badazz, and Trina. Kyle Denis remarked in Billboard that those artists "embody the unapologetically hood energy that now courses through every Sexyy Red song", with Red herself stating that she sought to emulate their "fearlessness". She has frequently been called the "Female Gucci Mane" in particular and released a song with that title on her mixtape Hood Hottest Princess.
Lyrical and musical style
Red's lyrics focus on one-sentence phrases rather than metaphors and other devices, with Jayson Buford of Rolling Stone writing that "she abstains from traditional lyricism". He also described her as a "classic Southern rapper". In Complex, Eric Skelton called her songs "full of viral lyrics". Red has stated that her daily life serves as the main inspiration for her music. Due to the often highly sexual nature of her lyrics, she has been characterized as a prominent figure of "pussy rap", although she rejects this classification and has expressed exasperation over being reduced to her sexual songs. Red is also noted for her distinctive voice and flow. She has received praise for her "authenticity" and her "energy", which are cited as factors for her success with a broad audience.
Public image Sexyy Red has been a focal point in discussions about the representation of Black women in the music industry. During an interview with One Musicfest, American rapper Trina defended Red, emphasizing her right to express herself freely and to create music on her own terms. In contrast, rapper Khia voiced her disapproval of being compared to artists like Trina and Red, citing concerns over their perceived negative influence. In response, Red addressed Khia's remarks on social media, referring to her as "washed up" and "miserable".
Personal life Red's first child, a son, was born in 2020. On October 15, 2023, she announced that she was pregnant with her second child in an Instagram post. She gave birth to her second child on February 5, 2024, a daughter, and footage of her in the delivery room was the center of Drake's music video for "Rich Baby Daddy", released 9 days later.
In August 2023, Red disclosed on a podcast that she was a victim of rape.
Red had expressed support for then-former U.S. president Donald Trump and used the phrase "Make America Sexyy Again" in her branding. However, she revealed in November 2024 that she voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Discography Mixtapes + List of mixtapes, with selected details, chart positions and certifications Title Mixtape details Peak chart positionsCertifications US USR&B/HH USRap CANGhetto Superstar Released: December 24, 2021 Label: Self-released Format: CD, digital download, streaming — — — —Hood Hottest Princess Released: June 9, 2023 Label: Open Shift, Gamma Format: CD, digital download, streaming 62 21 13 — RIAA: GoldIn Sexyy We Trust Released: May 24, 2024 Label: Open Shift, Gamma Format: CD, digital download, streaming 17 5 5 80Yo Favorite Trappa Favorite Rappa (Hosted by DJ Holiday) Released: April 15, 2026https://miixtapechiick.com/sexyy-red-yo-favorite-trappa-favorite-rappa/ Label: Rebel, Gamma Format: CD, Digital download, streaming———— "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected details Title EP detailsPound Town Released: April 30, 2023 Label: Open Shift Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Singles As lead artist + List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USR&B/HH USRap USRhy. AUSPeak positions in Australia: All except noted: "Fat Juicy & Wet": "Guilt Trippin": "Sweet Spot": CANIRE NZ UKPeak positions in the United Kingdom: All except noted: "Whatchu Kno About Me": "Sticky": WW "Ah Thousand Jugs" 2018 — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="6" "Free Smoke" — — — — — — — — — — "Don't Trust Em" 2019 — — — — — — — — — — "Northside" — — — — — — — — — — "Young Hot Nigga" — — — — — — — — — — "Slob on My Ckat" 2021 — — — — — — — — — — "Ghetto Freestyle" — — — — — — — — — — Ghetto Superstar "Throw That MF" — — — — — — — — — — "Hood Bitch" — — — — — — — — — — Ghetto Superstar "My Bitches" — — — — — — — — — — "I Love My Nickel" 2022 — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="4" "Throwin' It" — — — — — — — — — — "Don't Get Beat" — — — — — — — — — — "My Twin" — — — — — — — — — — "Born by the River" — — — — — — — — — — Hood Hottest Princess "All White Air Forces" — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="3" "FYM" — — — — — — — — — — "Tired" — — — — — — — — — — "Pound Town" 2023 66 21 14 19 — — — — — — RIAA: Platinum Hood Hottest Princess "Push Start" — — — — — — — — — — "Female Gucci Mane" — — — — — — — — — — Hood Hottest Princess "SkeeYee" 62 17 12 13 — — — — — — RIAA: Platinum "Hood Rats" — — — — — — — — — — "Hellcats SRTs" — 40 — — — — — — — — "Shake Yo Dreads" — — — — — — — — — — "Free My N***a" — — — — — — — — — — "Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Mama)" — 38 — — — — — — — — RIAA: Gold "Get It Sexyy" 2024 20 6 5 8 — 82 — — — 73 RIAA: 2× Platinum RMNZ: Gold In Sexyy We Trust "U My Everything" 44 12 10 12 — 70 — — — 132 RIAA: Gold "U Kno What to Do (UKWTD)" — 42 — — — — — — — — "Whatchu Kno About Me" 17 3 2 1 — 59 — 30 93 62 RIAA: 2× Platinum RMNZ: Platinum Glorious "Fat Juicy & Wet" 2025 17 4 4 5 55 27 76 31 32 22 MC: Platinum rowspan="2" "Guilt Trippin" — — — — 86 — — — 47 — "If You Want It" — 50 — — — — — — — — Yo Favorite Trappa Favorite Rappa "Hang wit a Bad Bitch" 2026 — 28 21 22 — — — — — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications AlbumUSUSR&B/HHUSRapAUSCANGERIRENZUKWW "Sense dat God Gave You" 2022 — — — — — — — — — — "Slut Me Out (Remix)" 2023 — — — — — — — — — — Cottonwood 2 "Check" — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="4" "Area Codes (314 Remix)" — — — — — — — — — — "Shiesty" — — — — — — — — — — "Shake Sumn (Remix)" — — — — — — — — — — "Mmm Hmm" — — — — — — — — — — Back2datrap "Face Down" — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="6" "One Margarita (Margarita Song) (Ladies Remix)" — — — — — — — — — — "Perc & Sex" — — — — — — — — — — "I Love Freaks (Sexyy's Version)" — — — — — — — — — — "Bing Bong (Remix)" — — — — — — — — — — "Peaches & Eggplants (Remix)" — — — — — — — — — — "Big Dawg" — — — — — — — — — — Gangsta Art 2 "No Panties" — — — — — — — — — — Rap Sh!t: The Mixtape (From the Max Original Series, S2) "Rich Baby Daddy" 11 4 3 11 18 68 20 9 10 16 RIAA: 3× Platinum ARIA: Platinum BPI: Platinum MC: 2× Platinum RMNZ: 2× Platinum For All the Dogs "All She Do Is Shake" — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="2" "Hoe Shit" — — — — — — — — — — "Bent (Remix)" — — — — — — — — — — 41 World: Not the Album "Yonce Freestyle" — — — — — — — — — — The Ceremony "Daddy" — — — — — — — — — — "Sexyy & Conceited" — — — — — — — — — — Sext8pe "Somethin'" 2024 — — — — — — — — — — "Damn Shorty" — — — — — — — — — — Dirty Nachos "FTCU (SleezeMix)" — — — — — — — — — — "Sticky" 10 1 1 33 26 — 63 25 57 23 RIAA: 3× Platinum BPI: Silver MC: Platinum RMNZ: Platinum Chromakopia "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Other charted and certified songs + List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US USR&B/HH USRap AUS CAN WW "Looking for the Hoes (Ain't My Fault)" 2023 — 49 — — — — RIAA: Platinum Hood Hottest Princess "Sweet Spot" 2025 57 17 — 86 54 76 Swag "Baller" 96 23 13 — — — Finally Over It "Hurrr Not Thurrr"20266134——60115Habibti "Cheetah Print"41—22—3170Maid of Honour "Booty Club"—36————All Eyes on Shiest "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Film soundtrack Year Film Song Notes 2025 F1 "OMG!" Co-performed with Tiesto
Filmography YearFilmRoleNotes2026Rolling Loud
Tours
Headlining Hood Hottest Princess Tour (2023) Sexyy Red 4 President Tour (2024) Supporting Moneybagg Yo – Larger than Life Tour (2023) Drake and 21 Savage – It's All a Blur Tour (2023)
Awards and nominations