All In
Motivated after dropping her debut undertaking, Lola Brooke is laser-focused.
Interview: Aleia Woods
Editor’s Observe: This story seems within the Summer season 2024 challenge of XXL Journal, on stands now.
New York Metropolis rapper Lola Brooke is Brooklyn to her core. Her sound and strategy to rap are nostalgic. That shined via most on Dennis Daughter, her debut undertaking, which dropped this previous November. She earned a BET award nomination for “Don’t Play With It (Remix)” that includes Latto and Yung Miami, a tune off the trouble, and the unique monitor landed her a platinum plaque, additionally leading to quite a few options and strong information. Because the MC continues her rap journey, she’s studying to point out all sides of herself as an artist. Right here, Lola checks in on what’s subsequent for her, how she sharpens her pen, just lately hitting the studio with Meek Mill and extra.
XXL: You latterly dropped your debut undertaking. Now, what are you engaged on?
Lola Brooke: Proper now, I’m simply engaged on new music and exhibiting my followers the elevation of what Lola Brooke is.
You could have mentioned prior to now that your breakout single “Don’t Play With It” modified your life. How does that really feel?
It feels actually good as a result of once more, I be sitting right here considering to myself, like, all I ever needed was to be on stage and listen to the gang saying my lyrics word-by-word, a cappella. Now that I get to do this, the following two, three, 4 years, no matter, it’s an awesome feeling. It simply exhibits that as an artist, it don’t matter how lengthy it takes, so long as you get to see the second.
How do you savor these moments?
Simply keep within the studio. The one cause why these moments is occurring is as a result of I’m creating music. So, whether or not I’m placing music out or not, simply staying within the studio and protecting my pen sharp.
What’s the vibe of the following undertaking?
On this subsequent undertaking, I’m simply experimenting, and I’m exhibiting those who I’m not simply an MC or rapper. I’m truly an artist. This subsequent undertaking is simply exhibiting that I’m an artist, for positive.
What made you need to make that experimental pivot?
I’m nonetheless pushing the “Don’t Play With It” vibes, for positive. However that’s simply not all. That’s not all who I’m. It’s not simply that. It’s much more to me, so perhaps I shouldn’t say experiment as a result of that is so me, too. I’ve a distinct aspect of Lola, and I simply need to dig deep into it slightly bit extra and present them the artist aspect quite than rapper. I’m nonetheless gonna be rapping, after all, however, , it’s all the time good as an artist to raise. That’s the purpose of being an artist is to proceed to maintain being inventive.
Meek Mill was one of many first large artists to cosign you. Will there be a Meek and Lola collab?
See, that is the factor. I ought to beat Meek up, man, as a result of he put out a snippet of a tune that we did collectively, however we ain’t launch it. I’ve been within the studio with him, although, so it’ll be extra music. Proper now, we simply been engaged on music. We artists, so this can be a pastime for us. Typically, we do make music, and it won’t come out, nevertheless it’s simply to sharpen the pen.
What’s one factor you’ve all the time needed to do this you’re now capable of do since your success?
Deal with my mother. That’s the most important factor for me, to see that my mother doesn’t stress as a lot as she used to. It makes me smile. When my mother smile, I smile, and I change into an animal on the courtroom. That’s what it truly is for me.
Learn Lola Brooke’s interview within the Freshman challenge, on newsstands now. Along with interviews with the 2024 Freshman Class and producer Southside, there are additionally conversations with Sexyy Pink, Mustard, Ski Masks The Stoop God, Rubi Rose, Ken Carson, Ghostface Killah and extra, plus, a glance again at what the 2023 XXL Freshman Class has been doing. Additionally, there are tales on the continued scamming and fraud plaguing hip-hop, and the way podcasters and streamers are enjoying a serious position in rap beef. The difficulty is on sale right here, together with some unique Freshman merch.
See the 2024 XXL Freshman Class Artists and Producer
