Bhad Bhabie is a perfect example of the new-age viral star. Rising to fame from her infamous Dr Phil interview where she threatened to fight the audience, she has used the platform she’s been given to launch a very successful music career.
Her debut mixtape 15 was released in 2018 and set the foundations for Danielle Bregoli to transform into the fierce rapper that is Bhad Bhabie.
With tracks like ‘Hi Bich’, ‘Gucci Flip Flops’ and recent single ‘Bestie’ raking in huge online traction, she has exceeded over 1.5 billion worldwide audio and video streams and has become the youngest artist to have three singles chart on Billboard Hot 100.
The sixteen year old rapper is returning to Australia this coming April/May for Groovin The Moo as well as a run of east coast headline dates.
Bhad Bhabie was last in Australia in 2018, where she blitzed across the country and delivered high energy shows that had her passionate fans singing along to every word of her growing discography.
We had a chat to Bhad Bhabie about her upcoming tour of Australia, new music, how she’s dealt with the negative critics surrounding her legitimacy as an artist and got her advice on being unashamedly yourself.
Music Feeds: You’re returning to Australia this April and May for Groovin The Moo and some exciting headline shows. How would you say that your live show has grown and evolved since you last toured Australia?
Bhad Bhabie: Well hopefully there will be some new music out by then, so that will change the set a bit. But I’m kinda just going with the flow every time so every show will always be a little different.
MF: After completing your first world tour, what were some goals you made yourself to grow the next chapter for Bhad Bhabie?
BB: I honestly don’t really make goals for myself. I just go with the flow and achieve as I go. I don’t like to make things over my head and get myself ready for something that may or may not happen. So I don’t even really do things like that. I just live in the moment.
MF: Your fans are so passionate and like to turn the energy up when you’re onstage. So what is one of the funniest or craziest things you’ve seen when you’ve looked into the crowd during one of your shows?
BB: Oh, I’ve seen people on the floor, I’ve seen people pass out right in front of my eyes and I’ve seen people get engaged. I’ve seen all types of shit.
MF: You’ve seen people get engaged at your show?!
BB: Yeah!
MF: You were last in Australia in 2018 for a huge headline tour, so what was one of your favourite memories from your time down under?
BB: Oh, Australia was a fun time! But to be honest with you I smoke a lot of weed so I don’t really remember too much. But I remember eating Australian McDonalds *laughs*
MF: Oh my god, Australian McDonalds *laughs*! Do you at least remember holding a Koala or seeing some Kangaroos?
BB: Oh yeah I do! I was also about to punch some old lady at the zoo because she kept bumping shoulders with me.
MF: What was the biggest misconception you had about Australia that you found out wasn’t true when you toured here?
BB: Honestly, I didn’t really think anything before I went.
MF: Because a lot of international people think that in Australia there are kangaroos jumping around the neighbourhoods, which is just something that definitely doesn’t happen.
BB: *Laughs* no I didn’t think anything like that!
MF: You have been subject to some criticism surrounding your viral rise to fame and your legitimacy as an artist. So how have you dealt with that, and how much do you actually listen to what the media have to say about you?
BB: Honestly I really don’t care what people have to say *laughs*. Unless it’s somebody that has something to do with my money or something like that, then I couldn’t give a fuck what they think about me.
MF: You’re a very empowering young woman and at only sixteen years old you’ve created this empire for yourself. So after defying the odds and really embracing who you are, what advice would you give young females who are struggling with finding the confidence to express who they are in this current social climate?
BB: It’s really important to be yourself and to be comfortable with who you are and what you do. Because as long as you can sleep good at night, and you can lay your head down and know that everything that you’ve got going on is good for you, and you don’t feel like anything bad is happening, then that is the most important part.
If you’re doing everything you can, you’re feeling good and your bills are getting paid, then that’s all that really matters. Life isn’t about giving a fuck what people think about you, because a person can think anything they want about you.
A person could be like in their head, “oh my god, she’s so pretty” but because they’re a hater all they’re gonna say in real life is “oh bitch you’re ugly”, “you’re this, you’re that”, and that’s no way to live. If you are going to sit there and think that, and live off what other people are going to say about you, then you might as well quit while you’re ahead.
MF: You’ve been recently in the studio working on new music. So what is currently inspiring you artistically, and where do you see the next chapter of Bhad Bhabie heading towards?
BB: I’m not really a hundred percent sure myself where the music is going at the moment. I’ve been working on the album for a little bit but I’m just not overthinking it too much. I’m just going with the flow and making music. So I don’t really know.
MF: You’ve collaborated with some epic artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Ty Dolla $ign, Snoop Dogg, Lil Yachty, Charli XCX, Clean Bandit and more. So what do you personally love about the art of collaboration?
BB: I feel like when you’re in the industry it’s important to collaborate and have relationships with people because that’s the people that you’re surrounded by.
MF: Do you usually collaborate in person or do you do it over phone and emails?
BB: I’ve done both.
MF: How does a usual Bhad Bhabie studio session look? Do you go in with ideas or do you spit ball with the vibes that are happening?
BB: I think it really depends on the person you’re working with and how they like to work, because the approach can change every time.
MF: ’Bestie’ is a song that has become a bit of an anthem in it’s own right within your discography so how did this song come together and how long did it take you to get it to a place where you were ready to release it?
BB: At first I didn’t really like the song, but then I was just like you know what, this is a cool beat and it’s what is paying my bills right now *laughs*. And I also like to give people what they like.
MF: You became the youngest artist to have 3 single chart on the Billboard Hot 100 which is absolutely incredible, so what does that personally mean to you?
BB: The thing is, I’m so young. I don’t want to say all of these things have become a regular to me, but I don’t really know any different.
I know it’s a really crazy thing to have happened, and it’s so cool, but a lot of people that these things usually happen to go from having regular jobs to then being on Billboard, so the change is a lot bigger. Where as I don’t really know any different.
I definitely understand it’s crazy though!
MF: With over 130 million streams on ‘Gucci Flip Flops’ on Spotify alone, where has been one of the weirdest places you’ve heard one of your songs played?
BB: When I be shopping and I hear one of my songs playing, and I know that they haven’t just put it on because I’m in there, then that kinda freaks me out.
MF: So we will be seeing you in Australia very shortly. So lastly, what is your favourite song to play in the live show and turn up to?
BB: For the most part it would be ‘Gucci Flip Flops’.
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Bhad Bhabie will be playing a string of shows along the east coast this coming April and May, with dates in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. See dates and details below.
Bhad Bhabie 2020 Australian Tour
Tickets on sale 12pm local time Thursday, 27th February
Thursday, 30th April
170 Russell, Melbourne
Tickets: Frontier Touring
Wednesday, 6th May
Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
Tickets: Frontier Touring
Thursday, 7th May
Metro Theatre, Sydney
Tickets: Frontier Touring
