Steve 'Flash' JuonBy now you already know Sexyy Red. While some of our staff may not be her biggest fans, she’s famous enough that when WWE needed to get extra eyes on NXT, they gave her a call and she made a cameo then guest hosted a live event called Battleground. Having the best beats and rhymes doesn’t matter in the wrestling world — it’s all about how viral or famous you are at the moment. They want some of that virality to rub off on them and in turn the artist wants the free publicity from it to grow their audience. It’s a symbiotic relationship, much like BlakeIANA linking up with Sexyy Red to do a remix to grow her brand.
“Only thing I love is money, commas make me horny”
And just like that BlakeIANA went from a little known rapper to an established figure. That remix is included on “Back in the Field,” a 16 song release clocking in at just over 35 minutes. If you already did the math you know that’s an average of about two minutes per song. BlakeIANA isn’t here for a long time, she’s here for a good time. She’s a self-described “bad bitch” on “STL Finest” who encourages you to “come and see what we about.”
What I find curious about virality is just how fickle it can be. While the “BING BONG” remix did four million views on YouTube and probably a hell of a lot more streams on Apple Music and Spotify, other tracks with full music videos like “See Us” with Skilla Baby did about 100K on the same platform. It’s not like Skilla hasn’t had some big songs that eclipse the numbers Red & Blake did together, but somehow their team up crossed into notability while Blake & Skilla didn’t. Maybe it’s just down to sex appeal and a lot of men who aren’t horny for commas but for something else.
So what is Blake out to accomplish with “Back in the Field” then? If it’s chasing the fleeting nature of virality she certainly played the game like she’s supposed to. Moneybagg Yo, Hunxho (pronounced Huncho) and Tee Grizzley all make cameos. And if it’s about that lingering male eye she’s certainly got thirst trap attributes. I’m not kink shaming her for being a “Problem” I’m being real that she knows what she’s doing with the outfit in that video. It rides so high you feel like the cat’s going to meow and cuts so low she’s about to be Nicki Minaj. You have to respect the strut she pulls off because it looks borderline uncomfortable. She’s practically walking a runway.
And in case it wasn’t clear “B.B.F.” shows she’s using that sex appeal to play men for chumps.
“Can you stand the pain? Bae I break my niggaz down
Put this shit on the floor and let him pick it off the ground
Shoulda got me as an angel bae, now I’m a menace now
Shook his ass, nigga thought that we was goin’ to pound town”
What surprised me is that this is one of her least viewed videos at just 38,000 (as of this writing anyway) meaning it probably didn’t even recoup what the people involved spent to film it. Look – Blake is fine on “Back in the Field” both figurative and literally. The beats are okay, she’s tricking on men who fall head over heels for her, and it’s all as slick as hair grease. Why isn’t she more viral and more successful? Probably because the music industry produces 20 Sexyy Reds per hour. Like her or hate she caught the attention, and people who associate with her do too for a minute, but unlike pro wrestling she can’t “give the rub” to the people she works with. I like Red more than our staff but by that same token I can’t say Blake is better than Red. In a crowded feel of people trying to copy Red’s success Blake only stands out for a fleeting moment. Her personality doesn’t reach out and grab you the way GloRilla or Megan Thee Stallion does. Keep trying Blake.