Saweetie addressed her controversial business relationship with Dr. Luke, who’s worked on some of her biggest hits, in a new Vulture profile.
After Kesha accused Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald of sexually assaulting and emotionally abusing her in a 2014 lawsuit, the songwriter-producer has collaborated with some of today’s hottest stars. He co-wrote and produced Saweetie’s “Tap In,” which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Triller U.S. chart, and her Billboard Hot 100 top 20 collab “Best Friend” with Doja Cat, who signed to the label Dr. Luke used to head, Kemosabe Records, and his publishing company, Prescription Songs, when she was just 17. He also co-wrote and produced Doja’s No. 1 smash “Say So” under the alias Tyson Trax, his first No. 1 hit in six years.
Both artists have received criticism for working with Dr. Luke. While speaking to Vulture’s Hunter Harris in a conversation last summer, Saweetie set the record straight and said she didn’t know about the allegations against Dr. Luke until after “Tap In” had been released in June 2020.
“I’m so green,” she said at the time. “Maybe that’s a double-edged sword because I’m coming into the studio and I’m not knowing who these people are. I was able to learn about all of his achievements, and all of the allegations as well, after a couple of sessions.”
More than six months later, the two joined forces again for “Best Friend.” But the 28-year-old hitmaker says the timing of those songs is misleading considering she had written them many years prior. “When I was put in the position to work with him, it was a bundle deal,” she says. “I had those songs for over two years. So what do you think? Do I compromise my artistry, do I keep them in the vault, or do I release them?”
Prior to the 2021 Billboard Music Awards in May, where Saweetie received her first nomination for top rap female artist, she was hesitant to answer questions from The Associated Press about working with the controversial producer, saying, “I feel like this is turning into an interview that is taking the focus and the light off of such an amazing night.” But Harris applied more pressure in the latest Vulture story, going back and forth with Saweetie about whether she’ll continue to work with Dr. Luke knowing what she knows now about the case. Following the 2014 civil suit, Dr. Luke countersued Kesha for defamation and has since denied her allegations.
So will Saweetie work with Luke again? “What do you think?” she asked Vulture. “I think you have a good sense of my character by now. Hopefully we keep ourselves out of any controversial situation in the future.”
