BIA, born Bianca Miquela Landrau on August 16, 1991, in Medford, Massachusetts, emerged as a versatile force in contemporary hip hop, known for her confident flow, bilingual capabilities, and high-profile collaborations. An American rapper, singer, songwriter, and model, she first gained significant attention through television before solidifying her place in the music industry with a series of impactful singles and mixtapes that showcased her unique blend of streetwise lyricism and melodic hooks.
Her journey into the public eye began in 2012 when she became a contestant on the Oxygen network's reality competition series Sisterhood of Hip Hop, which documented the lives of aspiring female rappers. This platform provided early exposure, but BIA was determined to build a career on her own musical merits. She independently released her debut mixtape, #CHOLA, in 2014, which demonstrated her sharp pen and established a loyal fanbase. Her major breakthrough arrived in 2016 when she was featured on the global hit "Safari" with Colombian superstar J Balvin and fellow rapper Pharrell Williams, a track that introduced her to an international audience and highlighted her ability to seamlessly navigate between English and Spanish verses.
Building on this momentum, BIA continued to release a steady stream of music, including the 2018 mixtape Nice Girls Finish Last: Cuidado. However, it was the 2019 collaboration "Best on Earth" with rapper Russ that became a defining moment, achieving platinum certification and becoming a viral anthem. Her reputation as a sought-after collaborator grew, leading to features on tracks with artists like Ariana Grande on "Rule the World" from the The 2nd soundtrack, and later with Nicki Minaj on the remix of her single "Whole Lotta Money" in 2021, which became a platinum-selling sensation and peaked in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. This success paved the way for her 2022 EP, Really Her, which featured appearances from Lil Jon and J. Cole.
BIA's career is marked by her entrepreneurial spirit and genre-fluid approach. She signed with Pharrell Williams's i am OTHER label in partnership with Epic Records, and later established her own imprint. Beyond music, she has modeled for major brands, further cementing her status as a multifaceted artist. With a consistent output of singles and projects, BIA maintains her position as a prominent voice in hip hop, celebrated for her authenticity, cross-cultural appeal, and unwavering confidence in her craft.