Lola Brooke’s Pen and Personality Are Nothing to Play With in Her ABCs

Lola Brooke’s pen and personality are both nothing to play with. The 2023 XXL Freshman’s in-your-face breakthrough track, 2021’s “Don’t Play Wit It” featuring Billy B, landed Lola her first spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this past April, debuting at No. 69. However, even through her hard-hitting bars and immediately recognizable New York City flavor, the Bed-Stuy native’s Brooklyn bravado equally matches her endearing disposition as well as her acute sense of humor. All of that is made abundantly clear in Lola Brooke’s version of XXL’s ABCs.

Getting the festivities started from jump street, Lola Brooke highlights her hunger for more with the letter A. “And, because I’ma keep it a buck with you, I always want," she says in the video below. “So, and I want this, and I want that, and also that, you get me?” For B, the 29-year-old MC puts on for her borough. “Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Brooklyn,” Lola exclaims. “’Cause you know I’m from Brooklyn, you gotta know that. And if you don’t know, check the caller ID, you heard? 718.”

Acknowledging her growing fan base, The Gators, with G and making “mommy” proud with M, the “Here I Come” spitter doesn’t forget to show some love to herself and her on-point pen game by the time the letter S rolls around. “Shyniece. That’s my government name, you know,” Lola Brooke declares. “Check the stats. Shyniece Thomas on the writer creds.”

Watch Lola Brooke as she lets her fun-loving ferocity fly in her XXL ABCs video below.

Watch Lola Brooke's 2023 XXL Freshman ABCs

The Freshman issue of XXL magazine hits stands everywhere on July 18. See Finesse2tymes, Lola Brooke, Rob49, Fridayy, GloRilla, 2Rare, SleazyWorld Go, Central Cee, Real Boston Richey, Luh Tyler, TiaCorine and DC The Don's official Freshman pages. In addition to interviews with all 12 artists in the 2023 Class and Freshman cyphers producer Pi'erre Bourne, it includes interviews with Lil Baby, NLE Choppa, Boosie BadAzz, Toosii, DDG, Saba, producer Go Grizzly, engineer Jaycen Joshua, singer Coco Jones, SinceThe80s' President Barry "Hefner" Johnson and AEW wrestler Swerve Strickland, plus a look back at what the 2022 XXL Freshman Class is doing, hip-hop's love for golfing featuring Scarface, OMB Peezy and pro golfer Harold Varner III, conversations with 10 new artists making noise and a deep dive into A.I. hip-hop songs. You can also buy the 2023 XXL Freshman Class issue here.