 I feel like as an artist, there's different characters and especially when we talk about hip hop, it's like, okay, you're either a thug or you poppin' it open. And there's so much we can talk about and we're only talkin' about one thing. You know, I just feel like it's so much more to woman empowerment and that's another thing because I watch these interviews, I watch the female rappers talk about it and it's always woman empowerment and you know, but it's like, woman empowerment looks like so many other things and we're focusing on this. You know what we're focusing on. It's an old bustin' it open. What's up, what's up, what's up, I'm Brentman Sean. And I'm Cory. And we are back with another episode of No Labels Necessary Podcast. You can catch us every Tuesday, every Thursday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, wherever you stream your podcast here at the intersection of creativity and currency and as you guys know, we like to bring interesting people who are from different walks of life in the creative industry who represent No Labels. Today we have Nilla all in. She is an influencer, she's an artist and she got a lot of talents going on. If you check her out on social media, over 1.3 million followers on TikTok, over 140,000 on Instagram and I'm forgetting anything else. You hit it right on the nail. Okay, look at that, look at that. So I appreciate you pulling up because I think you're gonna be just a great person to speak to in terms of the transition from a regular career into the creative industry in general, let alone be an artist and obviously even just hacks in terms of how you've built your social media. Looking forward to just seeing what gems you can drop. But let's start here. You mentioned that you, did you go to college for engineering? Because you said you were doing engineering. Yes, so I have, my background is in math and science but I went to school for human developmental sciences and then I added a specialization in equity and diversity but I did an internship at an engineering company and I did really well on the project so they hired me the next year, like right out of college. And you hated it? Yeah, engineering was not for me. Like it was a great job, it was a great job right out of college to stack and do the things but as far as just being there every day the environment was so draining and it's nothing but like, you know, older men. So a lot of people didn't know how to talk to me in the space. So it was just, it was frustrating. I was miserable, I was miserable. And then, you know, it's kind of just like I'm in the workspace. I literally felt like Hannah Montana because it's like I'm going to work at this engineering job and then I leave and I'm going viral and TikTok and I'm like in the studio and stuff like that. And it's like, I just, I wish this, I need this to be my life. Like I don't want to just, I don't want to, you know, work my job. So were you already somebody on social media while you were in college or? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, so in college I started, it actually started when I was 17. When I was like 16, 17, I started posting a lot more on Instagram. My followers started to grow just cause I, you know, cute curly hair girl from LA. So everybody was, you know, following me. And then when I got to college me and my best friend started a YouTube channel. So that's how we kind of, that's how really I started getting into influencing through YouTube. And then from YouTube, you know, the next big thing was TikTok. So I was like, well, shoot, let me hop on TikTok. And it was never a thing for money or nothing like that. I just really like, like, I have a big personality. So I just like sharing, you know, myself with the world. I like being creative. I like putting together videos, even with our YouTube videos. I edited all our videos. Like it was, it was therapeutic for me. And I always, I needed that creative outlet especially during college because I needed something else to do, but schoolwork, you know, and other stuff. So YouTube was like my creative outlet. And then once we stopped making videos, that's when I kind of started doing my own thing, writing music, getting on TikTok. I just needed, I just always had like this yearning for a creative outlet. Got you, got you. So yeah, it was, it wasn't like this intentional. Hey, I'm working in engineering. I need to become an artist or something like that. No, it was kind of like, I'm, I'm working as an engineer. Honestly, if I was never on TikTok, I wouldn't have seen the, like what I can do. And I probably would have just stuck it out at my job. But the fact that I knew, okay, everybody is loving me over here. I'm going viral, it's fun, and I'm building a fan base. It's kind of like every day I went into that job, it's like, well, why the fuck am I here? Like, you know, I'm popping out this idea. So why, like, why can't I just, you know, build that and monetize that, you know, as a way to get out of this. But yeah, if I didn't, if I didn't have that, no, I wouldn't, I would still be there. So what was the thing that happened that made you go like, I can make this work and leave the space. I would imagine leaving an engineering job, not even just the job itself, but the money, I'm pretty sure it was paying. I feel like that was a hard decision. So what did you see that made you go, oh, I can get out of this space and I'll be cool. So the first time I thought about it was when I got this deal with Instagram. I got to deal with Instagram reels on the influencing side of things. And that was another thing, because like the music and the influencing has kind of been hand in hand. There was a one part where like my content creation or I was known more for influencing than music, but now it's kind of like hand in hand where my music is getting, I'm getting more known for that. But so Instagram had reached out to me to do a deal because I was, you know, going crazy on TikTok. So they were trying to bring more creators over to the Instagram platform to create reels. So they're reaching out to all these TikTokers and they reached out to me. And so it was, you know, it was a long-term deal. And I was, you know, a nice little check. So I was like, well, shoot. I could do some TikToks from my living room, you know, and this is more than I've made, you know, the past four months at the engineering company, you know. So I was just looking at how much money I was getting from brand deals. And I was like, oh, shoot. Yeah, at this point I could probably make some shake. Got you, got you. So what was your strategy? Cause it sounds like in the beginning you were just creative and fun, right? It was an outlet. But did you ever start to say, okay, I want to increase my numbers and these are the formats and this is what's working? Like what is your approach to content that makes your stuff go viral? So even before that, like I had to, I had a list of kind of my inspirations or, you know, goals or milestones or whatever. And I'm looking at what other people are doing. And although the content was fire, I wasn't able to spit out content as much as every other, you know, creative because I'm working this job. So it got to the point where it's like, I got home and I would be so drained. I couldn't even create, I couldn't even write music. I couldn't do nothing just because I was so depressed and just mentally out of it from this job. So I couldn't be creative and I was stuck. And, you know, when you're stuck, when the numbers are stuck with, you know, it's like you, I couldn't be myself. I just feel like I couldn't be myself, you know, the brand deals, they're looking at analytics and stuff. So you have to keep the content going, but I was just so tired. So it got to the point where it's like, I went into work one day and I'm talking to this other guy. He was one of my coworkers and he used to be a rapper. And so mind you, this dude, he was like 40. And so he found me on social media. It got to the point where people at my job were finding me on social media and they were talking to me about it. This one dude came up to me and he's like, you know, when I was younger, I was a rapper. And he sent me, you know, some of his stuff. We talked about, I'm like, oh, you are way as fuck. Like, what happened? And he's like, you know, life. And I just, I didn't make the decision. And I'm stuck here. And he was like, and you don't want to look up and be 40. And now you're talking to, you know, a 21 year old intern about, you know, how you have plans on being a rapper. So that kind of changed my whole mentality. I started just doing research, like, you know, YouTube. Man, just crazy. You know, when you try to contemplate a decision and you look up YouTube videos to try to guide your decision. So I was looking up all those videos, like, why should I quit my job? You know, that's, and I came across this one video and it was like, if you have a goal and if there's something that you want to become, you have to start moving like that person before you even get there. So I had to build out Nila All-In. I'm like, okay, who is she? What does she do, you know? And it's like, where does she work? What does she do? You know what I'm saying? And it's like the Nila All-In that I had in my mind does not work there. So I had already, I knew, I mean, the way that I was raised, my parents already taught me about savings and, you know, budgeting and stuff like that. So while I was at the job, that was just second nature for me. You know, so I was already taking a percentage of my income, putting it in my savings. So I was comfortable too, because I'm like, okay, I'm sitting on some savings. So if I do, you know, need to leave or if I do have a backup plan, you know, if I want rap to be the quote unquote, you know, backup or whatever, then I can leave and I can always do that. So it was definitely my savings, but it was also just mapping out the new version of who I want to be and moving like that version of myself. And it was really like, I had to take myself out of my body and look at my page from like somebody coming across my account. And then that's when I'm like, okay, so if I was a fan of me or if I came across my content and I've never seen myself before, what would I want to see? You know? And honestly, like it was at a point in my career where, cause like I said, I started off with the influence and I got on TikTok. Really the influence came from just my comedy. A lot of people know me for like my comedy sketch on TikTok and that's how I first really got my fan base. And you know, the comedy started going up, everything started booming, but I couldn't, like when I would post the music, the music really wouldn't get so many views. And so I'm like, everybody's talking about my personality and how funny I am and how this and this, but nobody is streaming the music. So then that's when I had to look at the content and it's like, okay, well if they like the personality and they like my crazy facial expressions, then I need to figure out a way to put the music in with the comedy skits, you know, in with the shit that's going viral. So that's when I was like, okay, I'm gonna start doing my little skits around my music. And then that's when that shit started to pop up. So when the stream started to go up and the content starting to go up and the brand deal starting to go up, that's when like it kind of, you know, pumped me up a little bit and I'm like, okay, I could lead this job, you know. That makes sense. Yeah. But it was, it was definitely like over the course of years. Like it wasn't, it wasn't like an immediate decision that I just popped up and made. What would you say the differences between creating comedy content that pops and music content that pops on TikTok? I would say, okay. So like the comedy for me, like my comedy skits that was popping was more so acting. It's not even really comedy is more so acting. And they were finding entertainment in how good I act in my facial expressions and stuff like that. So as far as comedy, it can be like a, let's say a sound, a sound on TikTok or whatever that I hear. And I re-enacted, I re-enact something that's already viral. It's kind of like the work is already done for you because all you're doing is re-enacting another piece of content that somebody did. But I'm just, you know, this is just me re-enacting it. And since the content was or the sound was already viral, then, you know, my content would, nine times out of 10 go viral because the sound is viral. But with making comedy skits around music, it takes more, a lot more originality and thought because I'm not working with a viral sound. I'm trying to make my music a viral sound. So it's kind of like, you know, let's say if I scroll on TikTok and I see it's a skit and the guy is like, you know, oh, when you show your homie a new rap song and let's say it's, you know, them in future and they rapping future. You know, I'll take that and I just apply it to myself. So, you know, I'll say, okay, this is funny. This is cool. It made me laugh. It's entertaining. I'll hit up the home girl. Let's re-enact this exact same skit. But except doing it with futures music, we're gonna do it with Nila All-In. You know, and we're gonna just promote the new song and then it would go viral just because people are engaged in the entertainment of it all. You know? So yeah, you literally just take out one element and plug yourself in for content that's already working. I like that. Because people are over complicated a lot of times. Do you feel like you need to think about all your, well, obviously not all of them, but do you get into a bag where you're like, I wanna create some ideas from scratch? Oh, absolutely. I feel like I think I'm one of the people who overthink it sometimes because nine times out of 10, it's my simple stuff that like now, now when it, now since I already have eyes on me, when I kind of just put the music out there or when I grab the camera and talk to the camera, like, yo, I just dropped this hot song. You know, again, just using my personality to get it out there. It's more personable. So I feel like it goes more, it does more numbers or it gets more out there when the content is personable. And that's kind of like my brand. But now when I do like, it depends on what it is, but sometimes I'll do some skits like original ideas, very original, that involves my music and stuff and it won't perform as well. But, you know, again, it's kind of like if it doesn't perform well and I know the content is good, then I just have to make some changes, you know, re-edit, turn, you know, do a different hook, you know, a different beginning or try to make it smaller or shorter cause a lot of my, like my videos be like a minute, like 30 seconds to a minute long. So if it doesn't do well, I'm like, okay, maybe I should, you know, condense this into 15 seconds, you know, type. So I kind of just look at the, look at the data. You don't ever feel like, oh, these people don't want to hear music from me at all or maybe just, you know. No, they want to hear some music. No, they want to hear my music. And if they don't, you gon' listen to this music. Okay. You gon' hear this music. I'ma keep pushing it. Yeah. Because sometimes I just feel like too, okay, now the algorithm be playing with me. The algorithm be playing with me. Like, I'll be doing really, really, really good on views with the music. And then I'll drop something, you know, some time I go by, some time I go by, I'll drop something. And then the views won't be viewing. In my head, I never think it's the music because I know the music is good. I think it'd be the algorithm, I think it'd be TikTok. I think it'd be TikTok. I feel like they'd be like, okay, we done pumped her head up enough with all these views and she ain't paying for no promo, for no marketing. So, you know, we just gon' roll it in a little bit so she could spend some coins to get it out there a little bit more. I think it'd be the algorithm sometimes. All right, so I wanna give a reminder that being independent is not just about not being signed to a label. It's actually making money without being signed to a label, being able to have a sustainable career. And for those of y'all who actually want to be able to make money from your fan base, you're serious about figuring out how to monetize. I have a free video that you can check out. I don't need your email. I don't need your phone number. I don't need any information. All you have to do is go to www.nolabelsnecessary.com slash monetize. And I'm gonna show you the lies that artists have been told that have been keeping them probably you too from monetizing your fan base and how shifting that perspective has allowed one artist we're working with to be on track to make over $500,000 this year. This is a different era. Don't fall for that trap saying artists can't make money. Artists do not have to be broke. So if you wanna escape that trap, go to www.nolabelsnecessary.com slash monetize. You do have to make sure you put the www in the beginning when you type it in your URL and watch this free video again. You're not gonna be asked to put in your email. You're not gonna be asked for your phone number, but it won't be up forever. Check it out. Well, one of your highest view videos is straight up off the music on TikTok. It's like 14 million views. I can't remember the song. Edison. Edison, right? Now, one, I didn't see you repeat that formula a whole lot of that content. I didn't, no I didn't. Why not? Because again, that was one of those like basic car videos, right? What's in the car? I'm rapping. People connect with my bars. There wasn't a lot of, I don't wanna say entertainment value, but it wasn't like a lot of extra shit and creativity added to it. But it blew, took off the 14 million views. So that does show that there's some love for straight up like you're rapping, right? For sure. But again, one, why didn't you repeat it? And then two, why do you feel like that one took off the way it did? So, okay, and that's the second one I did. That's the second one I did and it blew up in the car, you know, rapping with a friend. And I think at first back then, when I had did it, it was kinda just, I knew it was gonna blow up just because it was an authentic vibe between like me and the homegirl. Like, when I smile at content, I'm editing and watching back and I'm laughing while editing it. I'm like, oh yeah, this shit's gonna go up. Cause like it's entertaining to me. So I know motherfuckers go, you know, fuck with it. So, I knew it was gonna be lit, but I just, I also don't want, I guess I didn't repeat it cause I didn't want to get, like a lot of times when I'm creative, I don't create for virality. Like I create for what I wanna create. So for that moment, I wanted to do a car video, but I didn't want to, like my biggest fear, you know, I'm middle of all in. So I don't really wanna be like niched in one specific form of content or, I know the, you know, they say you gotta niche down and stuff like that. But I don't know, I just didn't want to, I felt it was so redundant to me. Like doing the exact same thing. I know it's what works. It's what works. But I don't know. I just feel like sometimes I wanna do a car video. Sometimes I wanna do a skate. Sometimes I wanna do a performance video. What if it's just for a period of time, right? Like, you know, like I'm gonna just run this play for about three weeks hard on them. And then it's gonna feel redundant for a period of, which is something that we all have to work through, right? Cause it's working and it does. So you feel like, dang, do they really wanna see this again? Oh man, this, this shit about to fail. And then it gets the views. And then of course you move on. And then once you do that period, it's gonna feel like forever ago. Right. And even now, like, and again, like my mentality has changed so much with leaving, like just from leaving my job now too and just taking this serious and being all in it. It's like, now it's okay, I know you need strategy, you need, you know what I'm saying? You need to know what you're doing. But back then it was kind of just like, oh, this'll be dope. This'll be lit. Let's just fuck around and throw it up. You know, like back then when I was at my job, I was like, I was kind of just chilling. Like, oh, let's just, and that's another thing too, why my head had like gotten big. Because I was like, I mean, this is no effort. Like really, this is just me taking out a camera, recording and posting it and this shit would go up. So I kind of just, yeah, I didn't, I don't know, back then I was just like, whatever, you know, I'm just creating what I want to create. But now looking back, I would have done, I would have done a lot of things differently. Well, because now, like you said, being full in. Yeah, you need a system. Yeah, you need a system. Because especially now it's like, I'm putting out a lot more music. I'm recording a lot more music. And it's just like, when it comes to ideas, like you said, like there's content ideas I can use, do the same thing just with different songs, you know? But, you know, but again, back then I wasn't thinking like that. I was just like, let's just get this, you know, get it out there. Yeah, it was still the creative outlet. The creative outlet, exactly, exactly. Now you mentioned before we, you know, sat down, started recording. One of the things you started to talk about were the difference between L.A. and Atlanta and you feel like you might have to, you know, take a little pilgrimage to Atlanta for a period for the music aspect of things. Can you break down how you see L.A. versus Atlanta as somebody who's coming from L.A.? Yes, so it's crazy because like, so I've been to Atlanta a few times. Oh, we finna get into it. Okay. So Atlanta a few times, literally right, right out the gate, right out the door. I go to, what club did I go to? I went to a couple clubs out there, but I went to Fennin' Feathers too. I remember Fennin' Feathers, there was this DJ and just the vibes was just immaculate. I was like, you know, I got a new song, da, da, da. No issues. She played my song at Fennin' Feathers, everybody going up, you know, people smoking a hookah. It's a vibe. Went to another club asking the DJ to play my music. It's no issues. It's a vibe. L.A.? DJs are not playing your stuff. Like, if it's not on TikTok or if it's not a hit, if it's not on Billboard, they're not playing you in the clubs. Like, I go up to talk to DJs that, no, that, oh yeah, yeah, I got you, yeah, yeah. You'll be waiting there until 2 a.m. to hear your song. Nothing, to closing, nothing. I said, okay. And there's literally like, I feel like in Atlanta, there's more community. I feel like in L.A., it's so individualistic. Every up-and-coming artist is on their own grind, you know? And I feel like in Atlanta, they reach down. They bring you up, you know? Everybody record, like, nine times out of 10, people recording in the same studios, you know? People know the same people. People are giving you a platform, you know what I'm saying? So I feel like in L.A., we don't really, there's not a big community when it comes to the music. It's not a big, it's not a big network. I feel like especially when it comes to other creatives in my space, like most of the creatives that I've collabed with have been influencers, you know? And I mean, I've collabed with a couple artists on music too, but when it comes to, when I'm saying like the space and cultivating a safe environment, I don't get that when it comes to the music industry in L.A. And again, like I already have music. I'm not even from Atlanta. I've been there like a couple times. Even the trip that I took to Atlanta, I made hella music connects, like from DJs, producers, and ours. It's just like, I don't know. I just feel like, cause it's like also too everywhere you go, somebody knows somebody and somebody's in the industry. Somebody, everybody is somebody in Atlanta. That's Atlanta way. You know? Somebody is somebody. And networking is everything. So it's like, you meet one person, and they're like, I'm gonna pull up to the studio tonight. Oh shit, okay. It seems like it's different in different pockets, which is interesting because it's like, yeah, L.A. with the music for the artist side, it's less collaborative from the producer side. It's more collaborative from what I hear. And then the influencer side is more collaborative partially because we know this all just helps everybody. And I got to create videos anyway. I'm looking for talent, right? So that's interesting to hear. I haven't really heard many people address the artist specific pocket, but it does remind me of somebody I know who was like, yeah, man, like I get in a lot of runs because people say I'm a, I mean, because I'm a songwriter. But it's like, if people knew I was an artist, they'd just be like, nah, bruh. I'm telling you. Yeah, they don't share the same. It's not, man, it's not the same. And I feel like too L.A. like it, I mean, and of course, I mean, it's everywhere, but L.A. specifically, it's a lot of politics too. So, and you got a, like when it comes to the music industry, the music business, it's like nine times out of 10, if you are like collaborating with certain artists or artists who have already built their own, you know, their own stability or their own team or whatever. It's like, they don't always work with everybody. You know, they don't, they don't work with everybody either because they have their own team, you know? And like I said, it'd be some, sometimes you got a lot of hood politics and it's just like, if that doesn't fit your brand, it doesn't fit your image, then it's kind of like, you don't really see, you know, it's like, there's no way we can really work together because it just doesn't fit the brand. So, that's another side of things. Okay, so with that being said, there was a post I saw. Let me see if I can find what that screenshot was. Give me one second. It was a post where they talked about, you responded to it, you replied to it. I'll just say the gist of it. Basically it said, you were more famous in South Africa than your own country, right? Yes, uh-huh. What are your thoughts there and what does that feel like? Honestly, oh no, okay, so, and it's crazy because it's like, they get down so differently outside the country, like outside of the US man. It's like, it's support, like the support, the engagement is crazy. So I went to South Africa, you know, like I said, with me just pushing my music on TikTok, my streams did really well in South Africa. And so I'm looking at my analytics and I'm like, what the heck is South Africa? Like it just popped up, I don't know where. And they had like a really rapid growth. So we booked a trip to South Africa for leisure, you know, but I've always had Africa on my bucket list but I was like, I might as well go to South Africa. That's where I'm, you know, I'm getting a lot of streams. So let's see what's going on over there. So I tell my fans that I'm there, I'm posting my experience and everything is just viral. Like while I was in South Africa, everything's viral. They're teaching me the language, they're teaching me new words. They taught me a word called food sec, which means fuck off in Afrikaans. And so one of my fans was like, put it in the song. So I was like, put food sec in the song. They went crazy. You know, number one trending on South African Spotify. It was just, you know, just listening to the, you know, just engaging with the fans. And so then, you know, from that, they're like, put Youngster, CBT, Youngster, he's like a big South African rapper. Reached out to him, he hopped on it. So, you know, I got a song with, you know, very well known South African rapper. And so honestly, in South Africa, that was the first time that I experienced, like it's crazy cause one of my fans was like, well, what do you mean you are, you did blow up. Like you, you blew up in South Africa. Like, what do you mean you haven't blown up yet? You have blown up in South Africa. And so when I think of it from that point of view, like that's just crazy because you think, I mean, this is all, you know, I'm in US popping in LA, my country, I'm trying to hit Billboard. You know, you want to get the recognition. But at the same time too, you got to go where you're appreciated and where you're loved. And there's freaking, you know, there's ways to monetize that too. So for me, it was kind of just like a change in point in my mind where it's like, okay, my focus has been, you know, US, it's been the club, it's been this, it's been that. But you know what, there's a whole nother audience over here that, you know, a relationship that I could foster and you know what I'm saying? And they look at me like, I'm there beyond sex. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, it's like, it's crazy because what I wanted or what happened over there is what of course I wanted in the States. But sometimes, you know, God, I think that was God giving me a little taste. I was God giving me a little taste because I think I'm having like a real steady incline on my journey. And I don't think, honestly, if I'm being real, I could say that I wanted, I wanted, but there's still some things that I need to learn, some things that I need to prepare for or something. You know what I'm saying? Because if it just comes and I don't know how to handle it, cause there's been that time, that viral, you know, the viral moment comes and it comes. And so I feel like that was the taste that I needed to like really prepare for, you know, just to be serious, take it seriously and provide the fans with, with what they want. Also too, because I feel like with the music thing in the past, you know, I drop a song and then I kind of get moving. I'd go to influencing, I do this, you know, I do acting, I do all these other things. But with my, when, when I had the blow-up in South Africa and they're kind of like telling me, okay, like, you know, we want this, we want this, we want merch, we want this. It's kind of like the fans are telling me what to do. So I kind of just gotta, you know, listen and just let, let it work. But I think everything happens for a reason. So honestly, it was just, it was the moment that I needed to motivate me to keep going and to just push, keep putting out music, keep putting out music because the music isn't, you know, I feel like a lot of people when they don't see the success they want, they're like, okay, maybe the music isn't good, maybe the content isn't good, maybe this. But I feel like literally everybody has been telling me like, no, you're lit, the content is lit, the music is lit, the personality is lit, everything is lit, you just gotta be patient. And I feel like I was getting, especially before that South Africa trip, I was getting very, very, very down in the dumps, very just discouraged. So I think that's what I needed to like, you know, put that fire, give me that motivation, like, no, you got this, you know, if they fuck with you over here, they don't, you know, everybody else will catch on, you just gotta keep putting in that work. Yeah, so how has that moment changed the way that you're pushing your music now? Like what are you doing differently since you experienced that? Engaging with the fans way more, like even with my fan base here at home, because even like in South Africa, I didn't meet in Greek. And mind you, and the reason, like I said, like I'm in South, at home, you know, I kind of just, I do my own thing, da, da, da. In South Africa, I was with the family, so I didn't have, you know, like, and I didn't go with any friends or nothing like that. So nine times out of 10, like when we wasn't on go, I'm bored in the hotel room. So I'm getting on live, you know, I'm talking to people, I'm reading comments, I'm just seeing what they, you know, what's up in South Africa. And I realized too, it's the fan engagement, talking directly to them, responding to the comments, you know, going live, it's, that's what really builds the support and the fan base, the loyal fan base. And so now, even at home, like I'm trying to, you know, I just talk, when it comes to my content, being more transparent in my content, talking to my fans, hosting more, you know, events, fan, you know, for the fans and for the community, so they can get out. What does that look like? So for instance, like, again, when I was in South Africa, I had my meet and greet, right? And then I had a few of the fans come, one of the fans who had came, he was a photographer, so he gave, you know, took pictures for us and da, da, da, but even sharing that on social media, it's like everybody else felt like they missed out on it. So even though they didn't go, they were like, oh, I need to be at the next one, you know, da, da, da, da. So when I get back home, you know, and something like as far as when it comes to the community, that I wanna do more, like even more listening parties, more events or more pop-up events where it's like, I'm a creator too and I'm a brand. I also like, you know, put it on different types of events. I have some ideas that I wanna start doing just to get people come out and involved in the community, especially around LA. And I feel like that's, it's needed too. It's needed in the city. Just to people to come out, have a good time, you know, pop up, listen to Nila, you know, I could perform, sell merch, just doing more things to get involved in the community so I can kinda just build more on that fan engagement. Cause I feel like I'm really lit on social media, but it's like, I also wanna make sure I'm doing my part in my city and, you know, having people come out physically and stuff like that. So, but that's what South Africa taught me. Cause before, like I said, I was kinda just doing the social media thing, like really the only time you will see me is online. And that's for some other reasons, you know, like I said, just being in LA, going back real quick, cause another quick difference when it comes to Atlanta, like I feel like in Atlanta, when it comes to performances and everything like that, cause even when I was out there, I did a quick little performance when they played my song in the club and everything. But out here- Are they opinion brothers? Huh? Are they opinion brothers? No, it was at the other club. Okay, okay. No, not opinion brothers. It was at the other club when they played my track. I did think that though. I did think that. No, no, no, not opinion brothers. I was just gonna ask after it. No, it was at the second club. No, at the second club. Yeah, no, they passed me the mark. I did a quick little one too. But like even like, and it's just fun, just genuine, just fun, you know? But in LA, like they would be, people be wanting you to pay to perform and, you know, just, my thing is, look, I ain't paying for no exposure. Okay, I'm not paying to perform. I could make a TikTok in my living room for free and get the exposure. Or if I wanna perform, like I feel like I can host my own thing and I can have my own performances. But it's like to pay somebody else to get up on they stage, I, you know, that's just not where I want. I just don't feel like that's necessary. So now I'm at the point where it's like, okay, well, if you're not gonna give me a seat at the table, I'm gonna have to bring my own, you know, I'm gonna have to bring the table to chair and it all. So definitely I'm trying to get into more, you know, more shows, but having my own, having my own shows, my own performances, my own, you know, things like that to really get into the music space. And that side of things. Cause like I said, I feel like music was something, like the music was so good that people would just stream it. But I think people were kind of still confused like, okay, well, is she a creator? Is she an influencer or does she do, you know? So now it's more so put in the branding, more so like, okay, no, I rap for real, you know, this is the music. Yes, I'm also funny and da, da, da. But more so leading with the music. And that's gonna have to take, you know, more performances, more shows, getting people out there, getting the fans out there. So yeah, I wanna, yeah, definitely more just community, community stuff. That's what, that's what South Africa taught me. Just focus on community. And then I think everything else kind of just comes together. Can you talk more about, I guess the transition into the music space from being an influencer? Cause we've talked about that before, right? Like there's a guy that we're really cool with name, Iso Kenny. And like he was like a big skit creator, now moved over to music. We've seen people like DDG and even like Kaisa Nat, right? Like it's starting to be this wave of influences who are almost using what they've learned in the content space to move over into music. But then from the fans side, or well, yeah, I guess the fans side, you can actively see almost sometimes the people in the music style like pushing back against that and kind of giving them a hard time. It's like, dude, do you ever feel like there are certain music moves you haven't been able to make or maybe have been held back from because you are presented as like an influencer first? Absolutely, absolutely. Cause I feel like, especially in the music world, like everything is about image. And I feel like also too, the transition was kind of interesting for me because the influencer space is like structured. And there's structure, there's, you know, terms and conditions and- Contracts. Contracts and yeah, you know, and it's just representation and it's just, it's different. So it's like, I'm signed to an agency on the TikTok side of things, but they don't handle none of the music stuff. So it's kind of like, I have a separate team for that, but it's kind of just, it was hard kind of for me to transition because it's like, this doesn't make sense. But like, I feel like there's a lot of things in the music industry that just doesn't make sense. It didn't make sense. And so that's when I'm just like, okay, so I'm meeting with this person. I'm meeting with these, I'm meeting with label execs cause even it got to the point where, you know, like, you know, they will see the TikToks and stuff and they will want to sign me for that single. But again, I'm talking to these labels and just, it's not making sense. And yeah, they definitely, I mean, everything is on image. They want to kind of, you know, they want to, they want to change the image. They want you to be sellable. You know, they want you to be sellable. And granted, I feel like the influencer, yes. In that sense, it's kind of like, you're salesy too, but in a different way because it's your lifestyle. It's your real lifestyle. Telling something else. Yeah, yeah, it's like, you know, it's like I can put these shoes on as an influencer but I actually wear these. So I'm, you know, I'm selling them but I actually wear these shoes. As opposed to the music industry, you want me to sell something that's not me but I have to pretend like it's me, you know, for it to be sold. And it was just a lot, it's just a lot of that, you know? So I want to go deeper into that because I want, listening to your music subject matter-wise is not the same content that a lot of women rappers are popular for right now. Is that something that you're aware of? Oh, absolutely. All right, so can you speak on how you see what women are popularized for talking about at the moment and how you see creating your content, your music and how you feel like you fit in? Yes. So I started, you know, when I was first making music, I did like the bops, I did, you know, I did the rap rap. I wasn't too vulgar in the lyrics but I would still talk my shit, you know, everything in here. And, you know, it was cool but I feel like as I've grown in my artistry and as I talk to people too, it's kind of just like, I don't want to do what everybody else is doing and I think that's what the music industry is, I feel like, I feel like the music, I feel like there's characters. I feel like as an artist, like there's different characters and especially like when we talk about hip hop, it's like, okay, the male is the gangster, the thug and then the female rapper, whatever, you know, that character is like, you know, the, I don't want to say the stripper but you know, you know what I mean. It's kind of just like, it's two different characters. You're either a thug or you, you know, popping it open. And like, okay, what I don't want to do is do what everybody else is doing because I also see myself as an entrepreneur, like beyond being an artist, I see myself as an entrepreneur and I feel like if the market is oversaturated with something and also too, it's not authentic to who I am really. So I really, I mean, I do what's authentic to me. So I, it's never been a thought in my head to even go that direction because that's not me. But again, just being myself and one of the reasons why I'm so, I'm writing and putting out the music that I make is because I feel like in the future, when you pull out the history book of female rap and you only see one thing, you know, like, I think Anilla All-In needs to be, you know, needs to be there, that that content needs to exist. The music needs to exist because especially as women, we go through so much and there's so much we can talk about and we're only talking about one thing. Like, you know, I just feel like it's, it's so much more to woman empowerment. And that's another thing, because I watch these interviews, I watch the female rappers talk about it and it's always woman empowerment and, you know, but it's like, woman empowerment looks like so many other things and we're focusing on this, you know? You know what we're focusing on. And we're focusing on busting it open. Again, I think there's a lane that hasn't been filled so it's like when I write that music and you hear me talking about, you know, the toxic relationships and the toxic this, that's another thing because a lot of these women going out sad because, you know, and in the end it's like we're at the point where toxicity is being glorified and, you know, just dealing with rich men, you know, who cheat just because they're rich and it's okay because they're gonna pay our bills. You know what I'm saying? It's just, it's just so much superficial stuff and it's just I'm over it. So if I'm over it, I know somebody else is over it. So here you go home, girl, stream one, whish my nilla all in, cause I know, you know. Brilliant plug, slid that shit on in there. Beat this right now. You going through a breakup, you probably don't want to pop that pussy right now. So here, listen to this, you know. They make it seem like they popping it with tears in there. Man, every single second of the day, like I'm tired. I got you. I got you. I mean, like you said, you feel that way, I'm sure there's as many others who feel that way. You know what I'm saying? On that side of the market. And that can be appreciated just to even hear, even someone vocalize that now, with all that being said, what does nilla all in mean? Ooh, I love that question. Okay, well you want the short version? Give me the short, then all of it. You know, we got a little time. Okay, okay, okay. Okay, so nilla all in, to really be all in, it's like you got to put your all in what you do. But not only that, we're multifaceted. So, you know, it's like, I feel like it's more of a realistic version of, and relatable version of really, you know, just who we are, because it's like, like I said, we don't always experience the same emotion 24 seven. I might be, you know, popping my pussy on Monday, but maybe on Tuesday, I'm going through heartbreak. On Wednesday, I'm trying to, you know, I want to get something to the club. So also too in my music, I feel like it's very, it's very multifaceted, very like, where I got the all type of vibes where you can listen to a Edison and have a little club banger, like, okay, she talking her shit, but then you can also listen to a God of Run and be like, okay, damn, like this is some real shit. Like she real spinning. This is, you know, I'm inspired to be better, do better and choose better, you know, choose a better partner. So I feel like also too, it just describes kind of being versatile, being dynamic, and yeah, just going all in, putting your all in. And that's really, that's who Nila All-In is. She's relatable, authentic, driven, ambitious, but you know, if she gon' do it, she gon' do it to the neck. So we got to. Do it to the what? Do it to the neck. It's like jumping in a pool. If I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it to the neck. No, it's like, it's a song, but I won't, no, because I ain't finna be on this podcast, no, no, no, I'm playing. No, it just means you gotta, you know, you gotta do it, you can't be, you can't be scared. Gotcha. You can't be scared, you gotta go all in. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what do it to the neck means. It is. Okay. Yeah, it is, it's a good name. Hey man, you already know, everyone knows I'm not afraid to look stupid on asking a question of a term or a verse or whatever, you know, put me on. But you said all in, where does Nila come from? Oh, okay, so Nila, my name is actually Brene, my line sisters, yeah, I'm a Delta, my line, you see it? So my line sisters, they used to call me Branella. And so, yeah, so Branella came from Brene. Now Brene was the very, like, cause I, you know, I graduated college with Provost honors, you know, like I'm Delta woman, very scholastic, very studious, like, you know what I'm saying, very professional oriented. So when I started doing a rap thing, you know, we would be in the crib, like we would put on the beat, we, you know, be a little vibe and I'd start rapping or whatever. And I'll be like, oh, shit, that's Nila, you know, they're like, that's my Brene, that's Nila. So Nila became like the alter ego, because again, I kind of like double liked that, you know, that Hannah Montana lifestyle from the college student engineer, Delta. And then, you know, the entertainer, Nila, the rap girl, the, you know what I'm saying, the big personality. And I felt like they were always kind of clashing. So, so yeah, Nila, Nila came from, from Branella, but that just became my alter ego. But now, one last question. And this is without necessarily the music industry in mind, but you can always integrate music into this. What do you hear when you hear no labels necessary? Mm, ownership. I hear ownership. And I also hear like, independence, just like random things, like they come off the top of it. Independence, and also just options. I feel like everybody thinks you need a label. And yeah, there's other options. There's other ways to put that thing down, flip it in reverse-y. All right, I can't, I know that one. I know that one. You know that one. I know that one. Okay, okay, I was gonna get on you if you get it. I was gonna get on you. I love that, because you actually, you're one of the few people who catch that necessary. All right? It's not necessarily not, you don't have to never. It's not necessary. It's an option. It's an option, yeah. I mean, I feel like there's power in that option versus just saying no or yes automatically. So I'm glad you called that. Everybody, I hope y'all enjoyed this talk with Nila All-In. I certainly have. It was fun. This is yet another episode of No Labels Necessary Podcast. I'm Brandon Shawn. And I'm Corrin. And I'm Nila All-In. And we out. Appreciate you for watching. If you like content like this, you'll love seeing our music marketing strategies that we use as an agency to actually blow up artists to millions and even billions of streams that are available for free at nolabelsnecessary.com and the cool part about it that's gonna really make you love it is we don't have to be all entertaining and add all this fluff just to get some use that we do on YouTube. We get straight to the information. There's play by play in courses that give you a breakdown of every step that you should do to get success. And you have the ability to have communication with us. We get on live talks, a lot of cool things for members and it's free just to hop in. So check it out right now at nolabelsnecessary.com.