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 Rubi Rose: From Video Vixen to Hip-Hop Star

     “Rubi Rose music career,” “Bad and Boujee video vixen,” “Rubi Rose biography.”

Introduction

When Ruby Rose Benton appeared on screen in Migos' viral 'Bad and Boujee' video in 2016, most people assumed she was just another pretty face in the endless parade of hip-hop video vixens. They were wrong. In less than a decade, this creative, born in Lexington and raised in Atlanta, transformed that brief cameo into a legitimate rap resume, which includes a mixtape, chart-topping singles, XXL Freshman honors, a major label deal, and over five million loyal Instagram followers. Her journey is a masterclass in capturing a moment, monetizing attention, and refusing to stay in the lane crafted for you by the internet. This 2,000-word article maps the journey of hip-hop's most outspoken late-millennial star - the roots, the rise, the obstacles, and the way forward.

Early Life & Multicultural Roots

• Lexington Beginnings

Ruby Rose Benton was born on October 2, 1997, in Lexington, Kentucky. Growing up far from coastal entertainment centers, she spent her childhood swinging between Southern hospitality and the tranquil rhythm of Midwest life. The upbringing in that small town helped shape the confident tones that fans now recognize in her interviews—a cadence filled with Atlanta's sass yet rooted in Kentucky's calm.

• Global Influences

Ruby's family tree is a tapestry: her mother, Nardos Ghebrelul, is an immigrant from Eritrea; her father, John Benton, is half Japanese and half African-American. Add to that the childhood years spent in Geneva, Switzerland, and you have an early passport filled with contrasting cultures that will later emerge in her sense of fashion and worldview.

• Atlanta’s Imprint

The Benton family moved to Atlanta during high school, just as the city's trap wave was dominating the global airwaves. For a teenager who was already obsessed with YouTube cyphers and Tumblr mood boards, Atlanta was a magical experience. She soaked in the strip club anthems, DIY hustle culture, and the city's unapologetic confidence – all seeds of the self-assured cadence that would define songs like 'Big Mouth' and 'Wifey'.

Breakthrough Moment: The “Bad and Boujee” Effect

• Casting Call to Viral Fame

Ruby's entry into the industry happened through a friend who discovered the open casting for Migos' 'Bad and Boujee'. Director Daps needed a leading woman who could match the trio's chemistry; Ruby got booked on the spot and, without saying a word, took over the entire YouTube thumbnail. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and then his DM notifications followed.

• Social-Media Surge

When the 'rain drop, drop top' memes were at their peak, Ruby's Instagram had reached six figures. Emails started coming from brands; along with mentions of modeling. Still, behind the selfies, she was writing rap, a habit that had started from middle school notebooks and she never left.

• Pivotal Decision: Music Over Modeling

More video gigs started coming in, but Ruby saw a trap: to become another invisible face or to move forward with her voice. She studied the industry moves made by Cardi B and Nicki Minaj—women who turned their image into empires but always on their own terms—and decided to bet on herself as an artist.

Crafting a Rap Persona

• First Singles & Sound Evolution

His 2018 remix barely shook the algorithm on Playboi Carti's unreleased "On Top," but it taught him how to record, distribute, and promote music without label support. Success came a year later with "Big Mouth." Over booming 808 beats, Rubi delivered clear punchlines with almost conversational ease. Blogs took notice, Hot97 played it, and executives started to dive into his comments.

• Influences & Mentorship

Ruby cited Foxy Brown's fearless voice, Trina's bravery in Miami, and Nicki's ambition to break style as her primary inspirations. Locally, Atlanta hitmaker Chris Turner brought her to the attention of L.A. Reid, resulting in a deal with Hitco Entertainment at the end of 2019. This mentorship turned into precise production, better distribution, and tough lessons in music business politics.

• Lyric Themes

In singles, she emphasizes three main points: sexual freedom ("Never confuse silence with sex"), financial freedom ("I want to be charged for my beauty, my pen, and my pain"), and the street credibility that is earned not through neighborhood fees but through cunning. In an industry that still views women’s money and the power of the bed with suspicion, Ruby's verses serve as a kind of manifesto.

“For the Streets” & Industry Validation

•   Mixtape Breakdown

Christmas Day 2020 saw the release of "For the Streets." This project, featuring eight tracks, included contributions from Future and PARTYNEXTDOOR - impressive for a newcomer - yet critics gave it mixed reviews, citing uneven songwriting. Ruby countered that the mixtape "is a pilot episode, not the whole series," and promised better writing in the future.

• XXL Freshman Class 2021

When XXL magazine included her in their famous Freshman list for the upcoming summer, there was no doubt, as she was placed alongside peers like Flo Milli and Pooh Shiesty. The cypher session—where she rapped in four-inch heels—has remained one of the most viewed clips from the list.

• Signing with Mogul Vision / Interscope

In 2023, Ruby entered into a new partnership with the Interscope imprint Mogul Vision, operated by Josh Marshall. Under this agreement, the first single "Hood Bitch Aesthetic" was released in October, reflecting a raw, heavy bass direction.

Building a 360-Degree Brand

• Fashion & Instagram Domination

Scroll through Ruby's feed and one day you'll find streetwear, the next day vintage Mughal, and then Eritrean-inspired breads for the festival season. With every carousel drop, she adds that affiliate link or gives a sneak peek of limited-edition items, turning likes into revenue. Today, her follower count is over five million, and each sponsored post commands a five-figure salary.

• Collabs & Co-Sign Culture

Apart from her own discography, Ruby has appeared in Lato's "Brokey" video in 2024 and in club remixes from producers like Jetsonmade. Some collaborations are official, others are SoundCloud-loose, but the strategy is clear: to be visible in as many playlists as possible.

•   Authentic Voice & Community

It is not the glamor but the personality that attracts fans to follow. Whether it's live-tweeting or opposing misogynistic comments, Ruby remains uncensored. She also highlights Eritrean designers and occasionally hosts IG Live 'Freestyle Fridays,' which strengthens a two-way relationship with her supporters.

Trials, Trolls & Tenacity

•   Tabloid Dating & Clickbait

Any woman who raps about a luxury lifestyle becomes a subject of gossip blogs, and Ruby's romantic history—rumored relationships with Playboy Carti, Lil Tjay, French Montana, and a briefly confirmed marriage to comedian Druski in 2024—generates endless headlines. She responds to the speculation with sarcasm: 'You guys pay attention to who I’m dating; I pay attention to my daily rate.'

• Criticism & Colorism Conversations

Rubi has faced criticism that her content is predominantly based on sexuality, as well as deep discussions about colorism in rap regarding light-skinned privilege. She responds in her videos by prominently featuring dark-skinned women and emphasizing that her presence— as a mixed heritage Eritrean-Japanese-Black woman who raps candidly about desires—rather expands representation than narrows it down.

• Mental Resilience Strategies

In the podcast, she openly talks about therapy, journaling, and boxing workouts to manage the constant pressure of comments. She argues that mental endurance is as important as breath control in the studio.

What’s Next for Rubi Rose?

•   New Music & Tour Plans

The first quarter of 2024 introduced a single titled 'Deserve To Die,' which is a serious song hinting at an upcoming EP. Insiders from the label say the entire project—working title Pretty & Paid—is slated for the end of December 2025 and will include production from Southside and Metro Boomin. Expect previews at Rolling Loud Rotterdam and AfroNation Portugal this summer.

•   Entrepreneurial Moves

Ruby has recently filed trademarks for a cosmetics brand, rumored to specialize in hyper-pigmented lip gloss based on the names of her songs. Meanwhile, she has transformed her OnlyFans page into a subscription-based lifestyle hub, featuring fitness routines and behind-the-scenes studio footage, diversifying her income beyond streaming checks.

• Long-Term Vision

Ask Ruby where she sees herself in ten years, and the answer is rarely in the number of albums. She wants a film role (an action franchise favorite), a nonprofit organization for the education of girls in Eritrea, and executive producer credits for young female rappers who, like her, won't wait for permission to be multidimensional.

Conclusion

The story of Ruby Rose is not a neatly structured transformative tale; it is a continuous conversation between image and agency. She started as a silent frame in someone else's music video and transformed into a career with a microphone, a stage, and a million streams. Along the way, she challenged what it means to be a 'video vixen', what a woman is allowed to rap about, and who benefits from the gaze that commands her. Her journey—from Kentucky to Atlanta and then to being a global hip-hop competitor—proves that viral moments are merely steps when paired with self-confidence. The next chapter is still being written, but one prediction seems secure: wherever Ruby goes, she will be steering herself, not a co-pilot.