The 26-year-old rapper is carving his own lane in hip-hop with the release of his hot new Imma Celebrity mixtape. He has also gained millions of YouTube views and over 550,000 Instagram followers thanks to the increased recognition he is receiving from his steady rise in the music industry.
With the advent of social media, cultural norms becoming more tolerant and the music industry itself shifting toward greater sonic diversity, queer stars have been able to rise across multiple different genres. That’s certainly true for hip-hop, where LGBTQ artists like Lil Nas X, Kevin Abstract, iLoveMakonnen, Young M.A and many more have been able to find mainstream success. There’s still a long way to go, but the 2020s look bright for rap artists with major potential to redefine the genre.
In comes Saucy. Hailing from Tallahassee, Santana has taken the internet by storm, thanks to his Miami-infused hip-hop style, his infectious personality and his close friendship with City Girls star Yung Miami. After building much anticipation for the release of a full project, especially with the release of his single “Walk Em Like a Dog,” Santana released his Imma Celebrity mixtape on January 14, birthing immediate fan-favorite tracks like “Trap Girl” and “Get That Bag.”
Embracing a fierce style, unapologetic attitude, and strong mindset has helped Santana to break through doors and establish his online presence as a rapper to look out for. During Santana’s late-teen years, he gained the confidence to not only come out publicly, but he also rocked his “Material Girl” style regardless of opinions. What Santana may have not known at the time was that his bold moves would lead him to a promising career in music.
“When I was 17, I came out — and I’m very girly, so I was getting my nails done, I was wearing girl clothes, purses, and makeup,” he recalls. “I had to already have the mindset that I don’t give an f–k and I’m doing me regardless of how a person feels. I want to show everybody that they can be how they want to be. People respect you more.”
As we enter a new decade, Saucy Santana is preparing to continue shaking up the industry. In 2020, Santana has plans to finally hop on as a featured guest on a few other artists’ tracks, while continuing his steady stream of new music releases. “Last year, I feel like I dropped my song and I let it ride out, but this year I’m going to really stay on top of these b—–s.,” he says. “Y’all gonna be like, ‘Oh my God. He just will not stop.’”
