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The video features a 15-year-old Tierra Whack, wearing drab pink knitwear, standing on a street corner in Philadelphia. She is surrounded by older individuals smoking marijuana. In the video, she passionately raps about her undeniable fate to become a rapper and the challenge she faces from those who doubt her. Her words flow effortlessly in an improvised a cappella performance, blurring the lines between rap and poetry. Her voice seamlessly changes personas, leaving viewers in awe and cementing her as a rising star.
Thirteen years have passed, and her colorful and pricey knitwear has caught the attention of Beyoncé, making her a source of inspiration. She has emerged as a unique rapper and singer in America. In 2018, she released her debut album, Whack World, which showcased 15 multi-genre tracks lasting precisely one minute each, giving off a performance art vibe. Her feature film from last year, Cypher, deviated from the traditional fly-on-the-wall music documentary and instead took a satirical approach to the horror of conspiracy theories and commercialism. Despite the trend of rappers associating themselves with luxury brands, Whack took a different route and partnered with Lego for a campaign. Her latest album, World Wide Whack, which was just released this week, displays her playful side through songs about imaginary friends, movie dates, and singing in the shower. However, it also delves into the harsh reality of depression, with Whack’s honesty shining through. In a recent interview at her record label’s London offices, the 28-year-old artist shares, “I was supposed to take my life when I was 27, but I chose to keep going.”
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Her inventive spark originated from her time in school, where her unique fashion choices, such as wearing mismatched Converse sneakers, made her stand out. At present, she is wearing an Adidas tracksuit in a deep purple shade and large gold earrings with the word “Whack,” which is her actual last name, written across them. She eagerly shares her thoughts and ideas, often interrupting the conversation to do so. She confesses that she is not a fan of public speaking because she struggles with knowing what to say and interviews can also be uncomfortable for her as she tends to go off on tangents.
The exhilaration of performing a poem in front of a crowd at her school in north Philadelphia led her towards the world of rap. She recalls, “When I first started transitioning from a poet to an MC, I considered addressing topics that were popular among others.” She reminisces about listening to the Wu-Tang Clan and trying to project a tough image to fit in. However, she confesses that she had to do extensive research to understand the subjects these rappers were discussing, such as the M16. “I couldn’t believe how much I had to learn,” she laughs. “Many seasoned rappers and friends would tell me, ‘I don’t think you actually live the life you rap about.’ Moreover, my mother was not supportive and advised me to avoid using curse words. Feeling discouraged, I stopped writing and told myself, ‘Forget it, I’m not going to be a rapper anymore.'”
Lauryn Hill’s captivating fusion of rap and singing reinvigorated her career, alongside other notable artists such as Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, and Eminem. She explored unconventional topics in her writing, such as a gathering filled with giraffes. She also delved into singing and songwriting after being influenced by artists like Stevie Wonder and the Isley Brothers, in an effort to break away from Philadelphia’s small, close-knit freestyle rap community.
“In my hometown, most people remained stagnant and didn’t rise above a certain level, except for Meek Mill,” she explains. She came across many individuals who were held back by their lack of drive. After performing both singing and rapping at a studio session, the engineer remarked, “‘You can’t be a jack of all trades and master of none.’ But I aspire to do both, just like Lauryn Hill.” The engineer replied, “Yeah, but Lauryn Hill is an exception.” Interestingly, I am now close friends with Lauryn Hill, despite what others said about not being able to achieve both skills.”
Kenete Simms, who is now the manager of another engineer, told her: “There is no established template, but I see it as beautiful.” She recalls the days where she would create rap tracks one day and try to produce country music the next, and he would respond with: “This is wild. I enjoy it!” These sessions eventually led to the creation of Whack World, with each one-minute track serving as a well-crafted pop gem with impeccable melodies and storytelling.
The country song, named “Fuck Off,” is sung in a redneck accent and is directed towards a problematic lover, stating “I wish you would develop a rash on your behind / You remind me of my irresponsible father.” Whack did not have a father figure growing up and was raised by her mother, whom she speaks of with deep admiration. She is extremely devoted to her mother, as her mother never experienced maternal love from her own mother, and Whack wants to make up for that by overwhelming her with love.
Whack has experienced the loss of many people in her life, in various ways. She admits to not having been in many relationships, only two, due to her reluctance to commit and take on the responsibilities that come with it. She reveals that she carries emotional scars from a past love, which she misses but knows she can never have again. The individual in question was imprisoned, and the track “Meagan Good” depicts their relationship in raw detail, including instances of infidelity and Whack confronting him for not using his time in prison to improve his own rap skills. One impactful line reads, “We were given the same opportunity, but I chose to succeed.”
Even more challenging for her were the losses that have occurred within the last two years. Her two cousins, who were siblings, were both fatally shot in Philadelphia. In addition, her grandmother, Wilma Whack, passed away from cirrhosis as a result of years of alcohol abuse. This experience greatly impacted her, leading her to completely abstain from alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately, she and her grandmother were not on good terms prior to her passing due to some negative words she had for her mother.
After her grandmother passed away, Whack visited her house and found a mixture of laughter and sorrow. Her sister had cut some of her dreads as a memento, and Whack could almost feel her grandmother’s spirit telling her not to touch her hair. The only photograph displayed was one of Whack at the 2019 Grammys, where her song Mumbo Jumbo was nominated for Best Video. This reminder motivates Whack to continue pushing forward each day. She also remembers conversations with her cousins who wanted to join her on tour, and their support remains with her even after their passing. Whack refuses to let these losses bring her down.
Whack has great confidence in her ability to stay energized and motivated. With the support of widespread recognition, she remained upbeat after the success of Whack World and went on to release several singles and the outstanding EPs Pop?, Rap?, and R&B?, which rejected traditional genre classifications.
Beyoncé invited her to collaborate on the Afro-house song “My Power” for her Lion King soundtrack and the musical film “Black Is King”. She expresses her excitement at meeting Beyoncé and how the atmosphere on set was focused on making sure the artist was referred to as “Miss B”. However, she decided to keep things casual and simply called her “Beyoncé”, which made the singer laugh and appreciate her laid-back attitude. On her Renaissance tour, Beyoncé has been giving a shoutout to various Black female artists, including Tierra Whack, during their song “Break My Soul”. Whack is honored and amazed by this recognition, especially since Beyoncé always makes sure to pronounce her name correctly.
Unfortunately, Whack’s mental state began to decline due to impostor syndrome. They were once content, but the demands of being in the public eye and constantly figuring things out became too burdensome. They longed to disappear and be erased from people’s memories.
She explains that she was unable to fully experience her emotions and was afraid of showing vulnerability. This was partly due to her upbringing in Philadelphia, where she lived in low-income housing and witnessed traumatic events. Playing in her own backyard felt dangerous, and she felt the need to always appear strong and hardened.
She got past her depression, she says, by “literally doing the cliches. Waking up and saying: today I’m going to have a good day. Looking in the mirror and saying: you deserve all of this. I wasn’t doing that before. Stretching, resting, doing things that I want to do in my free time.”
She copes with the shadows by expressing herself through music; her new songs Numb and Difficult feature a somber, drawling voice with the chorus “Living is difficult.” However, she balances it with humor. In Two Night, she sings: “I might not make it to tomorrow / But before I go, I want to let you know / I forgot to pay the light bill this month.” And in 27 Club, “Searching for something to dedicate to: taking my own life.”
“Is that a cruel joke?” She chuckles. “I always try to remind others that as humans, we experience a range of emotions – happiness, sadness, bitterness, anger, and sweetness.” Her personal approach to managing her mental health may not apply to all, but it’s clear that it serves as a productive outlet for Whack’s boundless energy. “I’m making progress in the right direction. When I was struggling with depression, I was extremely negative – a real Debbie Downer, just wallowing in it. Now, I have better energy – focusing on positivity. It’s a deliberate choice that you have to make.”
The woman has become comfortable in her own skin once again, reminiscent of a child who would wear shoes that didn’t match. “Initially, when I attended meetings at record labels,” she mimics a sophisticated businesswoman, “But now I am unapologetically myself, embracing all versions of who I am. Before, I used to hide a bit, trying to fit the mold of being polished and professional. But now, I’m not afraid to show up with my butt exposed and smelly feet.”
Records
The debut album “World Wide Whack” will be available on March 15 through Interscope Records.
Source: theguardian.com
