It’s been a long time coming for Lila Simone. The up-and-coming rapper recently released her debut single, “Lil Mama.” The track is autobiographical in nature and brings baddie vibes in full force. We had a chance to sit down with her as she tells us the story of her upbringing in the shelter system with her mother. Despite dealing with misfortunate situations for much of her childhood, Lila never lost sight of her dream of becoming a successful artist. This song is just the beginning for this talented young rapper.
Lila begins by telling us about her writing process when she’s in the studio. Like a true artist, her creativity can be sparked anywhere and so she has numerous lyrics that she’s held onto and will be recording into fruition sooner than later.
“I usually get random lyrics that come to my head and I write them down. I have random lyrics all over my phone and notebook. Then I combine whatever makes sense and find a beat to match.”
When asked why she chose “Lil Mama” as her debut in the rap game, she answered with pride and passion in her tone. In a society that makes it hard to love yourself especially being a woman, she emphasizes how the single is meant to make the female gender feel unstoppable as if they can conquer the world which is much needed in this day and age.
“That’s my baby, my first solo record. The motivation behind it was me being a baddie and owning it. I also want my ladies to feel the same way.”
As we touch upon the topic of being a female in a “male-dominated” industry, Lila voiced her opinion regarding the pressures of being an attractive woman doing business with other rappers, producers, and engineers and also the accustomed aesthetic that most seem to look for.
“It’s hard finding a studio without someone trying to flirt with me. I do appreciate it when I run into like-minded people who can get work done. Also trying to have the typical ‘IG model’ body can get to you. It seems like the industry standard. I try to keep up with my figure but I’m human and I love to eat… but listen, I’m homegrown, they pay to look like this!”
The female rapper wants her legacy to be that of a great artist who made contributions to society, especially when it comes to assisting single parents. Simone spent most of her childhood in a shelter system until 1998, the year her mother acquired her first apartment. As a result, she wishes to start a charity for single mothers and children.
Be sure to check out her single now available on Apple Music and Spotify. You can find her via Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
