Saweetie is one of the hottest names in the rap scene right now, with hits like “Icy Grl”, “My Type” and “Best Friend”. But did you know that she also has some famous relatives in the entertainment industry? Here are some of the surprising connections of the rap star.
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Saweetie’s parents: Trinidad Valentin and Johnny Harper
Saweetie was born as Diamonté Quiava Valentin Harper on July 2, 1993, in Santa Clara, California. Her mother, Trinidad Valentin, is of Filipino and Chinese descent, and her father, Johnny Harper, is African-American. Both of them had a big influence on Saweetie’s musical career.
Trinidad Valentin was a video vixen in her youth, appearing in music videos for artists like Nelly, DMX and LL Cool J. She also exposed Saweetie to R&B music from an early age, playing songs by Tevin Campbell, Delfonics and The Isley Brothers. According to Saweetie, her mother was only 17 when she had her, so her grandmother also played a big role in her upbringing.
Johnny Harper was a football player for San Jose State University, following the footsteps of his father, Willie Harper, who played for the San Francisco 49ers. Saweetie’s fans were amazed by her father’s good looks when she posted an old picture of him on her Instagram.
Saweetie’s cousins: Gabrielle Union and Zaytoven
Saweetie has some famous cousins in the entertainment industry as well. One of them is actress and producer Gabrielle Union, who starred in movies like “Bring It On”, “Bad Boys II” and “Think Like a Man”. Union revealed that Saweetie was her cousin in an Instagram post paying tribute to Kehlani, noting how she “collabs with other great talent like my little cousin @saweetie.” Union later clarified how they were related on Twitter. She tweeted, “Yup. Her father and I are 1st cousins.”
Another cousin of Saweetie is music producer Zaytoven, who is known for his work with artists like Gucci Mane, Future and Migos. Zaytoven is actually Saweetie’s second cousin, as he is the son of her mother’s cousin. Zaytoven has collaborated with Saweetie on some of her songs, such as “Agua” and “Too Many”.
Saweetie’s uncle: MC Hammer
Saweetie also has an uncle who is a legend in the hip-hop world: MC Hammer. The rapper behind hits like “U Can’t Touch This” and “2 Legit 2 Quit” is Saweetie’s uncle by marriage, as he is married to her mother’s sister. MC Hammer has been supportive of Saweetie’s career, praising her on social media and attending her shows.
Saweetie has said that she didn’t seek help from her famous relatives when she started her rap career, because she wanted to prove herself on her own. She told Complex, “I didn’t want to be babied. I wanted to learn from my mistakes.” She also said that she learned a lot from watching their work ethic and success.
Saweetie is clearly proud of her family and heritage, as she often incorporates them into her music and style. She has also said that she wants to inspire other young women of color to pursue their dreams. She told Billboard, “I want to show little girls who look like me that anything is possible.”.
