What’s Happenin
From radio to tv, La La Anthony simply retains increasing her model, however all the time retains hip-hop a part of it.
Interview: Aleia Woods
Editor’s Word: This story seems within the Spring 2024 difficulty of XXL Journal, on stands now.
As a proud member of fifty Cent’s Energyverse, La La Anthony has discovered her groove as an actress with roles in Energy and BMF. Earlier than these seems, La La was identified in hip-hop as a radio character and VJ. Her gig as a face on MTV’s Whole Request Stay within the 2000s made her recognition soar. Quick-forward two-plus many years, and he or she’s develop into a family title. XXL spoke to La La about why she loves hip-hop, what she’s realized from her good friend 50 Cent and dealing with rappers.
XXL: What rappers are you listening to proper now?
La La Anthony: I like 21 Savage’s album [that] simply got here out. I’ve been listening to that so much. [His American Dream] album is nice. That’s what I might say is on my playlist proper now.
Season three of BMF premiered in March. In what methods did you are feeling like your function as Markisha Taylor challenged you?
This season, Markisha is coping with her emotions of, does she nonetheless wish to educate this youthful man be a person, or is she fed up and annoyed with that? ’Trigger as girls, numerous instances we wish to are available in and I might change him. I might educate him, however at what level will we develop into fed up and aggravated by that? So, she’s coping with numerous these feelings and actually getting annoyed by him not maturing the best way she needs. I believe you simply see the battle that numerous girls undergo. Like, is that this what I really need for my life? There have been difficult components of it, however it’s one thing that I really feel like all girls can relate to.
Lil Child, 2 Chainz and Saweetie make appearances on BMF this season. How was it working with them?
I believe it’s simply a lot enjoyable to have a lot expertise on a present like BMF. It will get the followers excited to see who’s going to be there and to see a 2 Chainz, or a Lil Child or a Saweetie. It provides to the thrill. I didn’t work with any of them personally as a result of they weren’t within the scenes I used to be in. However you can simply really feel the power and pleasure on set for simply having them there. And I’m excited to see what they create to the desk and simply really feel the thrill that individuals must get to see them on the present.
50 Cent was one of many individuals who helped you to get into the performing area. What’s one of many issues he’s taught you that you just’ve stored with you all through your performing roles?
I watch him in the case of be a boss. He handles so many alternative issues, and I simply watch how he handles them gracefully and is ready to cope with a lot that comes at him. He has proven me so much in the case of loyalty. When he’s down for you, he’s down for you. He’s been with me from earlier than Energy, however for him to present me a possibility to audition for Energy and create such an iconic present there. After which BMF comes, and I’ve the chance to be part of that as properly. He’s all the time stored his phrase, and I simply realized on this enterprise, your phrase is all you’ve gotten.
Your profession began in music as a radio host and VJ on MTV’s Whole Request Stay. How has hip-hop modified from then to now?
It’s a digital world now. It’s about social media, releasing of music digitally via the web and people platforms. In that manner, it’s completely different. However issues change with the instances, together with music. It’s a brand new wave proper now, and also you simply received to go together with what’s taking place now and simply see what the following wave goes to be ’trigger it’s always altering and evolving. Quite a lot of instances, it finally ends up coming again to the core in numerous methods, whether or not it’s numerous these artists sampling the outdated, older college hip-hop artists and issues like that. You all the time get a bit of that, even within the new music. I’m only a hip-hop head, a music head. I take pleasure in it.
What’s an unforgettable hip-hop reminiscence that you could share?
I bear in mind my first hip-hop live performance after I was youthful. I went to go see Nas carry out, and that all the time stood out to me. I’m an enormous Nas fan. And to be there as my first live performance and seeing him carry out is simply one thing I all the time bear in mind as my introduction to, wow, that is what a hip-hop live performance is like. That is what occurs. And it simply grew my love for music and hip-hop, which then received me to intern on the radio station and every thing like that. So, it simply opened up my eyes to an entire new world, for positive.
Learn La La Anthony’s interview within the Spring 2024 difficulty of XXL Journal, on newsstands now. The brand new difficulty additionally consists of the quilt story with Gunna and conversations with Metro Boomin, comic Druski, Danny Brown, Teezo Landing, 42 Dugg, Jim Jones and Maino a.ok.a. Foyer Boyz, That Mexican OT, 41, BabyDrill, Rapsody, actress La La Anthony, BigXthaPlug, Rob49, Reuben Vincent, singer Tyla and producer Tate Kobang. There’s additionally a take a look at how social networking has a chokehold on rappers’ emotions, how hip-hop in 2024 is experiencing extra wins than losses, and the methods by which child rappers are thriving due to social media.
See Images of Gunna’s XXL Journal Spring 2024 Challenge Cowl Story
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