The drill scene seemingly emerged from out of the gutter. Many will trace its roots back to Chicago – but for those who know – New York drill remains unparalleled. One small but mighty artist – Lola Brooke reps Brooklyn and continues to flood the airwaves with her boisterous bass-filled voice. Much like MC Lyte – she needs a roughneck.
Marcy Projects to be Specific
Reigning from Bedford Stuyvesant – the home of Biggie and Jay-Z – this artist remains unapologetically herself. Her name combines tomboy Space Jam character Lola Bunny with the place that gave her the flavor – Brooklyn. Seeing a Kriss Kross video at her grandmother’s house in Birmingham, AL at age eight sealed the deal. Rapper or bust.
Certainly, Lola experienced her share of turmoil en route to the limelight. Often times, she maximized her abilities by going straight to the studio after working her regular job. Eventually, her mom took notice of the work being put in and provided the security for her to quit her job and pursue a career in music full time. Lola earned her mother’s faith through consistent work, and experimentation with her craft. Today – her song, “Don’t Play With It” serves as the drill anthem for all of NYC.
Standing 4’9″, Lola likes to play up her petite pedigree. Cameramen capture her best angles and do not feel pressured to make her look tall. Rather, she embraces the juxtaposition between her fun-sized physical appearance and her larger than life persona. Hearing the inflection in her bass-filled voice would never lead one to imagine her miniature stature.
Breaking An Artist
The amazing part about her hit single, “Don’t Play With It” revolves around the fact that it took nearly two years to go viral. A major turning point for the trajectory of her career emerged when she performed the song on “From the Block.” All of the traction that the song garnered worked wonders for both the From the Block platform, Producer Dizzy Banko and Lola Brooke. Wins all across the board.
Lola’s voice booms with timbre and takes the listener by surprise. Thus, her tunes and tones carry seductive, masculine and argumentative vibrations. While completing her song process, LB tends to pace about the space, repeat a catchy phrase and let the energy marinade. Therefore, by the time she gets to the studio it is an absolutely explosive type K.O. moment.
Timbo Collabo
It seems as if the city of Brooklyn is synonymous with the Timberland boot. From “Stomping a b*tch out in her Timbo’s” to creating a customized shoe – Lola continues to climb. Seeing her musical aspirations materialize allows her to feel understood. Is it better to be lucky or good? Either way, for Lola – it is less important to be seen than it is to be understood.
Recognition, spiritual fruition and a whole lot more than “100 Bands” currently surround Lola Brooke, who told Gothamist, “When you wake up in the morning and you know you still look good without knowing how you look — that’s what I want my music to give off. Supreme confidence.”
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