We All In with Nilla Allin
With just over a year under her belt in her career, Nilla Allin is killing it in the rap scene. The comedian, engineer, and artist can whip out crazy freestyles like nobody’s ever heard before while simultaneously making you fall out of your seat with laughter. In whatever venture she tries, she stays true to herself and never forgets her roots.
Nilla Allin
Jordan Steele: To start off, what are three animals that describe you and why?
Nilla Allin: Well, I love elephants! I am a Delta, so you know, it goes together, not just because I got a whole lot of junk in the trunk. I feel like they’re loving, strong, loud, and able to make their presence known, just like I am. Another animal – I don’t know if I’m really like them, but I like dolphins, too. I think they’re so unproblematic – they just mind their business. And lastly, I’ll say a duck. Let me explain: people just see them glide on the water, looking so effortless. What people don’t see is the “pat, pat, pat!” paddling under the water. They don’t see all of the hard work that goes into the gliding of this beautiful and graceful creature. A lot of people tell me I make the things I do look so effortless, but they really don’t understand all of the hard work I’m putting in behind the scenes.
JS: What is the origin of your name?
Allin: My government name is Brenae, and my line sisters started calling me “Branilla.” Once I started rapping and posting freestyles, “Branilla” got shortened over time, and they’d hype me up in the comments like “Go Nilla!” It became a cute nickname, so I decided to keep it. The way that “Allin” came about is because I was getting a bunch of recognition for my raps while I was in school. I was going viral and so much of my attention was being taken away from my schoolwork. I said to myself that once I graduate from college, that’s when I’ll go all in. That is when I’ll put my all into my music and creative abilities and doing more of what I want to do. And then one day I realized that Nilla spelled backwards is Allin! So I definitely wanted to have it as a part of my name.
JS: How did you get started in music?
Allin: So, I wrote my first song when I was about 7. I was singing a lot then– I would sing in Christmas programs, plays, and with the karaoke machine my grandmother gave me. From singing, I got into poetry. Once I reached my teenage years, that’s when I got into rap. I was obsessed with YMCMB - Lil’ Wayne, Nicki, Tyga, Drake, you now, the whole group. I wanted to see if I could do what they could do. I started writing my own raps and formed a girl group in middle school. In high school, I was more shy about it at first. But then these boys would ask me for feedback on their music – you know they had little crushes on me and stuff. I had a good ear, so I heavily critiqued their music. In college, I started writing again to cope with the stress of college. Once my friends found out about my music and writing they encouraged me to post on social media and put myself out there.
JS: How would you describe your sound?
Allin: I really don’t know anyone out right now that I relate to or that sounds like me. I feel like I have a variety of stuff in my catalogue because I go through different moods. I’m not always on ratchet stuff, but you, sometimes I am. If it’s Saturday night and I’m feeling myself then I’ll be on some bad chick music! I can also write about relationships, motivation... That’s why I like my EP so much because I have many different flavors all in one project. But as far as sound, I can’t really find any one artist that I sound like.
JS: What messages do you want to get across in your music?
Allin: I want to exude confidence, independence, and boss chick energy in my music. I feel like the new wave women empowerment is all about sex and what you have to offer men – that’s just not my definition of women’s empowerment. I want there to be a different narrative.
Allin: I want people to see that you can graduate from college, work a corporate job, and still pursue your dreams. Just work hard to make your dreams your reality.
JS: Where do you see yourself a year from now?
Allin: I want my brand to be more cohesive – I want my TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to be all equally doing well. I want to release more music and freestyles, getting back in touch with my roots. Do more artist collabs as well.
JS: What does your dream tour look like?
Allin: I want to build up my own name before going on tour. I really want my name to be big enough to bring out the crowd. Honestly, I would do a HBCU college tour during homecoming season. That would be so cool!
JS: How do you measure success as an artist?
Allin: I measure success from happiness. I’m slowly getting there. I’ll be happy when I can leave this job and when I’m doing things that I love and making enough income to support myself from it.
JS: Do you have any new projects coming out soon?
Allin: Yessss, I do have a little something something coming out soon. It is definitely a lituation. I’m very excited for another drop this year. You have to stay up to date, so follow my socials to keep up!
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