There have been some grumblings that the 2025 song of the summer race is off to a slow start. Allow PLUTO, Atlanta’s hottest new female MC, to put those worries to bed. Already boasting a No. 51 peak, her YKNiece collab “Whim Whamiee” is still scaling the Billboard Hot 100. Between an irresistible nod to D4L, flawless ad-libs (in a just world, she’d have a Lululemon collaboration) and her own cocksure delivery, PLUTO’s breakthrough hit is just the latest addition to ATL’s storied legacy of gloriously ratchet party music.
A 21-year-old hairstylist from the west side of Atlanta, Ga., PLUTO (born Jada Smith) is a rapper who values spontaneity. Though her mother’s pastor knew she was a “dancing and singing baby” from the womb, it “wasn’t like I was writing raps and practicing every day,” she tells Billboard the day before her penultimate show on Lil Baby’s WHAM Tour in Chicago, Ill.
“Whim Whamiee” boasts a similar origin story, with PLUTO penning the track after coming across a YouTube beat that immediately hooked her with its sample of DJ Cool Breeze & OJ Da Juiceman’s “Wham Bam,” which references D4L rapper Mook B’s “Whim Wham,” the song behind one of her favorite dances. From there, the song’s rise was as quick as its studio session. PLUTO first teased the song with a Jan. 20 TikTok post, and the following day, a snow day TikTok went viral, prompting calls from several record labels. Having already linked with manager Kenoe Jordan in 2024, PLUTO officially signed to Motown Records in late March, with her debut album, Both Ways, arriving June 20.
Alongside her opening stint on Lil Baby’s tour, PLUTO already has follow-up hits like “What da Fuk” and “Pull Yo Skirt Up,” the latter of which is currently the soundtrack to a viral dance trend started by food influencer Keith Lee. There’s also the Sexyy Red remix of “Whim Whamiee,” which came amid a flurry of controversy, surrounding an alleged fallout between PLUTO and YKNiece and still-unreleased verses from Lizzo and Latto.
“People took what they seen and ran with it, not knowing the full behind-the-scenes,” says Billboard’s Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month for June. “I’ll perform again and again and again with [YKNiece]. I don’t have a problem doing that.”
In a lively conversation with Billboard, PLUTO breaks down the “Whim Whamiee” studio session, how her love for Future inspired her stage name, and why she considers Sexyy Red a “big sister.” What are some of your earliest musical memories?
I’ve loved music since forever. You know how parents be like, “You were dancing in the womb” and stuff like that? Well, my mom used to tell me that a lot of people in the choir didn’t know that she was pregnant with me, but the pastor did. The pastor would tell her that she got a dancing and singing baby. It makes sense because music is my go-to. I love music [of] all genres, it don’t matter what type of song it is.
My momma used to do music as well; she grew up doing rap battles on the street. She’s actually a producer now, and she’s in school for music, so music has always been around me. It’s always been my comfort and my safe space. When I’m going through something, I go to music first. It’s always been a part of me.
What was playing in the house growing up?
K. Michelle — different types of music, not just R&B. As I got older, I [developed my own taste]; I got my white people music, my hot s—t/lit music, and my in-betweens like Adele. My favorite artists right now are Fridayy and Noodah05. If a song is good and I feel it in my soul and heart, then I like it.
What do you remember about the very first song you ever wrote?
My first rap was a remix to this song I heard. It was [during] quarantine, and I was in my room, and I heard [AzChike’s] “Burn Rubber Again” and it was stuck in my head. I heard it two times, and randomly I was like, “I’m finna make a rap.” And that’s what I did. It was similar to his song, but it was fye to me. That was my first time writing and recording myself thinking I can rap. It’s a black-and-white video on my page from when I was younger.
When and how did you land on the name PLUTO?
PLUTO came from TikTok. I used to do hair, and I blew up on there. I went viral on one video, and my username on TikTok always been PLUTO. But it’s never nothing that I call myself, it’s just a reference to Future. I labeled myself as a Future Jr., cause you know how he moves and his ways. When I went viral, they took the name and ran with it. A week after that happened, I made “Whim Whamiee.” When I posted on TikTok, I was like, since everyone saying my name, “Pluto this, Pluto that,” I’m finna give y’all something to talk about. [Laughs].
What’s your favorite Future song?
Either [“My Collection”] or “March Madness.”
Take me into the “Whim Whamiee” studio session.
When I first wrote it, it wasn’t “Whim Whamiee” at all. The first lyric wasn’t “Big Pluto, b—h, like, what the f—k?” It was, “Go get some get back, what the f—k?” When I went viral and my name started to be Pluto, I changed the lyric automatically.
I wrote the song on my bed to this beat that I found. The D4L “Whim Wham” song is my favorite dance, so when I heard the “whim wham” [reference], it caught my attention. You hear it, and you just get to jumpin. [Laughs]. I get all my beats off YouTube and I know from the first few seconds if I’m gonna like it. When I rap, I be shy, but I was real confident with this one. I’m rapping it to my friend, and she was like, “What the hell? We gotta go to the studio, like tomorrow.”
My homeboy [lets me slide] to the studio for fun anyways, but that was my second time recording on the mic. In the studio, it was me, my friend and her sister. As I’m rapping it, we keep coming up with [more ad-libs], like the Lululemon one. In my city, if we keeping it a buck, a lot of boosters was heavy on the Lululemon, so it was a trend. [I knew] the girlies was gonna love this; everybody rocking Lululemon right now! My sound engineer [helped a lot too]. Everybody had a feeling that the song was going to blow. It’s a video on my TikTok of the night we made the song, and it was nothing but great vibes.
A group of kids had a session after us, and we were walking out of ours while [“Whim Whamiee”] was still playing. They were like, “Hollon, y’all gotta play that again!” We played it back-to-back for people we never met a day in our lives. Mind you, this is my second song, so I’m like, “Hollon, I’m finna post this on TikTok right now. Everybody already on my ass, so, s—t, let’s drop this song.” So, we did. Day two, it was a snow day and we made a viral TikTok. Day three, every label in the world calling us. Everything happened so fast.
What was that moment like when you found out that you made the Billboard Hot 100?
I’m still [in shock]. I don’t think anything has hit me yet. It’s a blessing and it’s crazy. People dream and work their whole lives for this. For it to basically be handed to me, I can’t do nothing but thank God. Billboard?? My God, it’s crazy. All I can say is thank you to my supporters, because that’s who got me up on Billboard.
When did you sign to Motown and what made you choose them?
I signed with Motown towards the middle or end of March. On my 21st birthday, which is March 9th, it was my first time being flown out to LA and talking to a label. I spoke to plenty of labels with all different types of deals. Me and my manager, Kenoe, were on the same page the whole process. I wanna thank God because I felt like he literally had His hands on my shoulders. Everything that went wrong, it went wrong for a reason. Kenoe was meant for me! His biggest thing was for people to know Pluto, and not just “Whim Whamiee.” And I think he 100% made that happen.
How quickly did Both Ways come together?
I’ve been working on my album since I’ve been signed. Some of the songs are new and some are very old. The process was hard work, but it was a breeze.
What’s your personal top three off the album?
“I’m Just a Girl,” “Petty S—t” and “Whim Whamiee.”
Have you connected with Keith Lee about the “Pull Yo Skirt Up” dance yet?
I need to! I still haven’t even did the challenge. I’m gonna do it today and tag him; we need to do a video together.
How would you describe the Pluto sound?
It’s different and authentic. I don’t feel like I sound like anyone. I specifically named my album Both Ways because I feel that I am a versatile rapper. I can make shake-that-butt music, but I can also make drill music. I can do a lil love song! [Giggles.] I’m not trying to be one of them. In the studio, somebody told me, “You don’t really have to try.” I feel like every song I make is fye. It’s a natural thing. I wake up everyday just trying to rap.
How did the Sexyy Red remix come together and what was it like performing it with her for the first time?
I feel like we need a re-do! Backstage, we were so ready, but they played our part too late, and it kinda threw me off. That’s my suh! We locked in. Me and Sexyy talk, that’s really my big sister. She’s my fave celebrity that I’ve talked to in the industry so far. Just like I’m still me, she’s still her regular self. A lot of celebrities were giving me love for the song, and she hit me like, “Girl, yo shit fye, keep going.” Two days later, she was like, “Twin, send me the open.” I was like, “I’m sending it right now!” I think she was on tour, so it took a couple weeks to get it. But once we got it, it was like, when we shooting the music video?!
Would you give Latto or Lizzo your blessing to drop their remixes?
Yes! I feel like we could do a remix with 20 people. We can do a mash-up, that’s what I want. I say we do a 30-minute version of “Whim Whamiee.”
What’s your experience been like on the Lil Baby tour?
I’m 21 years old, and I’m on tour with Lil Baby! It’s fun! Every show, I get so much love, and everybody tells me my set be the best set. I’m happy to be here.
What else can we expect from you this year?
Definitely more music coming. Maybe my own tour, maybe I might hop on another tour. Kenoe never stops cooking, so we got a lot of stuff in the vault. It’s a PLUTO Summer, PLUTO Year, PLUTO World.
What’s up with you and YKNiece? Will we ever see y’all perform “Whim Whamiee” together again?
It’s no bad blood. No beef. We just two artists in our own lanes doing our own thing. And that’s what it was going to be from the start. People took what they seen and ran with it, not knowing the full behind-the-scenes. I’ll perform again and again and again with her. I don’t have a problem doing that. It’s no bad blood on my end. I’m doing me and she’s doing her. I [wish] her the best, and I want her to win as well.
What do you hope to have achieved by this time next year?
I don’t know if I even thought about that because life is so fast-paced, but I definitely want to have my own property. I did hair before this, so I want a building and my own suite. My own house, car, things of that nature, everything that I need. And definitely another big record. I don’t think nothing gon’ top “Whim Whamiee” because that’s the song of the century. But we got way more hits on the way!
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