Alyssa Stephens, better known by her rap name Mulatto, is proving that 2020 is her break out year and she’s on the way towards being the next big female artist.
Her recent album, “Queen of Da Souf,” was released on Aug. 21 and debuted at number 44 on the Billboard 200 Chart, which Billboard charts announced on Twitter.
While debuting at number 44 may not seem major, it’s big considering that Stephens recently announced, in March of 2020, that she joined the RCA Records family and that this album is considered to be her first studio album.
The 2020 XXL Freshman Class rapper has “broken the mold with her bossy rhymes and southern sass,” XXL Magazine said.
Stephens started to blow up after the release of her single, “Bitch from Da Souf” was released in 2019. The attention provided the opportunity for her to do a remix with Saweetie and Trina.
She became the “first solo female rapper from Atlanta” to get a plaque for the record, which was certified gold on Aug. 17.
Stephens’ success may also be attributed to the message behind her music.
“If you listen to my music, that’s everything I stand for: women being free about their sexuality and flipping the industry’s gender roles,” she said.
The singles she has released under RCA, like “No Hook,” have also contributed to her success. Her “whopping 142 million streams to date” are from these singles according to Paper Magazine.
Additionally, Stephens is known to have a presence. Derrick Arch, the Vice President of A&R at RCA Records, said Stephens had “rawness” and “instant star power,” according to Billboard.
In a recent Apple Music interview, Stephens revealed that, as a female rapper, it is important to stand out and show diversity.
“We all different. We all from different places. We all rap about different things and dress different, wear our hair different. So, I feel like it’s only up from here,” she said.
This year, Stephens collaborated with Gucci Mane on her hit, “Muwop,” and she has appeared in a cameo in the “WAP” music video by Cardi B.
Stephens has said she is inspired by artists that she grew up listening to including, T.I., Outkast, Lil’ Kim, and Nicki Minaj.
Stephens, 21, formerly known as “Miss Mulatto,” is a rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. She is originally from Columbus, Ohio. She began writing rhymes at just the age of 10 years old.
Growing up, Stephens would write poetry and began writing raps after Shayne Stephens, her father, would bring her to video shoots for the clients he painted cars for.
When she was 16, Stephens competed on and won the first season of The Rap Game, a reality show about Jermaine Dupri looking for up and coming rappers to sign to his label, So So Def Recordings.
Consequently, she gained a lot of attention and her social media following expanded. However, she declined the contract and became an independent artist before signing to RCA.
“I just want to thank God. Can’t wait for y’all to see what’s coming next,” she said.
