On Friday, March 3, ahead of her Rolling Loud performance, where she also performed the song, BIA dropped her latest piece of rap music titled “SIXTEEN.”
“SIXTEEN” is a song about BIA’s younger years as someone struggling to make it in this world, even against all the odds, which includes being fired and having to pay rent after she left home.
“Take me back to when I lost my job, I told ’em, “Fuck you” (Fuck you) / I came from a place where there’s nobody to look up to (Up to) / We weren’t broke together, tell me how the fuck I trust you? (Trust you) / I left mama house, bitch, I ain’t have nowhere to run to (Run to),” BIA raps in the opening chorus.
The first verse sees her asking, “Who the hell gon’ pay my bills, ho?” before confidently adding that at “sixteen” she was already paying her own bail money.
“SIXTEEN” is BIA’s first piece of solo music since 2021’s deluxe edition of her EP, For Certain. But that doesn’t mean that she has been completely silent on the musical front as she’s featured on tracks from Nicki Minaj and J. Cole to YG, David Guetta, and Snakehips.
Produced by AzizTheShake and Tim Nihan, BIA raps about days when she was broke; a situation she candidly confessed that she’s “just not a fan of.” Even though she reflects on her hard-knock past, she also mixes it up with accounts of the success she’s achieved through her music, as she raps: “Played The Hollywood Bowl and I brought the label with me (Yeah, ho) / I don’t have time for these hoes that ain’t who they claimin’ to be (Claimin’ to be, bitch) / I do not chat on the phone, so speak with my management, peacefully handle it.”
“SIXTEEN” and “LONDON,” featuring J. Cole, are two of the songs that will reportedly appear on her upcoming debut album, Full Circle. This is coming after the American rapper’s departure from RCA records saw her ink a deal with Epic Records.
Speaking to Revolt about the reason she left RCA, she said: “I’m big off energy and vibes, and [Epic CEO Sylvia Rhone] is an incredible woman. I want to be around women. I want to be around people who understand me and aren’t trying to change me, but want to help me elevate and be the best me… These are people who start to know you for you, not just you as an artist.”