If Lola Brooke had the possibility to fulfill one individual, she’d most likely decide the late legend DMX.
“DMX offers me chills,” says the Brooklyn dynamo. “I want I had that [co-sign] so dangerous. Someday, I hope anyone comes as much as me and says, ‘ I introduced you as much as X, proper?’ I simply pray that occurs.”
Standing 4’9′ tall, the East Coast fireball has traces of her Yonkers function mannequin embedded in her petite body. Like X, her bark can hush any sizable risk, as beforehand confirmed on her 2021 Tri-State standout “Don’t Play With It.” The drill-centric observe, that includes her Brooklyn cohort Billy B, showcases Brooke’s charisma and grit, that are important components wanted to climb the hip-hop ranks in New York Metropolis. Then, the music acquired a lift on TikTok and attracted a complete new viewers for Brooke.
At the moment, she touts a fistful of co-signs from Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, Meek Mill, and extra. Final December, Future introduced out Brooke throughout his New Yr’s Eve present at Brooklyn’s Barclay Middle. Her homecoming efficiency went viral, and was punctuated by her electrical stage presence, inflicting Missy Elliott to even sing her praises on Twitter. The next week, Brooke introduced her take care of Arista Data in collaboration with Group Eighty Productions.
“Lola is the uncommon expertise whose presence matches her message,” Arista Data CEO David Massey informed Billboard final month. “Her music is larger-than-life, however her imaginative and prescient is simply as highly effective. We’re excited to welcome her to the Arista Data household.”
With “Don’t Play With It” now gaining chart success two years after its launch (it entered the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart final month), Brooke appears to carve up her subsequent large play and turn into greater than New York’s newest rising star. We caught with our February Rookie of the Month to discuss her scorching rise, appreciating her co-signs and what it’ll take to crack the following stage.
How did your love for poetry pivot over to you rapping?
I don’t need folks to assume that I used to be deeply into poetry. I discovered that academically in class. I at all times had journals and diaries. Once I went to highschool, they taught us about poetry. So I went again dwelling and tried to repair up my journals in that format. It didn’t final too lengthy. I went straight into [makes machine gun noises]. I went straight into that mode. [Laughs.]
You had some influences on the rap facet, particularly Meek, proper?
Meek is the highest one. Meek Mill is the one which I mentioned to myself, “If Meek can do it, then I may do it.” The primary music I heard from Meek was “Goons Gone Wild.” I keep in mind listening to it, and I used to be catching the bars — as a result of I used to hearken to Lil Wayne and run his songs again, simply to ensure I understood what he was saying. So when Meek had his vibe, I knew straight on from bounce [what to expect]. I used to be a fan from there.
He used to vlog his journey and I keep in mind when the general public used to say humorous stuff. Once you’re a fan, you see all the things. “He may rap, however can he make songs? Is he gonna final? He only a battle rapper?” After which he proved them mistaken. I knew if may do it, I may do it for actual.
Do you keep in mind the primary music you wrote?
Yeah, it was like a bit love verse. I wrote it for a boy. It was a verse for somebody.
Did they hear it?
Yeah, they heard it. I don’t keep in mind telling them if was for them although. I simply despatched it.
Although folks know you on your extra aggressive materials, I believe you’re fairly versatile. Why has that been an essential trait so that you can have?
It’s essential as a result of it’s me. Lots of people be afraid to point out their weak facet lots of instances, and it’s OK to point out that. It’s additionally OK to carry your guard up too, as properly. That’s simply the Brooklyn in me. It’s my stomping grounds. I’m at all times going to carry it up — however on the identical time, I do love love. I’m in an area that in the event you cross me, that love can flip into hate. With out love, there’s no hate. With out hate, there’s no love.
What does being a feminine rapper from Brooklyn along with your form of momentum imply for you proper now?
It means all the things. It means energy and management. I’m in charge of my very own future. It’s lots of ladies like me that’s scared to come back out, as a result of they really feel they’re not female sufficient — however you might be sufficient. Once I was youthful, I used to really feel like I wasn’t sufficient, however now I do know that I’m sufficient.
That energy doesn’t scare you?
It used to, however my voice is so highly effective. I really feel like I’ve no alternative. That is what I’m right here to do, so even when I’m scared, it signifies that I’m regular and I’m human. It occurs. Typically, I do get scared, however I’ve no option to hold going. I’ve folks wanting as much as me.
One other one among your influences, Missy Elliott, confirmed love on social media on your efficiency in Brooklyn on the Future live performance. What did that imply for you?
I wished to ask for her quantity, however I saved it cool although! It meant all the things, as a result of after I take a look at Missy, it’s not simply an artist — I take a look at her as a creator, as a director. The whole lot that she did was off the grid, but it surely was her, and it nonetheless made sense, as a result of she’s showcasing who she is. That proper there meant quite a bit to me, as a result of she’s an OG telling me that I did an important job with my stage presence. I can solely think about what number of different folks I touched that perceive that craft of music. That meant quite a bit to me.
Are there another co-signs that you just’re most happy with?
Snoop and Jadakiss.
That form of validation should hit in a different way for you, versus reward out of your friends?
It’s like a trophy. It’s like I bought the Grammy earlier than the Grammy kind of factor, as a result of they’re not simply going to say they f–ok with one thing in the event that they actually don’t. In the event that they really feel one thing, they usually say it out loud, you’re gonna really feel them. That’s simply my likelihood to ensure the folks don’t take a look at them loopy [for making those co-signs]. Now it’s my job to ensure what they’re saying shouldn’t be a lie.
You’ve been within the studio with Conway The Machine and Juelz Santana. Do you are feeling the necessity to step your pen sport up if you’re locked in working with these caliber of MCs?
My pen sport is gonna be stepped up wherever, with whoever, every time — as a result of it’s not nearly having one of many greats within the room and go loopy … whoever is within the room, [I’m gonna] go loopy. Even when I’m doing a file on my own, I do the primary verse and the second verse, you higher go loopy on Lola. You higher be [my alter-ego Big Gator] on the second verse. That’s how I take a look at it. I don’t even compete with folks, I compete with myself.
However on the finish of the day, as a younger artist, I do search for that form of validation from the OGs — and in the event that they’re within the room, in fact I gotta ensure they know that is actual. I’m already ready, so I don’t gotta fear about that. The pen sport is there now. The place the vibes at? The place the power at?
You’ve completed lots of buzz within the Tri-State. What’s the plan in changing into a mainstream famous person?
Consistency. That’s the principle key. That’s the blueprint. Even when s–t wack, put it out so you already know what to not do once more. Put stuff out so you already know what your followers like. That’s the one method you’re going to win. It’s to know the suggestions out of your followers.
What’s the roadmap for you realizing you’re getting these early appears, like Artists to Watch wins?
It’s self-care, and ensuring that I’m wholesome, in order that I can hold making use of stress — as a result of with out me having a secure mentality, none of this may get carried out. In addition to my staff. They have to be mentally prepared, in addition to me, in order that we will feed off one another and at all times include methods on how we will win.
