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This is a video of Tierra Whack captured at the age of fifteen, wearing unexciting pink knitted attire on a street corner in Philadelphia. She is surrounded by older men smoking marijuana. In her freestyle to the camera, she proclaims that rapping is her calling, specifically for those who doubt her abilities. With a voice that shifts from one persona to another, she delivers her words in a performance poetry style rather than traditional rap. This moment is a mic-drop, jaw-dropping experience where the viewer witnesses a new star emerging in real-time.
Thirteen years later, and the knitwear is bright and expensive, she’s a muse to Beyoncé and has become one of the most singular rappers and singers in America. Her 2018 debut album, Whack World, felt like a piece of performance art with 15 multi-genre tracks each exactly one minute long; her feature film last year, Cypher, flipped the tired fly-on-the-wall music documentary format into a satirical horror movie about conspiracy theories and selling out. While many rappers align themselves with luxury brands, Whack did a campaign with Lego, and her brilliant second album, World Wide Whack, out this week, shows off that whimsy on songs about an imaginary friend, dates at the cinema and singing in the shower. But it is also devastatingly honest about her experience of depression. “I’m 28 now – I was supposed to kill myself when I was 27,” she tells me in the London offices of her record label. “But I decided to keep going.”
Her imaginative talent originated in school when her unique style of wearing mismatched Converse shoes caught attention. Presently, she is dressed in a dark purple Adidas tracksuit and eye-catching, large gold earrings with her real last name, Whack, written across them. She speaks with constant flow, often interrupting the conversation with new ideas. She confesses that she dislikes public speaking because she struggles with knowing what to say. Interviews can be uncomfortable for her as she tends to veer off topic.
The excitement of performing a poem on stage at a school in north Philadelphia led her to explore rap music. In the beginning of her journey as a poet and MC, she considered following the trend and discussing popular topics. However, after listening to rap artists like Wu-Tang Clan and their tough lyrics, she realized she needed to do more research to understand the context. She recalls having to look up what an M16 was. Despite some of her peers doubting her authenticity and her mother’s disapproval of cursing, she temporarily stopped writing and gave up her dream of being a rapper.
Lauryn Hill’s unique mix of rap and singing inspired her again, alongside other notable figures such as Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, and Eminem. She began to explore more unconventional topics in her writing, such as a party filled with giraffes. Additionally, she expanded into singing and songwriting, drawing inspiration from artists like Stevie Wonder and the Isley Brothers, in an attempt to break into the closed-off freestyle rap scene in her hometown of Philadelphia.
“A majority of individuals from my hometown remained stagnant, never surpassing a certain level of success. However, Meek Mill was one exception,” she recalls. She witnessed many people who were limited by their lack of drive and motivation. During a studio session, she sang and rapped, but the engineer warned her: “‘You cannot be skilled in multiple areas and excel in none.’ But why not? Look at Lauryn Hill.” Her response was met with, “Yes, Lauryn Hill is different.” But now, she can proudly say she is good friends with Lauryn Hill, despite others doubting her potential for success.
A different engineer, who is now her manager Kenete Simms, shared with her, “There is no set style, but I see harmony.” She recalls, “One day I would be working solely on rap tracks, the next day I would be experimenting with country music, and he would say, ‘This is wild. I love it!'” These creative sessions resulted in Whack World, where each one-minute track is a meticulously crafted gem with flawless melodies and engaging storytelling.
The song, titled “Fuck Off,” is a country tune that depicts a tumultuous relationship in a rural dialect. The lyrics include lines such as “I hope your buttocks break out in a rash / You remind me of my subpar father.” Whack grew up without her father around and was raised by her mother, whom she holds in high regard. She admires her mother greatly and wants to make up for the lack of affection her mother received from her own mother.
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Whack has experienced significant loss in her life, in various forms. She has not been in many romantic relationships, only about two. She admits to avoiding commitment due to the weight of responsibility it carries. Has she been hurt by love? Yes, she has. There was a love from her childhood that she misses, but will never regain. The person involved is currently in prison, and the song “Meagan Good” delves into their story with raw honesty. It recounts how the couple cheated on each other and how Whack criticized the man for not using his time in prison to work on his rap skills. One harsh line stands out, where she declares, “We had the same opportunity, but I chose to succeed.”
Even more challenging were the losses she experienced in the past 24 months. Two of her cousins, who were siblings, were shot and killed in Philadelphia, and her grandmother, the wonderfully named Wilma Whack, passed away from cirrhosis after struggling with alcoholism for many years. She chooses to live a straight edge lifestyle, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, because of her grandmother’s battle and the impact it had on her. Unfortunately, she and her grandmother were not speaking at the time of her passing due to some hurtful words spoken about her mother. T
When Whack visited her grandmother’s house after her passing, a mix of laughter and sadness filled the air. She recalls the moment her sister cut off a few of her grandmother’s dreadlocks to keep as a memento, and she could almost hear her grandmother’s voice saying, “Bitch, don’t touch my hair!” The only photograph displayed in the house was of Whack at the Grammys in 2019, a reminder of her nomination for best video for her song Mumbo Jumbo. “That picture gives me the strength to keep pushing forward each day. The memories of my conversations with my cousins, who had wanted to join me on tour, keep me going. I refuse to let these deaths bring me down.”
Whack places great importance on her own ability to remain energized. Supported by immense praise, she maintained a positive attitude after the success of Whack World by consistently releasing singles and EPs, such as Pop?, Rap?, and R&B?, that refused to be confined by traditional genre distinctions.
Beyoncé invited her to collaborate on her Afro-house track My Power for The Lion King soundtrack and her Black Is King musical film, which was a great opportunity for her. She recounts meeting Beyoncé and how everyone on set was very serious and called her “Miss B”, but she was her usual silly self and Beyoncé appreciated it. On her Renaissance tour, Beyoncé has been recognizing and honoring Black female musicians during the song Break My Soul, and Tierra Whack is always included in the list. Tierra describes this as an unbelievable experience and admires how Beyoncé never forgets her name and even dances while saying it.
However, Whack began to experience impostor syndrome and her mental well-being declined. She reached a point of happiness but eventually, the pressures of being a public figure and navigating it all every day became too overwhelming. Whack desired to disappear and fade from memory.
The individual expresses that they were unable to fully express their emotions and were scared of showing vulnerability due to their upbringing in Philadelphia. They lived in a low-income area and witnessed intense situations, constantly feeling like they could be in danger. As a result, they felt the need to always appear tough and strong.
She overcame her depression by actively following common advice. Every morning, she made a conscious decision to have a positive mindset and reminded herself that she deserved happiness. She also started taking care of herself by exercising, relaxing, and pursuing activities she enjoyed during her spare time.
She copes with the shadows through her music; she employs a hunched, languid vocal style on her latest songs Numb and Difficult (featuring the lyrics: “Life is hard”). Yet, she counterbalances it with humor. In Two Night, she sings: “I may not make it through tonight / But before I go, I need you to know / I didn’t pay the electricity bill this month”. And in 27 Club, “Searching for something to dedicate my life to: death by suicide”.
“She chuckled, ‘It’s a twisted joke, isn’t it?’ I constantly try to remind others that as humans, we experience a range of emotions: happiness, sadness, bitterness, anger, and sweetness.” Her personal approach to managing mental health may not be effective for everyone, but it seems to be a great outlet for Whack’s boundless energy. “I’m heading in the right direction. When I was depressed, I was consumed by negativity, essentially a Debbie Downer. But now, I’m radiating better energy – choosing to remain positive. It’s a conscious decision.”
She has reclaimed her comfort in her own skin, much like the child who didn’t care about wearing mismatched shoes. “In the beginning, when I went to label meetings…” She makes a gesture mimicking a sophisticated businesswoman. “But now, I just embrace myself and all versions of me. I used to hide a bit, making sure I was always dressed professionally. But now, I’ll show up with my wild side and imperfections.”
The new album “World Wide Whack” will be available on the record label Interscope starting March 15th.
Source: theguardian.com
