BIA
Artist
BIA (birth name Bianca Landrau) is a rapper from Boston. She is also known for being on the reality television show Sisterhood of Hip Hop.
BIA is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent. She wanted to become a rapper at a very young age but only took it seriously after surviving a nearly fatal motorcycle accident.
About her beginning, BIA stated:
When I was young in Boston, probably like 14, I used to hang with a bunch of rappers in the studio. They’re famous battle rappers now. Back then, they were coming up. They used to be in the studio. I used to hit the ‘record’ button for them all the time. I was writing but I didn’t tell anybody until I was 18.
She was discovered by her current manager Famlay through YouTube and was later introduced to Pharrell Williams, who signed her to the i Am Other music label.
In late 2014, she released a mixtape entitled #CHOLASEASON. As she states, her major influences came from rappers like Jay Z, and Puerto-Rican singers like Ivy Queen and Selena.
