Lola Brooke's Path from Street Cyphers to Chart-Topping Success

Her stature may be small, but her voice strikes a mighty punch. Syhniece Thomas, a Brooklyn native, and American rapper known professionally as Lola Brooke was recognized by TikTok and Twitter users following the release of her hit song “Don’t Play With It” featuring Billy B. in 2021. Following this, the 29-year-old continued to drop singles like “Dummy Ummy,” “On My Mind” and “Here I Come” until she was signed by Arista Records in 2023.

Her gruff voice tone and aggressiveness in music videos offered her a unique viewpoint as a female rap artist. This energy does not seem to be lost on the crowd either. In late January, she performed as the opening act of rapper, at A Boogie’s Me vs Myself tour. In addition, she just released her debut album titled “Dennis Daughter” in November in honor of the memories and time spent with her late father.

With her surge to fame, one might wonder who inspired her to choose this career and where her passion for rap began.

As a New Yorker, Lola grew up listening to rap legends such as DMX, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne. She was inspired by the culture around her and other artists that had come out of the city such as Jay-Z, Lil Kim, and Nas. She knew as a child that she was meant to be an entertainer. After quitting her job in 2016, she signed with Team 80 Productions, a multi-media company, and began to release songs that showcased her rapping skills and creative flow. She dropped many songs about her life and growing up in New York.

“I feel the love from Brooklyn every day, and I cherish that,” she told Vibe. “It’s a connection I’ll always hold close to me and will never play about. I’ve been putting in the work this long for my city. Whenever I cross that bridge, I want to make sure I bring home a win. It’s not a win only for me; it’s a win for Brooklyn every day—all day. We all will win.”

She took a leap of faith and immersed herself in her dreams and it worked out for the best. With the release of her viral song, “Don’t Play With It,” her presence seemed to increase; especially with apps like TikTok creating sounds for people to record to.

With her voice and aggressive rapping style, she sets herself apart from a lot of female rappers. She can offer a grittiness that is unexpected but satisfying to hear. In addition, she raps unforgettable bars with such strong conviction, it makes it hard not to listen.

As of now, the future seems to be looking bright for the hip-hop star. Her lyrical presence and charismatic personality combine to create a fiery passion that is felt on and off-screen when watching her.

She continues to promote her album while focusing on expanding her rap presence in the world. Brooke is currently on tour in America, and hopefully, Lola will drop some new tour dates or music in 2024.

“I want to create new moments, that means going on tour and touching the people outside,” she hinted to Essence. “I want to be the new face of New York City.”