Maliibu Miitch
Jennifer Jade Roberts (born March 4, 1991), known professionally as Maliibu Miitch, is an American rapper, songwriter, and entertainer of African American , Vietnamese, and Filipino descent. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and raised in the South Bronx since the age of three, Roberts started rapping in 2009 and started releasing songs and freestyles throughout the following years.[1]
In 2013, she released her first EP titled HoodForeign.[1] In 2014, she signed to Island Records and released two singles the following year: "Figure8", produced by Mustard on the beat and "Starin at It", produced by Dem Jointz.[2] In 2017, she released a mix tape titled Maliibu Miitch Top 5,[3] In 2018, Roberts released her debut single titled "Give Her Some Money" under Atlantic Records that was produced by Hitmaka [4][5]
Early life
Maliibu's mother, Venessa White, was born and raised in the deep south of South and North Carolina. It was there she met Maliibu's father, Brett Roberts, who was an adopted refugee from Vietnam. When Maliibu was 3 years old, her mother left Charlotte to move to New York City with her three daughters.
At a young age, Maliibu was always the loudest out the bunch, but in school, she was quite shy. In her 7th grade year of school Maliibu was held back a grade and she began to fall into trouble. At the young age of 12, Maliibu started fighting, smoking weed, skipping school, cursing out teachers, staying out late, and not coming home. Maliibu's mother received a knock on the door from the police, who were bringing Maliibu home from breaking and entering into her middle school after hours. When Maliibu was caught smoking weed by her mother, she was sent down south to live with her father in Concord, North Carolina where she attended her 8th grade, Freshman, and Sophomore years at Central Cabarrus High School. The sudden change put a strain on Maliibu's relationship with her father. Three years, later she talked her father into buying her a greyhound ticket to NYC to visit her mom, and she never looked back since.
At the age of 16, Maliibu was a Junior in CSSJ, where she was later transferred out of the school. Maliibu was sent to night school at Herbert Lehman High School. Maliibu ended up dropping out of high school her 12th grade year and she never returned to get her GED. Maliibu would spend the next three years of her teenage years in and out of gangs, jail, fights, and selling drugs. In 2010, Maliibu was badly beaten by a group of girls from a rival gang in Bronx River Houses, a large project housing complex located in the Bronx. This left her with a bruised and swollen face and blood clots all over her eyes. Not even a week after, she was locked up for failure to do community service. She was then ordered to do 3 months jail time, which later got reduced to a week of jail time on Rikers Island, where she stayed a week in Rosies 5upper A. After Maliibu was released, she dropped her gang, started modeling, and focused on bettering herself. Maliibu made it into Jim Jones Hustle In the Morning music video which fueled her to desire to rap.
Career
In 2009, Maliibu Miitch picked up rapping, and started free styling in cyphers around her neighborhood in the South Bronx. What started out as a hobby for the then 18 year old rapper ended up helping her land her first record deal in 2011 with Ruff Ryders CEO Darin "Dee" Dean. The deal was co-signed by producer Swizz Beatz.
In 2013, at the age of 21, Maliibu Miitch went independent and started her own label and all-female cooperation. Later that year, she released her first EP through Empire, titled HoodForeign, after her company.
In 2014, Maliibu Miitch signed her second deal, which would become her first major label deal at Island Records. There, she teamed up with a female singer, releasing two singles in 2015: "Figure8," produced by DJ Mustard, and "Starin At It," produced by Dem Jointz. After taking a two year break from music, Roberts returned in 2017 with her EP, "Top 5," and singles "Gwapamole" and "4 AM," which were released through indie label, Phase One.
Within a couple of months, Maliibu Miitch once again landed another deal, this time with Atlantic Records. This was her second major recording deal, but her first ever solo deal. She released the single, "Give Her Some Money," produced by Hitmaka in 2018. She is currently working with Entertainment One Music to release her debut album.
Influences
Maliibu cites her "Mom," Rihanna, 50 Cent, JayZ, Nicki Minaj, Foxy Brown and Jadakiss as her style and rap influences.[3]
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Hood Foreign |
|
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Ko8e" | 2016 | non-album singles |
| "Hello" | ||
| "4 AM" | 2017 | |
| "Gwapamole" | ||
| "The Count" | ||
| "Give Her Some Money" | 2018 | TBA |
| "Bum Bitch" | ||
| "Celine" | 2019 | |
| "Double O" | 2020 | |
| "Let's Be Honest" | ||
| "Gucci"[6] (with Bree Runway) |
2000and4Eva | |
References
- Jagota, Vrinda. "Maliibu Miitch Is Empowering Women on Her Way to the Top". Paper. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- Grayevsky, Noa. "Maliibu Miitch Is the Bronx's Next Big Rapper". Vice. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- "Maliibu Miitch Celebrates the Baddies of the World on New Song "Give Her Some Money"". XXL. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- "Maliibu Miitch "Bum Bitch" Video: Watch Rapper Count Up Racks". Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- "Gucci". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-07-21.