Bleta “Bebe” Rexha was born on August 30, 1989, in Brooklyn, New York City. She is an American singer-songwriter of Albanian descent, celebrated for her dynamic voice and ability to blend various musical genres.
At 35 years old, Bebe has established herself as a prominent figure in the music industry. Her work spans pop, country, and electronic genres.
Early Life
Bebe Rexha was raised in a culturally rich environment. Her father, Flamur Rexha, emigrated to the United States from Debar, North Macedonia, when he was 21 years old. At the same time, her mother, Bukurije, was born in New York to an Albanian family with roots in Gostivar.
Bebe has a brother named Florent, and the family moved to Staten Island when she was six years old. Bebe’s interest in music began early; she took trumpet lessons and later taught herself to play guitar and piano.
She attended Tottenville High School, where she participated in the choir and various musicals and discovered her talent as a coloratura soprano.
Education
Rexha’s early talent was recognized when she won the “Best Teen Songwriter” award at the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences’ annual “Grammy Career Day” event.
This achievement led her to sign a contract with talent scout Samantha Cox, who encouraged her to pursue songwriting classes in Manhattan. Her formal arts education and natural talent laid a solid foundation for her future music career.
Career
Bebe Rexha’s career began in 2010 when she joined the experimental band Black Cards, formed by Fall Out Boy’s bassist Pete Wentz. The band released several singles and performed at various live shows. However, she left the band in early 2012 to pursue solo endeavors.
After signing with Warner Bros. Records in 2013, she co-wrote Eminem and Rihanna’s Grammy Award-winning hit “The Monster,” which propelled her into the spotlight as a sought-after songwriter.
Her solo career gained momentum with the release of her debut EP, I Don’t Wanna Grow Up (2015), which featured popular singles like “I Can’t Stop Drinking About You” and “I’m Gonna Show You Crazy.”
In 2018, Rexha released her debut album, Expectations, which reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and produced hit singles like “I’m a Mess” and “Meant to Be.” The latter, featuring Florida Georgia Line, became a massive crossover success, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and holding the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 50 weeks.
Following this success, Rexha continued collaborating with top artists, including David Guetta, G-Eazy, and Nicki Minaj and released her second studio album, Better Mistakes, in 2021.
Family Life
Bebe Rexha comes from a close-knit family. Her father, Flamur, and her mother, Bukurije, instilled solid cultural values in her and her brother.
In 2020, she began a relationship with cinematographer Keyan Safari, further opening up about her personal life through social media and interviews. Rexha often expresses gratitude for her family’s support throughout her career, emphasizing their role in her journey as an artist.
Trivia
- Her single “Meant to Be” is recognized as one of the longest-running number-one songs by a female lead artist on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
- She co-wrote the Grammy-winning song “The Monster.”
- She has collaborated on successful tracks, including “Hey Mama” with David Guetta and “In the Name of Love” with Martin Garrix.
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