Addison Rae: From TikTok Star to Pop Sensation

By Cecelia Moore

Music Journalist

Addison Rae is pop music’s next rising star. After her debut EP, AR, and feature on Charli XCX’s “The von dutch remix with addison rae and a.g. cook,” Addison Rae proved she is multi-talented and capable of far more than just TikTok virality.

Addison Rae initially gained a following by posting herself doing viral dance challenges on TikTok, rapidly amassing thousands of followers and joining the likes of Charli D’Amelio and the platform’s most popular creators of the late 2010s to the early 2020s. However, while many of these creators have ventured into the music industry, Addison Rae’s music stood out as innovative and authentic.

She released her debut single “Obsessed” in March 2021, immediately gaining reactions from TikTok users, small and large creators alike. While the song received a fair amount of criticism on the app, it had character and was ahead of its time. Rae has been an early adopter of bringing back early 2010’s dance-pop music elements, with a pop diva persona that was only newly reemerging for the first time since the early 2000s. The single was an introduction to Addison Rae the pop star, and gave listeners a taste of what to expect.

Later, her song “2 die 4 (feat. Charlie XCX)” leaked on TikTok and listeners went crazy. Its lyrics are fun and simple, but undeniably catchy and an instant classic for the dance-pop lovers of the 2020s. The lyric “Go left at the light then pull over on the right, ah / So come take a bite in the middle of the night” immediately hooks listeners into Addison Rae’s girly, upbeat and sexy pop persona, which was a departure from the aesthetic of the mainstream TikTok star. The song was later released as part of her AR EP, featuring Charli XCX, and quickly became one of her most popular songs. The EP also features “I got it bad”

Her most current and biggest claim to fame so far is an instantly iconic scream amid the beats of “The von dutch remix with addison rae and a.g. cook” by Charli XCX. The scream went viral instantly in online spaces, getting many content creators talking. Many creators have claimed that Addison has become a “main pop girl” and a “gay icon” overnight. The scream was a one-take, adlibbed addition that fit the song perfectly, and unknowingly taking her status far away from TikTok star, and much closer to female pop mainstay.

Addison Rae is only an album away from taking the pop world by storm, and her few releases thus far have proven her as one to watch. With her charismatic personality, alluring aesthetic and stylized sound, Addison Rae is only a step away from taking over our playlists, social media feeds and hearts.