[Bee-B](https://www.instagram.com/brittanybmusic/) recently released her newest [single and visual for “CONFIDENCE,”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzEe6gQtkNs) a female empowerment record that reminds audiences all around the world of their worth. Produced by Harmony “H-Money” Samuels who’s worked with everyone from Ariana Grande to Brandy to Jennifer Lopez, the track embodies everything real name Brittany B stands for: confidence, attitude, resilience, and the simple notion of going after your wildest dreams — while refusing to take no for an answer.
In describing herself, Bee-B states, “I consider myself a creative entrepreneur honestly. Of course I write music for myself and other people, but I’d call myself a true musical hustler.”
Coming up in Compton, California, Brittany grew up on soul music from Stevie Wonder to Marvin Gaye to Mary J. Blige. The true definition of Black Girl magic, Brittany creates music with love, with the mission of leaving a positive impact on the earth in all her endeavors. Beyond that, she can be seen on the hit reality television series _Love & Hip Hop_ on VH1, standing her ground to push out the most positive message possible for viewers.
_Flaunt_ caught up with Bee-B in downtown Los Angeles, who’s been putting in work in the studio perfecting her craft. Read below as we discuss her recent name change, writing for Queen Naija, Rotimi, and Ann-Marie, new single “Confidence,” best memory from shooting the visual, her time on reality television, and more!
**Why the name change from Brittany B to Bee-B?**
I changed my name because I wanted to make sure that there was a distinction between my songwriting and my artistry. I’m always credited as a songwriter as Brittany B, Brittany Barber. I need people to know when I’m dropping music, it’s Bee-B. Also, it’s psychological. People often associate you with whatever you’ve done before, it’s hard for them to see you in a different light.
It sucks because people say “oh we want a writer to grow, we want this or that.” But they don’t, they only want what they have seen before. The name change was a very distinct way to completely separate my songwriting from artistry so that people gave me a clean slate and paid attention to the music from me as an artist.
**Is Bee-B an alter ego type situation?**
Naw, it’s me. \[laughs\] It’s me.
**How does it feel to be able to work with so many amazing artists on the songwriting tip, releasing music at the same time and still doing A&R right?**
Yeah, a little bit of that. A little bit. I feel blessed, I feel good. I just did a record on the Ann-Marie’s new project, it was #4 “Real.” Being able to work with new relevant artists, super popular artists, and continue to work with A-List artists, I feel blessed honestly. I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t belong.
**How did that situation come about?**
I got a call from the producer Killa B. I got a call from her A&R Caroline Diaz who works over at Interscope. She said “yeah I got my artist here,” we recorded at Paramount. She’s a really sweet girl and really talented. She knows who she is and that’s the best thing about an artist. I love working with artists who know who they are. I really respect her as a young female R&B artist. We made it smash!
**I remember when you were really getting Bhad Bhabie off the ground. How did it feel going from that to being able to do pretty much any genre?**
I know, it’s so interesting because right before I did Ann Marie’s record, I did a record with Rotimi. And that record is an Afrobeat record. \[laughs\] That was a vibe. I wrote an Afrobeat record, then I wrote an R&B record.
**And you did Queen Naija too.**
Right, super R&B. For me, I’m happy people are giving me the opportunity to show my talent. What I really can do. Bhad Bhabie was so popular and all the eyes were on her so heavy that people were able to see what I did with her in one genre. She’s hip-hop, she’s new age rap music.
**She’s feisty though! \[laughs\]**
Yeah, but it’s more than that. I developed her so it’s a lot. As women, we don’t get enough credit for the things we do. Everyone tries to take the credit for the hard work we do and try to undermine us. That was my opportunity to show that people did see the real. Okay, who’s truly making things happen behind the scenes? Not to take away from the rest of her team, her team is amazing. Her manager did a hell of a job, the rest of the label did a hell of a job. Now people are like “alright, she did that. Let’s see what else she has to offer,” and that’s what I’m thankful for.
**Is there a fine line between “I’m helping this artist write a song, but this song is fire I could keep it to myself”?**
Never. I always get that question and never. I never think about that. You know what it is? When I’m writing for myself I’m in a different space. I’m not thinking about it. When I’m writing for other people, it’s more about bringing out the best out of them and who they are. I’ve learned now how to keep my sauce to myself. \[laughs\]
**“Confidence” is out now, how are you feeling?**
I feel really good. It’s doing better than the first record I just put out under my new name.
**“Stretch”?**
Mmhmm, so I feel really good. It's different. Sometimes being different is not always welcomed, right? But I’m happy that I’m different. I’m happy I’m original. It’s so many artists that sound like each other. I’m so happy that people really fuck with my music. The video’s so creative and so artistic. I know I’m leaving a really good legacy. I feel good about the direction I’m going. Shit, I’m just letting the world catch up to me at this point. \[laughs\]
**How’s the music different?**
My records are different because they have an original quality about them that a lot of artists don’t necessarily have. I try not to compare myself, but you also have to be aware of what’s going on in the music space. You have a lot of women who are hypersexual, they’re growing up fast. They’re shaking ass and titties all day long, and that’s never going to go away. I’m a bit of a feminist so I’m all for us being able to be ourselves and not receive and backlash as a woman.
At the same time, who’s servicing the other girls? The ones who don’t want to shake their asses. Who’s speaking to the women who don’t really want to be a city girl? Who might have low self-esteem and can’t afford a Birkin bag, where’s those rappers? Where’s those women? I speak to those women who just want to feel confident. It doesn’t matter what you have on. As long as you wear your confidence, you’re straight. That’s where my record comes from, why “Confidence” is so special and different. You could be 8 years old, 28 years old, 58 years old, you’re still going to resonate with the song.
**Best memory from shooting the visual?**
Being done, I was tired. \[laughs\] I’m kidding. The best memory was when I was doing the mirror shot, I was really talking to myself. I had to really look at myself and perform the record. Really talk to myself, do you really mean these words? It was a lot of fun being able to really truly look at myself like “this is it.” It was fun!
**What about your favorite look?**
Definitely the Michael Jackson look. I love dressing up as characters. People are going to get an opportunity to see that side of me more as I do more television stuff. Movies, comedies, that’s what I love.
**How’s reality TV been good to you?**
Reality TV’s been good to me. Television is one of the biggest platforms in entertainment so good or bad, whatever it is it’s still good. Good press, good, marketing and good eyeballs on you. I’m grateful to be on the show. The Love N Hip Hop franchise is huge.
**I** [**interviewed Hitmaka**](https://flaunt.com/content/hitmaka-77-million-sold-9-grammy-noms-9-billion-streams-amp-just-getting-started) **who hated his time on _Love & Hip Ho_**_p._
I understand. Everybody’s had different experiences. For me, my first season was terrible.
**_Love & Hip Hop Hollywood_?**
Because instead of taking a story about a young black girl from Compton, California, who doesn’t have her mother or father — I don’t have any relationships in the industry, I’m working my way to the top. I’m really blood sweat and tears out here, good and bad doing what I’m trying to do. I made it to work at one of the biggest record labels on the globe. We’re #3 in the market share. Went from working a day job to meeting an artist who doesn’t have a idea, who also didn’t have the best reputation in the industry. Take her and turn her up into getting Gold plaques on her wall. It was a story they could’ve utilized to show what _Love & Hip Hop_ really could be, how you can really make it in Hollywood.
They said “nah, we’re going to show you arguing with bitches.” Nah bruh. After my first season, I wanted to get out of my contract. This shit ain’t it, I was off it. Y’all not making me look good so why am I here? Y’all not about to use me. They did apologize to me, but it’s already done. Y’all already aired it, y'all already clowned me. Y’all already did the bullshit. Y’all got the whole world thinking I’m this and that. I get it. I’m a very opinionated and strong woman, I can be intimidating because I’m very confident in who I am. At the same time if you provoke a bear and poke at it, it’s going to pop back. I’m not a punk. It was very interesting. Recently with the _Love & Hip Hop_ Atlanta season, when they’re asking me to come on and do guest appearances, I only wanted to appear if it was positive. A supportive team that supported our relationship and showed us in a positive manner, and they said yes.
**That’s tight you’re able to stand your ground on that.**
Yeah. Even for the upcoming season, it’s the same thing. I’m not doing anything that’s not uplifting and positive, and showing me working. That’s what I do, I work my ass off. This industry is really fucking hard.
**It’s a lot of bullshit in the industry! It makes me sad.**
It’s a lot of bullshit. People talking about you crazy, they act like they know you. It’s all types of craziness. They try to undermine what you’ve earned, they try to undermine your accolades. Bruh. \[laughs\] We’re all getting up, we’re all fighting the same fight. We’re all trying to make it. We’ve gotta support each other. How I handle it is I don’t pay no attention to it. I focus on the yes’. For the people that tell me yes and show me love, I focus on them. For the people that care and support, focus on them. The people that don’t care, that’s telling me no when I try to work with their artist, they acting weird or not opening emails, guess what? I’m not doing it. \[laughs\] Focus on the positives, keep the good energy around you. That’s where I’m at.
**What can we expect next?**
More music, this is my beginning. It took me a long time to get here so I want to make sure I take my time. That each record shreds confidence, is quality and is fucking fire. The videos are amazing and has a message, and is a hit! That’s what I”m looking forward to right now: more TV and more music.
**Anything else you want to let us know?**
Watch _Love & Hip Hop_ on VH1 on Mondays at 8pm. \[laughs\] And go get my single.
