Bia

Biography

Bianca Miquela Landrau, known professionally as Bia, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who debuted on the Oxygen reality television series Sisterhood of Hip Hop. She signed to Pharrell Williams' I Am Other record label, in partnership with RCA Records in 2014. Her first EP, Nice Girls Finish Last: Cuidado×Nice Girls Finish Last: Cuidado21 September 2018 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Supabien1:432Hollywood3:333Yakwtfgo2:434Blue Bank2:365Vibes on Me3:046Drown in My Cup3:07, was released in 2018. She is best recognized for featuring on the 2016 single "Safari" by J Balvin and "Best on Earth×BEST ON EARTH18 October 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1BEST ON EARTH2:40" by Russ in 2019. In early 2020, Bia signed a new record deal with Epic Records, releasing her second EP, For Certain×FOR CERTAIN11 December 2020 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1BIA BIA2:052SKATE2:433WHOLE LOTTA MONEY2:364SAME HANDS3:265AUTOMATIC3:096PLATE2:377COVER GIRL2:298FREE BIA (1ST DAY OUT)1:55, on December 11, 2020. The EP spawned the single "Whole Lotta Money", which later was released as a remix featuring Nicki Minaj and reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Early life

Landrau was born in Medford, Massachusetts. She is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent. In an interview with Oxygen's website, she spoke about wanting to become a rapper at a young age after attending studio sessions with rappers and helping them record. Landrau attended Bunker Hill Community College briefly, but after realizing it did not suit her, she dropped out and began bartending to pay for studio time. She moved to Los Angeles, California, full time in 2017.

2014–2015: Career beginnings and #CholaSeason

Bia was initially discovered by rapper Fam-Lay through YouTube and who later introduced her to Pharrell. Bia starred on the first two seasons of the Oxygen reality television series Sisterhood of Hip Hop. In 2014, she signed to the I Am Other music label as part of a collaboration with RCA Records and began working with T.I as well as singers Jennifer Hudson and Usher. Later that year, Bia released a mixtape entitled #CholaSeason×#CHOLASEASON14 May 2014 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1#CHOLASEASON2:362Chain Swang4:033Jug Dance3:274La Tirana1:495YDKM2:326Around the World (snippet)1:347Weekend in Vegas3:118Medusa (snippet)1:419No Apology3:3110Spend It (snippet)1:1611Class of 21123:0112Hood Pass3:2413Love No More3:2614Medicine Man3:1415High4:03. In an interview with radio station Hot 97's morning show Ebro in the Morning in September 2015, she revealed that she would not return for season 3 of Sisterhood of Hip Hop.

2016–2018: Touring and Nice Girls Finish Last: Cuidado

Bia served as the opening act for Pusha T's Darkest Before the Dawn Tour in March and April 2016. The next month, Bia alongside Victoria Monét, were the main support acts for the European leg of Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman Tour. Bia also opened for select dates during the North American leg. Bia was featured on J Balvin's song "Safari", released as a single in May 2016. The track topped the charts in Mexico and Spain as well as peaking at No. 3 on the US Latin Charts.
In 2016, Bia released the singles "Whip It×Whip It6 May 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Whip It3:33" and "Gucci Comin' Home". These singles were followed by "Badside×BADSIDE19 May 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1BADSIDE3:44" and "Fungshway×FUNGSHWAY26 May 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1FUNGSHWAY3:00", which were both released in 2017. All four singles were intended to be included on Bia's then-upcoming debut EP titled Trap Vogue, to be followed by her debut album. Bia described the project as "high energy with Latin elements mixed in". She also revealed that the song "Esta Noche×Esta Noche7 January 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Esta Noche1:57" featuring Grande, which was performed during Bia's opening set for the Dangerous Woman Tour, would be included on the project. Bia eventually scrapped the project in favor of new material.
Bia was featured on the track "Miami", from Kali Uchis' debut album Isolation, which was released on April 6, 2018. Victoria Monét released a remix of her song "Freak", featuring Bia on July 10, 2018. A visual was released including a shortened version of the track just containing Bia's verse and a chorus, while the full version of the song appeared on streaming platforms. On September 21, 2018, Bia released her debut EP Nice Girls Finish Last: Cuidado×Nice Girls Finish Last: Cuidado21 September 2018 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Supabien1:432Hollywood3:333Yakwtfgo2:434Blue Bank2:365Vibes on Me3:046Drown in My Cup3:07, which included the single "Hollywood×HOLLYWOOD14 September 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1HOLLYWOOD3:33", as well as collaborations with Uchis and Kodak Black.

2019–present: Departure from RCA and For Certain

In 2019, Bia split from RCA Records, citing the label was preventing her from releasing music. She released her first independent song "One Minute Warning×One Minute Warning16 August 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1One Minute Warning1:02" in August. "Best on Earth×BEST ON EARTH18 October 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1BEST ON EARTH2:40", a collaboration with rapper and singer Russ, was released on October 17, 2019. Singer Rihanna posted on her social media that it was her new favorite song, which led to an internet trend #BestOnEarthChallenge and a spike in popularity to the song. The song eventually peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Bia's first entry on the chart and was certified Platinum by the RIAA for selling over one million units in the United States.
In early 2020, Bia resigned with Sony under Epic Records and released two singles, "Free BIA (1st Day Out)×FREE BIA (1ST DAY OUT)27 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1FREE BIA (1ST DAY OUT)1:55" and "Cover Girl×COVER GIRL3 April 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1COVER GIRL2:29". "Cover Girl" was serviced to Urban and Rhythmic radio stations on April 14. In September 2020, Bia released the single "Same Hands" featuring American rapper Lil Durk. Another single, "Skate×SKATE29 November 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1SKATE2:43", was released in November 2020, alongside a music video. A reworked version of the song, entitled the "NHL Mix", was later used as the theme song for the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. All songs are included on Bia's second EP, titled For Certain×FOR CERTAIN11 December 2020 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1BIA BIA2:052SKATE2:433WHOLE LOTTA MONEY2:364SAME HANDS3:265AUTOMATIC3:096PLATE2:377COVER GIRL2:298FREE BIA (1ST DAY OUT)1:55, which was released on December 11, 2020, through Epic Records. A music video for the song "Whole Lotta Money" was released on April 8, 2021. Following viral success on the social media platform TikTok, the song was serviced to Rhythmic radio on May 18, 2021, becoming the fifth single from the EP. A remix featuring Nicki Minaj was released on July 9, 2021, and caused the song to reach a peak of number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Bia's highest-charting song. On September 24, she released the single "Besito×BESITO23 September 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1BESITO2:11" featuring G Herbo. Alongside the release, Bia announced the deluxe edition of For Certain which will be released on October 22, 2021. Also in 2021, Bia appeared as feature on Iggy Azalea's song "Is That Right" from her final album The End of an Era.
In an interview with Ladygunn, Bia revealed she is working on an R&B project titled R&BIA.
On February 5, 2022, Bia launched her own make-up line Beauty for Certain. On April 8, 2022, Bia released a song with rapper J. Cole called "London". She received a BET Hip Hop Awards Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse nomination for her appearance on the song. On September 9, 2022, Bia featured on the remix to Nicki Minaj's song "Super Freaky Girl" entitled the "Queen Mix" alongside JT from City Girls, Katie Got Bandz, Akbar V, and Maliibu Miitch.
In September 2022, Bia also featured on German rapper Luciano's track "Bamba×Bamba22 September 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Bamba3:23". On March 3, 2023, Bia released a song titled "Sixteen×SIXTEEN3 March 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1SIXTEEN2:33". On March 24, 2023, Bia released a song featuring American record producer Timbaland titled "I'm That Bitch".
In an interview on Bootleg Kev, Bia announced that she has completed her debut album. She revealed that she has decided the name of her upcoming album and the cover art is ready while also further revealing that "I'm That Bitch" and "London" will be on the tracklist of her upcoming album.
On June 1, 2024, following what appeared to be a diss aimed at Bia in the remix to GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion’s "Wanna Be", Bia had previewed a new diss track targeting Cardi B.

Artistry

Bia has cited American rapper Jay-Z, American singer Selena, and fellow rappers Bankroll Fresh, 21 Savage, Nicki Minaj, Foxy Brown, M.I.A., and Blac Youngsta as her biggest influences, as well as Aaliyah and Rihanna as her personal muses. Bia stated that she has never connected with an artist the way she has connected with Rihanna.

Appearances

Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday 2 World Tour (2024)

Supporting

Pusha T – Darkest Before the Dawn Tour (2016)
Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman Tour (2017)
Don Toliver – Life of a Don Tour (2021)