Addison Rae: The Next Pop Princess

2020 could’ve never seen it coming: a future with Addison Rae’s emergence as a pop princess. I would see Addison every so often on my TikTok for you page, doing her quintessential Gen Z dances with her magnetic smile plastered on while simultaneously being in the throes of one of the most depressing years to date. I didn’t think too much of her to be perfectly honest. She’s clearly beautiful and seemed likable enough, but like everything else during COVID, all the media I consumed started to blend together, and Addison’s content was totally off of my radar, along with the rest of The Hype House. 

Cut to summer 2024: Pop and hyperpop queens like Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Remi Wolf are dominating social media buzz, driving ticket sales, and are finally getting their flowers after years of putting out pop bangers. It truly has been an electric year in music for pop lovers. I was listening to Billie Eilish’s “LUNCH” when Spotify worked its algorithmic magic and threw “Diet Pepsi” into the rotation. I thought “What the hell is this?” –not in a bad way– but I needed to know: Who the hell is this? Sure enough, it was TikTok queen Addison Rae.

Charli XCX is notorious for unlikely, yet amazing remixes, especially with the roll out of Brat. The “Von dutch a.g. cook remix featuring addison rae” released in March 2024 was no exception. I was not familiar with Addison’s music career, but as a fan of Charli and A.G. Cook, I had a feeling it would be interesting at the very least. Addison brings a fearless energy to the remix as she sings about the internet chatter around her public persona. Not only does she directly address her haters, but she also screams– like actually screams a high-pitched, elongated scream in the middle of the song– which was an insane but incredible choice. I had no idea you could scream on pitch, and she did it flawlessly. 

‍

I loved the remix but I wasn’t sure if this was enough to move the needle. Unfortunately, her Tik Tok and film career preceded her, and I didn’t know if she could overcome the cringey persona many early Tik Tok stars like herself garnered in some circles. However, an artist like Charli XCX seeing your potential is the confidence boost someone like Addison needed, and like Charli received from the late innovative producer, SOPHIE. Before the remix, Charli actually appeared on Addison’s August 2023 EP release, AR, with the song “2 die 4”. Clearly, Charli knew Addison had something there, and they even developed a sort of friendship, shopping on Melrose buying cute clothes (listen to the remix!).

Fast forward to the “Diet Pepsi” release. The song coupled with the visuals solidify that Addison Rae really does whatever she wants to do. You get the sense she doesn't care about what other people think about her or her brand, and she’s having a blast while doing it. The lyrics are flirty and breathy, and the production is completely aligned with the current pop royalty sphere. The black and white music video feels straight out of the glory days of Tumblr, with Addison wrapped in an American flag and eating a banana split in the back seat of the car while shoving her feet in her suspected love interest’s face. It all just feels so free, and Addison is unapologetically thrashing about and even goofing around, seemingly having a ball. The song is so catchy, and her social media roll out has been completely aligned with the vision - fun and lighthearted. As I was watching the music video giggling periodically, I thought, “Could this be enough to turn the tides in her favor?” 

I know that the public, specifically those chronically on the internet, are skeptical about Addison Rae’s pop princess status. There have been many public figures and influencer types to try their hand in the music industry, and the results are typically a mixed bag. The first that comes to mind though is Paris Hilton’s “Stars Are Blind” from her debut studio album in 2006. I love that song (shout out to Promising Young Woman for including it in the soundtrack!), but it was a bit of a guilty pleasure type of song for those in the mid 2000’s. “What does Paris Hilton know about music?” some might ask, yet, it is a perfect, bubblegum pop song from the ‘It Girl’ of the 2000s. With this in mind, I’m hopeful that Addison will find her footing, and I think the key for this specific release is the timing. This is the year of pop music. We’ve seen the takeover with countless artists this year, and I think that makes the difference in the success of the “Diet Pepsi” versus the AR EP release. We cannot get enough of the pop girlies this year, and Addison Rae is an exciting addition to the roster. 

In addition to the timing aspect of her latest release playing into her rise, I think Addison Rae’s public persona works heavily in her favor. While she isn’t internationally known, she has enough of a reputation and people in her corner to help her cement herself in this landscape. Not only is she making friends with other pop stars, her stint with Kourtney Kardashian also had people talking. It has kept people wondering who Addison Rae is and why people care about her. Her bubbly persona mixed with her bold choices (see her 2024 MTV VMA outfit for context) make her incredibly fascinating, and people are curious for what she will do next. In the words of Charli XCX during her interview with the Tik Tok account @subwaytakes,

“For me, music alone is just not giving me the world. I need an artist to create the world. A great artist to me is more than the songs. It’s the entire culture and space that they inhabit.” 

Addison has cemented herself in recent internet culture, and I am excited to see where she goes next creatively following the latest release. She is taking risks, getting people talking and even becoming a bit of a style icon. Will this continue? I can’t say for sure, but I am buckled in and ready for the ride. 

If you enjoyed this article, sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date with Gen Admisison🎶