Beauty + Fashion
Ashley Joy Parker
The Relatable Baddie: Getting Real With LaBritney
The Relatable Baddie: Getting Real With LaBritney
- Story by Ashley Joy Parker / Photography by Polina Lahotske / Styling by Anastasia Znova / Makeup & Hair by Olga Maryassova
Lettin' Us Know...
The word “baddie” gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it really mean? According to Urban Dictionary, the term describes a girl who is “always slaying the game.” In the music industry, there are a number of baddies doing their thing, but few possess the depth, vulnerability and charisma it takes to truly connect with others. Not satisfied just slaying the stage, LaBritney is one of those fierce, female-first artists who uses her platform not only to entertain, but to empower. Through her warmth, worth ethic and wicked talent, LaBritney has formed a relationship with her fan base, known as LaNation, that goes far beyond her bops.
Originally from Detroit, this triple+ threat began performing as a young girl before heading out to LA to chase her dreams. In addition to appearing in numerous music videos, LaBritney released track-after-track as an independent artist, including “Forget About Me,” “Booty Drop,” and the ulta-catchy “How We Do.” After her 2018 single, “Actin’ Funny” featuring Kash Doll blew up, she released her seven-track EP, La’vintage, followed by her first full-length album, Never Fold. And while stints on Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood and Notorious Queens have elevated her profile, LaBritney has never let reality TV define her and has wisely navigated her career on her own terms.
This past year, LaBritney has been hard at work in the studio (that is, when she’s not performing) and has a slick social media presence that is equal parts entertaining and engaging. And with two new singles—the anthemic “Let Me Know” and the soon-to-be-released, sizzling Latin-infused “No Ties,” LaBritney is poised for a major LaBlow up.
We caught up with the powerhouse to chat about her new music, her personal style, her Midwest roots, and more. Check out our exclusive interview with LaBritney below.
Take us back to your origin story. How does a little girl from Detroit transform into the artist you are today?
I have a lot of faith, courage, and a true love for music and performing. I started singing and dancing when I was 5 years old, producing my own concerts in my grandmother’s backyard. From there, I took professional dance classes and vocal lessons, and then, when I was 17 years old, I joined a girl group. That was the first time I traveled from Detroit to Los Angeles.
We had a showcase out in Burbank, and that’s where I met Michael Jackson. From that moment on, I knew I needed to live in California, and I made it my mission to work really hard and move my family and me from Detroit to LA. I started getting work opportunities out here, from shooting music videos to a couple of TV shows. At the same time, I was building a large social presence online by creating viral videos on Instagram and YouTube.
What was the biggest culture shock coming to LA from Detroit?
Out here in LA, it can be hard to find a sense of neighborhood or community like there is in Michigan. Back home, all the neighbors are friends. You can borrow hot sauce from your neighbors, everyone has been living in their homes for 20+ years. Out here, it’s in and out. The community aspect is the thing I feel like I’m missing most out here. But I’ve just had to make my own community, within my work, within the music industry and my friends.
How would you describe your signature sound?
One day you might hear me rapping, the next day you might hear me singing a R&B ballad, then you might hear me singing a rhythmic pop record. I’m a very versatile artist. I’m a Gemini. I think that kind of explains it.
If someone says, “I’m going to my first LaBritney show tonight,” what can they expect?
You’re gonna feel that high energy. You’re gonna get some realness. You’re gonna see amazing choreography. You’re gonna hear amazing vocals. You’re gonna get storytelling. I love to interact with my fans. I love to talk to them. My favorite thing in the world is to perform. I give my all when I’m on stage every single time.
Let’s talk about your single, “Let Me Know. It’s definitely a baddie anthem. Tell us about your songwriting process with it.
My friend and I produced the track a few months ago, and it had been sitting on my computer for months. I finally sat down and played it back, and honestly, I wrote that song in 15 minutes. The message immediately came to me, and the words just started pouring out.
The video is a little Beyoncé coded with a nod to her “Single Ladies” choreo. How did you develop the concept to express the song’s message visually?
I wanted to bring the element of women empowerment; confident and sexy, but classy and poised. I’m a performer, so I sing and I dance. and I was talking to my choreographer and I’m like, “I think this would be so cool to incorporate a chair.” It reminds me of late ‘90s, early 2000s R&B, you know, back when our girls made us feel like we were bosses and that we can really take over the world. That was the energy that I wanted to bring with the video.
What can you tease about your next single, “No Ties,” before it drops?
“No Ties” is my first record that has a Latin rhythmic production. I’m really excited about that. I spent a lot of time in Brazil last year, and I was inspired by Brazilian drum patterns and instruments, so I brought those elements into the track. But my message always remains the same. I’m always talking for us women. “No Ties” is actually inspired by my celibacy journey and wanting no ties to nobody. It’s all about me. I need peace of mind, clarity for myself, and I don’t want nobody else’s energy interfering with that.
There’s a lot of talk about artists being in certain eras. What era is LaBritney in right now?
I am in my Go-For-It-All Era, no holding back, I’m owning who I am as a woman, owning who I am as an artist, owning who I am as a singer, a songwriter, a performer, a dancer. I’m putting all of those elements together and creating beautiful art for my fans and for the world to live forever.
I am in my Go-For-It-All Era, no holding back, I’m owning who I am as a woman, owning who I am as an artist.
How do you maintain your women’s empowerment attitude when the industry often pits female artists against each other?
It’s just who I am. I was 14 years old when I became a mother, so I understand the importance of unity between women and being an example for younger women. I remember being younger and meeting women who were leaders before me to help guide me. When women come together, we are really unstoppable. We are such strong beings. We are creators. I love nothing more than just embodying my femininity and my aura as a woman, even beyond being an artist.
You open up a lot personally on social media. Why is it important for you to connect with your fans on a deeper level beyond music?
Relatability is everything. That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to share our experiences and hope that they can help somebody else, to help inspire, to motivate the people around us; that’s what makes the world go round. In a video I did a few months ago, I talked about how I told my parents I was pregnant when I was in the 10th grade. It got something like 100 million views on Tiktok and Instagram. It blew my mind to see how many women were in my comments and DMs that lived my exact story. It showed me I’ve got to be a voice and continue to speak out and share my experience because my story can really help others every day.
You also share a ton of fun stuff on social media. We are huge fans of your TikTok cooking series. Do we have a signature dish?
Everybody loves my LaTacos. It’s one of my quickest dishes but the most delicious. I have a special way of making my taco shells. I’m working on my first cookbook, which will be my first published book, period. One of my favorite things to do is read books and write, so I’m super excited to officially become a published author.
And what pairs better with tacos than tequila. Tell us about your partnership with Tres Generaciones Tequila.
I am the social curator here in Los Angeles for Tres Generaciones and I’ve been working with the brand for the past two years. One of my friends actually referred me for the position, and because of my network and my experience as a music artist, they trusted me with the position. It’s been a really dope experience.
You’ve dabbled in reality TV and that kind of exposure can be a double edge sword. On one hand you get an elevated platform but on the other, you open the door for a lot of opinions. How did you navigate those experiences?
Reality TV was a great experience for me. It was a great exposure. I did my best to remain my true, authentic self and show my real journey as a music artist and a mother. It was also a good check. At that time, I was a starving artist trying to figure out how to pay my bills. When those opportunities came along, I was like, “heck, yeah!” It helped grow my following, I was able to go on tour, I was able to do cool interviews, like with The Breakfast Club. It just elevated everything I was already doing. And yes, a lot of people did have some negative things to say about me being on those shows, but I don’t really pay attention to those people, because what they eat don’t make me sick, you know?
I'm a neat girl. I'm a tequila with some water and lime.
Would you ever go back into TV, maybe in a docuseries-type project, if you had a producer’s say?
Absolutely, I could see that. That type of production is on my vision board.
You run an online fashion retail shop, LaNation. How do you curate the products featured on the site?
My shop is made up of many brands, all small business owners. One of the brands is my son’s clothing line, IV Attire. Another brand is my sister’s Mother Hustler. I keep it in the family. My goal is to continue to expand my store and help give small designers a platform to showcase their brands and sell them to the world.
Let’s talk about your personal style. Describe your ‘fit inspiration in three words.
I would say sexy, edgy, and glam. You might catch me one day rockin’ a Michigan or Detroit Pistons jersey, bagging jeans, and some sneakers, and the next day, you’ll see me in a gold sequin dress draped down to the floor. My son, Russell, who owns the clothing brand, he helps me a lot with style inspo. I love working with him.
Do you have any beauty hacks?
Eating no sugar. It starts from within. If I want to make sure my skin is smooth, clear, vibrant and moist, I have to cut out the brownies and the Skittles. And I drink lots of water.
Describe your ultimate girls night out?
My ultimate girls night out starts at Stake 48 in Beverly Hills. It’s absolutely my favorite restaurant in LA right now. Then it’s on to a spot called El Florita. It’s a Cuban restaurant, and they do bachata and salsa dancing lessons. It is an absolute blast. I love to dance. And there’s good flowing cocktails. With Tres Generaciones. I curate many social events, so I’ve been doing intimate dinners at different restaurants in Hollywood and rooftop cocktail hours with good music and good people. You know, it’s kind of hard not to have a good time in LA.
The hottest newsletter in nightlife.
We’ll deliver the most elusive stories straight to your inbox.
Read More
Beauty + Fashion
Ashley Joy Parker
