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    Willow Smith Just Got Really Real About Being A Black Emo Fan, And We Need To Talk About It

    "It's a real thing, you're not alone."

    maria sherman
    by maria sherman

    BuzzFeed Staff

    In case you missed it, Willow Smith is a pop-punk icon now.

    Willow Smith is seen onstage during Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 presented by Amazon Prime Video at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California
    Kevin Mazur / Via Getty Images for Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 Presented by Amazon Prime Video

    You have to listen to her song "Transparent Soul," featuring Blink-182's Travis Barker, right now if you haven't yet.

    View this video on YouTube
    UMG / MSFTSMusic / Roc Nation Records / Via youtube.com

    The song rips!

    Willow Smith performs at The Novo by Microsoft on December 19, 2019 in Los Angeles City
    Rich Fury / Via Getty

    Turns out, Willow Smith has always loved pop-punk and emo — and has even been bullied because of it.

    Willow Smith attends Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 presented by Amazon Prime Video at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California
    Jerritt Clark / Via Getty Images for Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 Presented by Amazon Prime Video

    In a new digital cover story with V Magazine, Smith described the experience of being a Black rock fan and musician.

    "Being a Black woman in the metal crowd is very, very different on top of the pressures that the music industry puts on you," she began.

    Red Table Talk / Via giphy.com

    "Now, it's like an added pressure of the metal culture, the metal world, and just rock in general. I used to get bullied in school for listening to Paramore and My Chemical Romance."

    Red Table Talk / Via giphy.com

    "Just through the music that I'm putting out right now and the representation that I can bring to the mix, I just hope that the Black girls who are listening to my music and listening to this album see that there's more of us out there," she continued.

    Amazon Prime Video / Via giphy.com

    "It's a real thing, you're not alone. You're not the only Black girl who wishes she could flip her hair to the side and wear black eyeliner, you know what I mean?"

    Willow Smith / Via giphy.com

    Read the full interview here.

    Willow Smith performs onstage during the Environmental Media Association 2nd Annual Honors Benefit Gala at Private Residence on September 28, 2019 in Pacific Palisades, California
    Tommaso Boddi / Via Getty Images for The Environmental Media Association

    StopBullying.gov is an organization that provides resources to prevent harassment and bullying against children. Stomp Out Bullying offers a free and confidential chat line here.