Anycia on Working With DJ Drama and Creating “Grady Baby” From the Ground Up

Atlanta rapper Anycia is stepping into a new era with her latest mixtape, “Grady Baby,” and she is doing it on her terms. From collaborating with DJ Drama to curating visuals that honor her Atlanta roots, she is carving a path that feels both personal and powerful. The tape is as much about sound as it is about self. In her calm, confident tone, Anycia delivers bars that speak directly to women navigating love, life, and independence.

She is not chasing trends. She is creating moments that feel rooted in her experience while inviting others to see themselves in her story. “Grady Baby” is not just another mixtape. It is a statement of identity and a cultural time capsule.

Representing Atlanta With “Grady Baby”

Anycia’s latest work is a love letter to Atlanta. Named after the iconic Grady Memorial Hospital where she was born, the project was inspired by her mother’s suggestion to celebrate her beginnings. “Why don’t you name your tape ‘Grady Baby’? You are a Grady Baby,” her mom told her. That one line sparked the concept, connecting her music to a place with deep personal and cultural meaning.

The project captures Atlanta as Anycia knows it, not just as a city but as an experience. She pulls from her childhood, her family, and her everyday surroundings. Whether it is beauty supply store runs or gas station parking lot energy, she brings the real Atlanta to life.

She also made history with the project. Anycia is the first woman from Atlanta to have a full DJ Drama hosted mixtape, a feat she acknowledges with pride. “I just say that I am the first female out of Atlanta with a DJ Drama tape, which is brilliant,” she said.

Rather than chase commercial sounds, she went for something more raw. “I wanted the tape to give that vibe of a gas station mixtape,” she explained. “Very underground, grungy.” DJ Drama’s iconic voice and mixtape sensibility gave the project the unfiltered energy she was looking for.

Calm Delivery, Strong Message

Though Anycia’s personality is big, her delivery is measured. She raps in a tone that is controlled, cool, and unapologetically calm. That balance is part of what gives her lyrics impact. “I could say things that could really stab you in the heart, but just talk to you just like this,” she said. “It is way cooler to disrespect men in a calm tone. It is more powerful.”

That restraint is more than a style choice. It is how she manages emotion in real life. Rather than shout her pain, she lays it out gently, letting the words carry the weight. “If I am just speaking what is on my heart calmly, it hurts you way more than it hurts me,” she said. The honesty in her music spans beyond romantic frustrations. “I have had friends, family members. I just be like, ‘Wow, you really suck,’” she admitted. Her lyrics come from all angles of life, not just love.

Even when the content is personal, the approach stays composed. It is a style that cuts through the noise without raising its voice.

From Samples to Studio: Hands On Creation

Anycia takes pride in building her sound from the ground up. She works closely with her producers in the studio rather than relying on premade beats. Jetson and Bankroll are two of her most trusted collaborators, and together they create everything from scratch. “Jet has never sent me a beat ever,” she said. “Everything that we have ever done was cooking up in the studio.” That level of involvement lets her control the feeling of each track from the beginning.

Before sessions, she often curates playlists of music she is currently listening to. These playlists include classics and lesser known gems, many of which spark the ideas behind her samples. “All the songs that I sampled on there are like songs that I listen to right now,” she explained. Her taste leans older, tapping into sounds that are rich in feeling and rooted in soul. She is not looking for nostalgia for its own sake. She is chasing what feels authentic.

That curatorial instinct extends beyond music. “My friends be saying that is my thing,” she said. “I will put on a song in the car and they be like, ‘Oh my God, I forgot about this.’” Whether it is the beat, the sample, or the vibe, Anycia chooses everything with intention. She is not just a rapper. She is a creative director, shaping her sound and image with hands on precision. From studio sessions to the final cut, she keeps her fingerprint on every detail.

Visuals That Reflect Real Life

The “Grady Baby” rollout came with a full visual experience. Anycia dropped four music videos that she called a short film, each rooted in places and people that shaped her. Cameos from Atlanta legends like Waka Flocka, Nivea, and the OMG Girlz grounded the visuals in Southern culture. From wing spot runs to parking lot conversations, the visuals reflect the city as it really is. Not the glamorized version, but the lived-in beauty of real life.

“I wanted it to be very real, cinematic, funny,” she said. “This is where you grew up. You know everything about it. Just put it in a movie.” That approach helped the visuals feel authentic without losing their charm. Every scene was carefully imagined but pulled from things she had actually experienced. She called on memories, personal style, and family history to build each moment on screen.

Unlike many artists, Anycia said she makes a conscious effort not to oversexualize herself. “I really want people to see the art with me,” she said. “I do things unapologetically. I do not believe in trends.” She wants people to connect with her vision, not just her image. Even her catchphrase “Big Nene,” now shouted by fans, started as a spontaneous moment that turned into something more. That organic energy is what defines her visuals and her brand.

Soundtracking a Movement for Women

Anycia is clear about who her music is for. “Grady Baby” is made for women who need something real to hold on to. Whether they are going through breakups, dealing with stress, or just need a pick-me-up, she wants them to feel seen. “This tape is for my girls going through anything and just feeling low in spirit,” she said. Her music is filled with words meant to lift, affirm, and push women to reclaim their power.

She believes in the power of speaking things into existence. “Say it over and over again for yourself,” she said. “I need it to be Bible.” Her verses are crafted to serve as affirmations — mantras for confidence and resilience. She encourages listeners to memorize them, live with them, and use them to reset their mindset. It is more than music. It is a tool for self love and survival.

Anycia draws strength from the women in her own life. Raised by a single mother and grandmother, she said she never saw men as the foundation of anything. “All the people who made things happen in my life were women,” she said. That perspective shows up in her bars, her visuals, and her values. She is not performing empowerment. She is living it, and making space for others to do the same.

Staying Grounded and Looking Ahead

Even with rising success, Anycia remains focused on protecting her peace. After the release of “Princess Pop,” she chose to take a step back and reset. The pace of touring, meet and greets, and nonstop creation had started to take a toll. “Once it started feeling like too much of a clock in, clock out, I had to take a step back,” she said. That break allowed her to recharge and return with a clear head and a sharper vision.

She credits her ability to handle pressure to the things she went through before music took off. As the only one in her family doing this kind of work, she feels a responsibility to represent not just herself but the women who raised her. “I got people that live through me,” she said. “My grandmother, my mother, my aunts.” That sense of legacy drives her to stay authentic even when things move fast.

Looking ahead, Anycia wants more than hits. She has her sights on film, television, and brand partnerships that align with her style and values. Touring is still a goal, but she wants to do it right, with a show that gives fans a full experience. “I want to do a lot of brand stuff, TV stuff. Some movies, some shows,” she said. She is not rushing the moment. She is building something real, one move at a time.