The buzz that comes from The Big Apple and its artists hailing from Brooklyn has been a continuous success over the decades. From Biggie and Jay-Z to Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown, legends have built legacies, and this tradition looks set to continue with the city’s next star.
Lola Brooke now has that grit that her hometown is notorious of achieving. It’s been three years since she told us Don’t Play With It, and now Lola holds the controller as she steers her dreams into reality.
With this month marking the anniversary of her highly acclaimed debut album Dennis Daughter, the trajectory is there to see. Miss Brooke has been around the world, captured an ever-growing fanbase and stays consistent with nostalgic drops as she pays homage to the Rap and R&B legends who paved the way for her.
Having just released her new single “Go To Yo Head”, we caught up with Lola Brooke to reflect on her debut album, hosting the B.E.T.’s, career highlights so far and much more.
Lola! It’s been a year since the release of Dennis Daughter, how important was that project to yourself and can fans expect another body of work in the near future?
“New Lola Brooke is coming! I get in the studio tomorrow, I’m always working! I’m happy that I released Dennis Daughter just to have that introduction on who I am. I’m still going. This is my job, this is how I feed my family, this is a hobby for me, this is what I love to do. You’re always going to get new material from me.”
You feature on the new “Basketball 2.0” which celebrates the 40th anniversary of Kurtis Blow’s anthem – How was it to be called upon for such a moment and how was the process of creating the track and visuals?
“I know as a kid growing up, I heard that song. I thought it was legit for the NBA, but I think Kurtis made the song just because! My mum was so gassed up, she was like ‘Girl, you don’t know who that is!’. I knew of him, but I didn’t know him like that. I finally got to meet him and do the video with him, and I met his wife too. He got a dope family! It was cool vibes and I’m happy to be a part of something that paved a way for my career.”
Just sticking with basketball, are you a Brooklyn Nets or New York Knicks fan?
“Come on like, don’t do me like that. Don’t do me like that!”
Staying on new music, you’ve released the Jeremih featured “No One Else”. How was it working with him and what message did you want your fans to take from the single?
“Jeremih was cool. He was very authentic, very down to earth. Doing a video and working with him was a breeze. The message for me with No One Else is that in your relationship, no one else matters. There should be on one else. I feel like people should stop cheating. Stop cheating! Just move on! I wanted to encourage couples that it’s okay to be just you two, as long as you have a soul mate to be with.”
The song samples Craig Mack’s classic “Flava In Ya Ear”. How important was the 90’s/00’s era of Hip-Hop and R&B to yourself?
“Being in a household of a single black mum, she plays R&B all day to clean, to cook. I kind of got introduced to 80’s music and I lived through the 90’s music. I feel that it’s very important because this is the music that paves the way for other R&B artists or rappers like me that hop on the R&B genre.”
When you are in the studio, what is the process for yourself? Do you have a concept you work towards, or you more hear a sound and write?
“This is so crazy because before, I used to know what I wanted to go studio to talk about. Now, I just go and whatever happens, happens. Back then, studio was therapeutic for me. It still is now, but studio back then was my novel, that was my journal. I basically wanted to express my feelings and pour it out. Now, so much things be happening, my dreams came true! So much things are happening that I don’t even have time to sit and prep, so I just go.”
So, your dreams have come true, what was that initial feeling like when you knew you made it?
“It took me a long time, like only recently getting that feeling! I will always downplay my success and always have doubts. Where I come from, things like this don’t normally happen, it only happens to the chosen ones. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that you’re one of the chosen ones.”
Outside of creating music, you hosted the Green Carpet at the B.E.T Hip Hop Awards. How was that experience of interviewing compared to being the one that gets interviewed?
“I know one thing, I’ll give it to the interviewers! It’s not easy to stand up there all day, you hot, you might get hungry! What I can say is, it’s a good feeling knowing you can bond with other artists as well. At first, I was like ‘Oh my god, why did I say yes!’. The anxiety eventually went away, and I had fun! The cast and my team, everyone helped me work through it. It was cool, it was a good experience.”
Is hosting an all-day thing? You’re there preparing from before right?
“Yes! It is all day. I was on the clock. I had my lil’ gig, my 9-5!”
You’re a proud Brooklyn native, who inspired you from the area growing up to make music?
“All the OG’s! You got Jay-Z, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Biggie. My moms! My Daddy!”
How did you find your talent? Has it always been rapping or were you ever into singing as well?
“In my grandmother’s household, she would always make me sing gospel songs. I always thought I knew how to sing, but little did they know, I used to write poetry. Music has always been a thing for me, whether I knew it or not, it has always been my go-to.”
You’ve also had success with your merchandise for fans, how important is it to find the link between fashion and music?
“It’s very important because that’s how you connect with your fans. That’s how you keep your legacy going. Even if you’re not in the room, your presence is always felt.”
What would you say is your current career highlight?
“I will always say Future bringing me out at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn! But now that I’m a rapper that’s doing multiple things, I’m multi-talented! I would say hosting the carpet at the B.E.T awards. That’s my new highlight for sure.”
Outside of music, are there any other career ventures you want to pursue?
“I want to go on American Ninja Warrior! It’s like different gym obstacles, I want to go on there so bad! That’s my talent right there!”
Who are three artists you are currently listening to on your playlist?
“I still listen to Jhene Aiko. I love Summer Walker, Bryson Tiller. I love Kehlani. I still listen to Pop Smoke. I will always and forever listen to Pop Smoke. I like 4Batz too. I listen to a lot of R&B music.”
What advice can you give to those trying to make a career out of music?
“Make sure that it’s your passion and stay ready so you don’t have to get ready!”
Lola Brooke’s latest single “Go To Yo Head” is out now and available to stream on all digital platforms.