Romance is out! Friendship is in! This Valentine's Day, Highsnobiety is celebrating the beauty of love outside the traditional confines of romantic relationships. After all, friendship and creative collaboration take just as much work, time, and effort. Meet 5 couples who aren't couples here and read about the state of love today.
Sexyy Red, the rapper from St. Louis, has been making waves since her single with producer Tay Keith “Pound Town” came out last January. It hit the charts, and her mixtape Hood Hottest Princess, also featuring Keith, got almost 450 million streams. Keith is definitely central to the magic. A producer, songwriter, and music programmer originally from Memphis, he’s worked with everyone from Travis Scott to Drake and Eminem.
So they make good music, but they also make good friends. It’s a powerful relationship, built on trust, shared taste (Gucci and white Air Force 1s), and respect.
But let’s hear about it from them.
Highsnobiety: How did you two meet?
Sexyy Red: We met on Instagram.
Tay Keith: I watched her drop music for a while, and I saw her do something with Wikid. We just connected from there and started recording in Miami.
How would you describe each other’s personal styles?
Red: His style is different, unique.
Keith: Sexyy got her own unique style that is mixed with nostalgia.
What’s similar or different in your taste in music?
Keith: We both love that turnt, ratchet shit!
Red: We both like thumping beats.
How are you similar?
Keith: We grew up from similar backgrounds but different cities, but we still got the same taste in music.
What does friendship mean to you?
Keith: That’s my sister, no rap cap, no fake shit. All genuine love.
Red: Everything. Loyalty, commitment, realness.
How would you describe creative collaboration?
Red: Powerful.
Keith: When we bring our creative points of view together and create some new [music]!
What do you appreciate about each other?
Red: He gives me beats I like, and he always tries to satisfy my needs for the right beat.
Keith: How she’s been herself unapologetically.
Creatively, what are your differences and how do you navigate them?
Keith: She likes to record by herself, so I give her her space, and when she’s done, I give her my feedback, and [the] changes we collaborate on.
What’s a crazy night out you shared together?
Red: In the UK, after the Wireless Festival in 2023, we had fun at the club with Travis Scott.
Keith: Watching her perform in front of tens of thousands of people with Travis, and then we went to the club in London and everybody knew her music.
What’s something you don’t talk about together?
Keith: The business, because we can’t never let that get in the way. We leave that for the label and keep the creativity first.
Red: He never tries to direct me on how to write my music to his beats.
How do you navigate conflict or differences of opinion?
Keith: Respect boundaries and never cross them.
Who in fashion do you look up to? What about creative duos?
Red: Myself. Sexyy and Red.
What is one piece of clothing you both have in your closet?
Red: White Air Force 1s.
Keith: Gucci and J’s.
How does your style overlap? How does it differ?
Red: Our style is very similar; it’s like we’re from the same place.
What does friendship mean to you? What distinguishes friendship from other relationships in your life?
Keith: Friendship means loyalty and transparency. Even through the tough times and hard conversations, always stay thorough in friendship. You can distinguish it by understanding relationships. Like I can have a business relationship with somebody, but we’re not friends type-shit.
Red: If you’re my peoples, I treat you the same. As long as you’re loyal, committed, and real.
