If you have been watching Lady London over the years, you know her craftmanship is finally receiving the recognition she deserves. As a poet since 2018, London grew to fame on social media by flipping and remixing a few of Hip Hop’s most revered tracks from artists like Foxy Brown, and Busta Rhymes. Hip-Hip icon Cardi B praised her bars in “Money Over,” and expressed that London is “the most slept on.” The song has accumulated over 500k views on Youtube thus far.
As an artist, London’s versatility sets her apart from her peers. Being an artist is only one part of her puzzle. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from Howard University and a Master of Science in Global Medicine from the University of Southern California. Her knowledge and hustle mentality help to develop her into the artist she is today.
“There are multiple levels to me,” she explains. “I’m not one-dimensional. I really take my craft seriously. I consider rap to be an artform—not a trend. I’ve studied cadences, timing, breath control, double and triple entendres, and syllables. It almost breaks down to an exact science. I pay attention to verbiage, semantics, and diction. I’m a connoisseur of rhythmical composition in its purest form. I’m just a boss,” she explains.
Her work ethic is committed to women who refuse to be cramped by common boundaries, and to the men who support them and are not intimated by that.
“When you listen to me, I want you to feel comfortable in yourself and empowered more than anything,” she leaves off. “We’re all the same. We all have things we battle, daily, but everyone excels at something. Therefore, every person is a boss in his or her own way. And you control the narrative around your own life. I want to be proof of that. Music is the closest thing to religion without the systemic element. It’s a spiritual encounter. It shifts our movements; it governs our temperament. And, if nothing more, I hope to transcend a generation with what I create and leave a legacy behind.”
Today, Lady London released “Lady Like: The Boss Tape”, comprised of thirteen of her most celebrated, heavy-hitting freestyles. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out this project available on all streaming platforms.
Lyrical Lemonade: Hey Lady London, how is your New Year going so far?
Lady London: Thank you guys for having me [smiles]. The New Year has started off intense, but I’m definitely hitting the ground running in 2022. I’m just enjoying living in the thick of it all.
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Lyrical Lemonade: What are some goals you hope to accomplish this year music-wise and any new business ventures you hope to get started with?
Lady London:Besides releasing my mixtape, my goal is to finally make my stamp and establish my signature sound amongst consumers with more singles and more projects. I can’t wait to showcase my creativity—especially in my visuals, and, of course, I hope to work with some of my favorites, Drake, Jay-Z, and Jazmine Sullivan. Business venture-wise, I’m manifesting new brand partnerships, more movie soundtracks, and real estate investments. Focus is building myself as more than just an artist to a brand.
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Lyrical Lemonade: You’ve earned your Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from Howard University, and Master of Science in Global Medicine from the University of Southern California. How did your career shift from Medicine to becoming an artist? Or was this something you wanted to do to support your career?
Lady London: So funny, because I had absolutely no intention of ever being an artist (haha). I’ve written poetry since I was eleven, so I guess I always had a way with words, but I had a very clear 10-year plan to go straight to med school after my Master’s at Keck School of Medicine.
But the March before I graduated, a video I posted of myself reciting lyrics I had written, with no beat, changed my life and, ultimately, changed my career trajectory. I finished my Master’s program and decided to defer schooling, as I spent the next 3-4 months teaching myself how to rap on beats. I have no regrets.
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Lyrical Lemonade: Last year I know you lost your hard drive with tons of music and you had to create everything all over again. What was your drive behind still pushing through during this challenging moment?
Lady London: That was the most surreal moment of my career. I remember it not really resonating with me until weeks had passed. I thought it could be fixed, but no.
There was so much anticipation behind my artistry and expectations from my supporters— I had to keep going. I believe in God, so my coping mechanism was accepting that the loss of my hard drive could only mean that my best work was yet to be created.
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Lyrical Lemonade: Your song “Money Over” has received 636k followers on Youtube so far. Your fans loved this single. How was the process of creating this track?
Lady London: I recorded Money Over in Atlanta back in May of 2019. It was my first time sitting with The Loopholes, the amazing producers of it. I’m Jamaican, so immediately as we shifted through sample packs, the Barrington Levy sample brought back a sense of nostalgia for me. I remember the engineer, and my friend, Swizz (God rest his soul), had a money bag tattoo. I asked why that of all things, he said, “that’s all I care about ‘Money Over Everything.'” I did that song in an hour.
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Lyrical Lemonade: If you could pick one song that you love the most out of all the songs you created, which would you pick?
Lady London: “Never” has always been my most transparent record. It was the first song I recorded after my hard drive crashed. I talked about everything I’ve faced the last two years, and then creative directed a video to complement the storyline.
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Lyrical Lemonade: How would you describe your process in the booth? From your bars to your flow, to the way you’re able to switch between different voices in your rap. Do you write your lyrics or do you just freestyle?
Lady London: It depends on the record. Some songs require more time and intention than others. I prefer to write to keep things consistent, but I enjoy freestyling for fun. As a naturally mono-toned person, certain verses require various influxes in vocal tone to give it character without having to scream. My process is different than most rappers. I prefer to write and record alone. That’s my best work.
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Lyrical Lemonade: Your penmanship on the ABC series ‘QUEENS’ is undeniably lethal. Can you share how the opportunity came about and something you’ve cherished from the experience being a secret weapon of sorts?
Lady London: So, initially, my agent reached out to me to submit a self-tape audition for the role of Lil Muffin. Shortly after, Grady Spivey reached out via my friend, the legendary Lenny S., to extend the invitation to write for the same character! My mentor and one of the most significant forces in my career, Clark Kent and I got on a call with the incredible creator of QUEENS, Zahir Mcghee and the team to explain the character to me. She was fun, wildly expressive, and unique. I felt a connection to the part of the character that was jaded by the industry, so bringing life to her through music was almost like giving life to a fraction of myself. Pepi nailed it. I’m so honored to have been a part of it, and I’m looking forward to seeing more.
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Lyrical Lemonade: You’re widely known for your freestyles that always go viral on social media. Your first project, “Lady Like: The Boss Tape,” is set to release this week. I know this project pays your final respect to an era for you. So, what is next to come that will be unlike anything else you have created already?
Lady London: A sound so unique; lyrical content so intentional & articulate that it transcends a generation… thats what I hope to pioneer. I hope to leave an indelible mark on this game in the most positive way possible.
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Lyrical Lemonade: What has been the best moment for you in your career thus far?
Lady London: Watching the outpour of support from my peers and those I admired and even emulated as a child is the purest satisfaction. Sometimes I think they see something in me that even I can’t see yet.