Present & Show: Luh Tyler
Interview: Robby Seabrook III
Editor’s Observe: This story seems within the Spring 2023 problem of XXL Journal, on stands now.
There’s a brand new child on the block toting a youthful cool like a real-life Bart Simpson with a gold grill. His identify is Luh Tyler, a 17-year-old Florida native whose declare to fame is his now-signature observe “Regulation & Order.” The tune loops a part of the well-known intro from the legendary TV present of the identical identify. Tyler’s sudden success has been helped by the 14 million YouTube views on the music video, a serious label deal, a debut Rolling Loud efficiency, love from all his favourite rappers and even acknowledgment from a few of his well-known crushes like Rubi Rose and Instagram persona Jayda “Jayda Wayda” Cheaves. His life now could be what many common teenage boys can solely dream of.
Earlier than rap, the younger phenom was simply referred to as Tyler Meeks, a curious, energetic teen who beloved animals, soccer and basketball. Principally bored with faculty, the youthful brother of two older sisters vividly remembers not eager to go to class. In his days of faking sick so he didn’t should attend, he’d go to his grandmother’s home, the place he realized he by no means needed an everyday job. “I be my grandma, I’m like, ‘You don’t by no means should go to work, grandma,’” he says. “‘You retired. I’m tryna be such as you!’” On the time, she had no concept that her little Tyler, whom she performed trendy nation classics like Darius Rucker’s 2013 hit “Wagon Wheel” for, was already forming his personal musical tastes.
By the point Tyler hit center faculty, his love for Florida hip-hop started to kind. Proficient Orlando rappers 9lokknine, LPB Poody and Hotboii dominated his playlists. However at that time, the youngin’ was only a fan with no rap aspirations. “I at all times had a plan,” Tyler shares. “I’ll in all probability be like a truck driver or one thing. Plumbers make some huge cash, however hell nah, nigga ain’t finna be taking part in with no s**t.” Fortunately for him, his true calling was coming quickly.
Final June, Tyler was nudged into rapping by his pals after dabbling in it prior and initially deciding it wasn’t for him. “[My friend] Justin was telling me, ‘Simply get again in that s**t, bruh. I do know you mentioned you ain’t gon rap, however simply strive it!’” Tyler did simply that, recording his first tune, “Planet Health,” on his telephone by way of the app BandLab. Launched on YouTube and SoundCloud that month, Tyler showcased his pure poise as a rapper. “By the point I made ‘Jayda Wayda’ and ‘Regulation & Order,’ my second tune [and] third tune, I used to be like, these is kinda laborious. I’d drop these,” Tyler remembers.
He dropped each tracks final summer time on streaming platforms and YouTube. Whereas “Regulation & Order” pays homage to the well-known crime present, “Jayda Wayda” is an ode to Tyler’s crush, the favored influencer of the identical identify, who’s additionally the mom of Lil Child’s youthful son, Loyal. Round that very same time, Tyler’s shut household buddy Var, whom Tyler treats as an older cousin, began managing his rap profession and helped him arrange his video for “Moon,” additionally launched final 12 months. Nevertheless it was “Regulation & Order” that put Tyler on the map.
The tune unfold from his hometown of Tallahassee, Fla. throughout the web as an audio and visible hit. “Regulation & Order” acquired an preliminary bump from the tune’s Triller video being posted on the Official Florida Promo Instagram web page, then the accompanying music video went viral on Twitter after its November launch final 12 months. Within the video, a fresh-faced Tyler holds courtroom at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College’s Homecoming, a serious occasion in Black and HBCU tradition. He stops to take a flick with buzzing rhymer Actual Boston Richey after which walks by way of the festivities. It’s an inside have a look at how Tallahassee has their enjoyable.
Tyler’s distinctive movement on the observe, through which he drags out one phrase to complete every bar and delivers them with the rasp of a beloved cousin from the nation, makes his lyrics lay completely on prime of the beat. He additionally serves hilarious couplets like “You’d suppose a nigga Freddy Kreuger, I be in your b***h goals/I’m tryna run that cash up, I’m tryna see some huge issues.”
After the preliminary success of “Regulation & Order,” different artists began contacting Tyler. Trippie Redd, Yella Beezy and Rubi Rose, who even complimented Tyler on the tune. A telephone name from residing hip-hop legend Scarface, plus advice-laden conversations with Lil Uzi Vert and Bfb Da Packman additionally went down, illustrating that the teenager rapper is on many various artists’ radars. “I began seeing them as common folks; they simply cool as fuck,” Tyler explains. Even Jayda Wayda acknowledged on the Cigar Discuss podcast earlier this 12 months that he devoted a tune to her.
With momentum on his aspect, Tyler continued placing out new music like “Again Flippin” final 12 months, which has over 7 million Spotify streams. His rapidly unfolding rise caught the attention of Movement Music, created by Rolling Loud cofounder Matt Zingler. Together with label VP Sean Wertheim, they began the method of signing Tyler final December by way of Atlantic Information. The official announcement got here this previous March. “I used to be impressed once I met Tyler, who at solely 16 knew precisely who he was and the way he match within the Florida rap scene,” Zingler says. “His movement and ideas are very completely different from loads of the opposite s**t you’re listening to in rap proper now and it has began to affect loads of different new acts popping out of Florida.”
Lanre Gaba, Atlantic’s Co-President of Black Music, headed all the way down to Tallahassee to fulfill with Tyler because the signing was underway. “From the primary second I met him, I actually suppose he’s a star,” she provides. “The sky’s the restrict on the place it may possibly go from right here. For us, I believe he’s gonna be the chief of that new wave of artists coming by way of.”
Now Luh Tyler’s rap profession is pushing full steam forward. This previous March, the teenager phenom delivered his first-ever Rolling Loud efficiency and launched his debut venture, My Imaginative and prescient, that includes collabs with BabyTron, NoCap and extra. Armed with each help and success, Tyler is simply starting to wrestle with each side of being within the highlight. “I don’t even actually wanna be well-known,” he candidly admits. “However I like once I’m well-known. Folks f**okay with my music.”
The numbers don’t lie about that.
Take heed to Luh Tyler’s My Imaginative and prescient Album
Check out extra interviews in XXL journal’s spring 2023 problem, together with the quilt story with Lil Durk, conversations with Coi Leray, Joyner Lucas, Fridayy, Lola Brooke, Key Glock, Destroy Lonely, DJ Drama, Blxst, Curren$y, Finesse2tymes, Vic Mensa, Toosii and actor Tyler Lepley, plus a have a look at how famed hip-hop legal professional Bradford Cohen helps purchasers like Drake and Kodak Black beat their instances, veteran photographer Johnny Nuñez tells the behind-the-scenes tales of 10 of his iconic hip-hop photographs, six rappers from six completely different eras—Melle Mel, MC Shan, RZA, Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B and Cordae—talk about the change in hip-hop over 50 years and a deep dive into the town of Memphis changing into a breeding floor for brand new rap expertise.
See Pictures From Lil Durk’s XXL Journal Spring 2023 Cowl Story
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