Dolly Babe Almost Traded Rap For Nails Before Pink Blush Takes Off

Dolly Babe nearly traded rap for a nail technician course before a bedroom recording changed her plans. The Dallas rapper discussed her backup career in a V-103 interview with DJ Sturgess published Tuesday on its YouTube channel.

"So I was going to be a nail tech," Dolly said. She had searched Google for legitimate ways to make money and considered paying $700 for a class. The idea came while she was weighing a practical way to earn outside music.

Instead, she recorded "Pink Blush" on her phone while alone in her room. After years of studio sessions, she said she lacked the motivation to book another and released the recording without mixing or mastering.

"That was the fastest a song has ever moved for me," she told Sturgess. Earlier viral moments had failed to last, leaving her ready to stop making music.

The June 30 single became her summer breakout and later received a remix featuring Megan Thee Stallion. A November 9 HITS profile put its Hot 100 debut at No. 58 and reported 3.3 million monthly Spotify listeners. It also counted more than 17 million video views and celebrity engagement from Rihanna, Madonna and Janet Jackson.

Radio followed the online response, with the single impacting Urban stations September 21. HITS reported that it became the most added record at both Urban and Rhythmic radio, counting 42 Urban adds and 51 Rhythmic adds. Her music also appeared on Spotify playlists including New Music Friday, Feelin' Myself, New Joints and Most Necessary, the profile noted.

Her follow-up single "Hittin" arrived October 27 through Princess Pink LLC under an exclusive license to 300 Entertainment, with the streaming listing giving its running time as two minutes. The label has its own history with her remix collaborator: Megan was on its roster when Warner Music Group acquired 300 in December 2021.

Dolly also told Sturgess she was working on her first official project without committing to an imminent release. She wanted that debut to meet her standards before giving listeners a finished collection.

She named Beyoncé as the artist she most wanted to collaborate with.